Psychology majors have the opportunity to earn departmental elective credit for their fieldwork experience in areas related to psychology. The Psychology Department offers Psych 497, a weekly seminar open to students who are also engaged in work in the community. Students have the chance to gain valuable training and work experience in the fields of counseling, social services, criminal justice, education and human resources. In conjunction with the field experience, the Psych 497 seminar helps students to further define their educational and career goals by encouraging the exploration of larger academic questions which relate to the fieldwork they are doing.
Resources for Finding a Fieldwork Site
Locating a fieldwork site will take several weeks and may require training or a background check. Students should begin searching for a fieldwork site at least the quarter before enrolling in Psych 497.
Where to Look for a Fieldwork Site:
- Search the Fieldwork Opportunities site . You do not need to select a site from this list.
- Look on Handshake (a list maintained by the UW Career & Internship Center ) or the United Way of King County or Volunteer Match or Idealist.
- Contact an organization that does psychology related work. Some organizations don't post all positions.
- Talk with your friends, family, & relatives. Students find positions by using their personal connections.
- Look in the Psychology Undergraduate Newsletter.
- Use your current job or experience (contact Denisse to verify).
- Talk with Denisse if you need any additional help.
International Students (F-1)
Review the Curricular Practical Training (CPT) on the International Student Service (ISS) website before searching for a fieldwork site. International students need to be enrolled in 497 prior to submitting the CPT. CPT can take a minimum of 2 weeks for ISS to process. International students cannot start their experience until the CPT request is fully approved.
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Exposure to Your Professional Field of Interest: Choose fieldwork that aligns with your career interests. Avoid service sector roles focused primarily on stalking shelves, answering phone calls, emails, or performing assistant work (light tasks are acceptable). Aim to move beyond entry-level positions in retail, restaurants, or coffee shops.
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Professional Growth: Select a site that offers opportunities for development in your chosen career path. Suitable fieldwork sites may include roles in business, human resources, marketing, management, education, health care, social services, and public services.
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Application of Psychology: Psychology, the study of human and animal behavior, is a field that emphasizes applying knowledge to understand and interpret human experiences. Ensure the site provides opportunities for meaningful engagement and interaction with others or animals.
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Current Position: Your fieldwork could also be in a current work, volunteer, or internship position, as long as it provides the right growth opportunities.
- Exploring & Finding Internships
- International Students & Internships - Helpful information about CPT
- Stats and facts on finding internships in Handshake (22-23)
- How to create learning goals for your experience
- How to maximize your internship, according to employers
- Strategic analysis & reflection on your experience
- What to do after your experience
Overview of Psych 497
Step 1: Find and secure a fieldwork site. (See above)
Step 2: Once you have secured a fieldwork site, initiate a registration request through Handshake by following the steps listed in the drop-down "Submit a Registration Request" below.
Step 3: After the supervisor approves your request, Handshake will email you a link to complete your registration information.
Step 4: Denisse will register you into Psych 497. (No add code is required)
Step 5 (international students only): Submit a CPT request.
Psych 497 provides students with the opportunity to learn about and observe the application of psychology in the professional world. The course also facilitates reflection on their fieldwork experiences through in-class discussions. As a result of enrolling in Psych 497, students should develop increased proficiency in the following areas:
- The ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences.
- The ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities, making informed judgments that consider the impact of solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
- The ability to identify the need for continuous learning and to locate, evaluate, integrate, and apply new knowledge appropriately.
- Skills to collaborate effectively in order to inspire and manage change.
- The capability to function effectively on teams by setting goals, planning tasks, and analyzing risks and uncertainties.
- An understanding of cultural and structural workplace issues and dynamics.
In addition to completing fieldwork site hours, first-time students enrolled in Psych 497 (those who have never completed 497) will attend a weekly class. Classes will cover topics such as ethics, diversity, strengths and skills identification, resume reviews, informal interviews, graduate school preparation, and fieldwork site presentations.
Continuing students (those who have completed a 497 course) will not attend a weekly class but will receive and submit assignments through Canvas.
Students should expect about 2-3 hours of homework per week, including reflections, readings, and presentation preparation. There are no quizzes or a final exam for the course.
Grading for Psych 497 is on a credit/no credit (CR/NCR) basis.
Below are FAQs that address common questions. If your question is not addressed please contact Denisse Guerrero-Harvey at dgh22@uw.edu
Registration Information
In general, 1 credit = 3 hours of work per week (30 hours in a quarter). However, credit accrual differs between first-time and continuing Psych 497 students. See below for more information.
First-Time 497 Students:
As a first-time student (those who have never completed Psych 497), you must attend a weekly class and complete site hours. The class itself counts for 1 credit, while the site hours contibute to the remaining credits. The minimum number of hours at a site is 3 hours per week (30 hours per quarter) for 2 credits. The maximum number of hours is 12 per week (120 hours per quarter) for 5 credits.
