E-mail this pageInternships
Work at a Professional Site and with Clients Through Our Specialized Internships
- Internships are available in a variety of settings specially chosen to match your degree program
- Gain relevent work experience while completing your degree requirements
- Learn in a supervised setting
Internships In Student Affairs Practice
Master of Science in Student Affairs Professional Practice
Aims of the Internships
To give students in the last semester of their programs as wide and intensive an experience as possible in the practice of college student affairs work, and in the practice of all the activities that are ordinarily required of student affairs professionals.
Internship Settings
Each intern is expected to work in one or more settings throughout the duration of the internship. Possible internship sites include public and private two and four year colleges with acceptable supervisors. Students are closely supervised throughout the internship. Admissions, campus life, housing, financial aid, career counseling, academic advising, and the office of the chief student affairs officer, and special services are examples of specific department settings.
Internships In Mental Health Counseling
Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling
Aims of the Internships
To give students in the last semester of their programs as intensive an experience as possible in the practice of community counseling and in the practice of all the activities that are ordinarily required of community counseling professionals.
Internship Settings
Each intern is expected to work in one setting throughout the duration of the internship. Possible internship sites include public and private community agencies, vocational placement centers, centers for the treatment of substance abuse, mental health clinics, medical facilities, correctional facilities, and private practice. Interns are closely supervised throughout the experience.
Internships In School Counseling
Master of Science in Education and Certificate of Advance Study Programs
Counselor Education
Aims of the Internships
To give students in the last semester of their programs as wide and intensive an experience as possible in the practice of counseling, and in the practice of all the activities that are ordinarily required of professional school counselors.
Internship Settings
Each intern is expected to work in one setting throughout the duration of the internship. Possible internship sites include public elementary, middle, junior high, junior-senior high schools with approved school guidance programs and acceptable supervisors. Students are closely supervised throughout the internship.
Internship Requirements
Each counselor candidate must complete a nine (9) credit hour internship as part of the program requirements. The internship site is to be consistent with the program of the counselor candidate, namely student affairs, community agency, or school. A listing and description of sites used in the past by counseling students is available.
Internships reflect 600 hours of actual work at the professional site, with at least 240 of these hours in direct service to clients. A significant group experience is expected to be included in the 240 hours of direct service. Internships are usually done 20 hours a week for two semesters or 40 hours a week for one semester, with some flexibility on beginning and ending dates. Internship credit arrangements include full-time (600 hours for 9 credits) and part-time (400 hours for 6 credits or 200 hours for 3 credits).
Students are to complete their internships in a site other than their current work setting. Interns must spend at least three continuous hours (or three class periods in a school setting) in an internship day, with a minimum of 15 hours per week during the normal operating hours of that agency or school. Exceptions must be approved by the Counselor Education Department faculty. At the internship site, a candidate has a responsibility to adhere to the agency, college's, or school's various rules and policies, such as that of confidentiality.
Each intern is expected to participate in individual supervision one hour weekly with the site supervisor and group supervision one and one-half hours per week with other interns and a faculty supervisor. These weekly supervision experiences are required during the entire period of the internship for both part-time and full-time interns.
An application must be submitted during the semester prior to the planned internship and approved by the Counseling Program faculty. Potential interns will meet as a group with the professor who serves as the coordinator of interns to discuss possible internship sites, requirements, and other related concerns. The date of the group meeting will be scheduled well in advance and will be announced. The internship site is selected by the internship coordinator after consultation with the candidate and after approval by the Counselor Education Department faculty.
Counselor Education graduate students are expected to carry professional liability insurance while participating in internship (CACREP Accreditation Manual - 2001 Standards).
Questions, Comments, Suggestions?
If you would like more information about counselor education at SUNY Plattsburgh please contact
Dr. Stephen Saiz, Chairperson
Office: Ward Hall 107F
Phone: (518) 564-4170
E-mail: stephen.saiz@plattsburgh.edu