Through the combination of class work and field experience, graduates will employ high levels of integrity and moral values to make a difference in the lives of the people they serve. There are two levels of field experience for masters level students in clinical programs, the practicum and the internship. The practicum is a 100 hour field experience for first-year masters students. The internship is a 600 hour field experience for second-year masters students that increases in responsibility and moves the participant from 'student' to 'professional' standing. The internship is a planned field-based clinical experience where a student works with clients under the supervision of a human services professional.
Internships occur in the second year of the masters degree program.
The intern at first works collaboratively with the site supervisor and then independently. The site supervisor is to meet at least one hour weekly to provide direct supervision to the intern. The university faculty internship supervisor also provides supervision at regular meetings. The faculty supervisor usually visits the intern's site at least once during the internship. During the internship experience the intern's status gradually shifts from that of a student to that of a pre-professional.