Typically, students enroll in 3 credits (60 hours per quarter) to meet the experience requirement. See the chart below for a break down:
| Credits | Class & Homework Hours Per week |
Site Hours Per Week |
Total Site Hours Per Quarter |
| 2 | 3 | 3 | 30 |
| 3 | 3 | 6 | 60 |
| 4 | 3 | 9 | 90 |
| 5 | 3 | 12 | 120 |
Continuing 497 Students:
As a continuing Psych 497 student (those who have completed a Psych 497 course), attendance for an in-person class is not required. Instead, credits will be awarded based on the number of site hours completed and submitting assignments through Canvas.
| Credits | Site Hours Per Week | Total Site Hours Per Quarter |
| 1 | 3 | 30 |
| 2 | 6 | 60 |
| 3 | 9 | 90 |
| 4 | 12 | 120 |
| 5 | 15 | 150 |
Psych 497 is offered during the academic year (autumn, winter, and spring quarters) and is for Psychology major students only, though few non-major registration exceptions are allowed.
Registration for Psych 497 is rolling. Students do not register on a specific date; instead, they will be registered starting from the date listed in the Enrollment Timeline below, after submitting a registration request. Students must secure a fieldwork site before submitting their registration request.
Students have two options to register:
- Register During the Quarter You Complete Fieldwork: This is the most common option for students who complete their fieldwork during the academic year. You will register for PSYCH 497 and complete both the class and fieldwork hours concurrently.
- Register in the Following Quarter: This option is available only for students who complete their fieldwork during the summer (vacation quarter), as Psych 497 is not offered during the summer. You can complete your fieldwork in the summer and earn credits by registering for Psych 497 in the autumn quarter. For registration during the winter and spring quarters, please refer to Option 1. For more information on receiving credit for experiences completed prior to being registered in Psych 497, see the drop-down "Can I get credit for experiences completed in a previous quarter?" below.
Special notes:
- Both domestic and international students can defer summer fieldwork hours to count towards their autumn quarter credits.
- International students must maintain full-time enrollment (a minimum of 12 credits per quarter) during the academic year (autumn-spring). In their final quarter, to qualify for a reduced credit load, international students must complete PSYCH 497 alongside an academic class.
- Fieldwork Site: Students must secure a fieldwork site before completing the registration steps. If you don't have a site, see "Find a PSYCH 497 Fieldwork Site" above.
- Add Codes: Registration add codes are not given for 497.
- Registration: Students do not self-register for Psych 497. Denisse will register students after they complete the steps outlined below. Registration will not occur on your registration day and may take up to a week after submission.
- Schedule Conflicts: To avoid registration delays, choose 497 sections that do not conflict with other classes in your schedule.
- First-time Students: First-time 497 students cannot register for the continuing student section.
- Deadlines: Registration requests and learning contracts must be in progress by the end of the first week of the quarter
Registration Steps (first-time & Continuing 497 Students):
After securing a fieldwork site....
- Log in: Use your UW NetID to log in to Handshake.
- Career Center: Click on the "Career Center" link from the menu.
- Experiences: Click on the "Experiences" link.
- Submit Experience: On the Experiences page, click “Submit an Experience”.
- Experience Type: From the drop-down menu for “Experience Type”, select "Psych 497 - Fieldwork".
- Complete Application: Fill out the application and learning contract, then click the green button at the bottom that says “Submit an Experience”.
- Confirmation: After submission, you will receive a confirmation email.
- Supervisor Approval: Your site supervisor will receive an email from Handshake asking them to approve your position. This email may take up to 48 hours to arrive. Contact your supervisor to ensure they approve the request promptly. The subject line will be, "Experience Requested by [your name]." Registration delays may occur if incorrect supervisor information is submitted or if follow-ups are not made. No supervisor? See the drop-down "What if I do not have a designated supervisor?" below.
- Registration Information: Once approved, you will receive an email to review and complete the 497 registration information by selecting your prefer class section. This information will be used to register you into 497 and will not be shared with your site supervisor.
- Final Registration: After providing all requested information, Denisse will register you into Psych 497. You will receive a confirmation email one registered, which may take up to a week.
PRO TIP: International Students (F-1) must be registered in 497 before submitting a CPT request. CPT processing can take up to two weeks, so plan your site hours accordingly. Avoid starting your site hours during week 2 or 3 of the quarter which will create stress for you towards the end of the quarter.
Additional Registration Notes:
- International F-1 Students: Submit a CPT request after you are registered into PSYCH 497. List Denisse Guerrero-Harvey (dgh22@uw.edu) as the departmental Adviser on your request.
- Priority Registration: May be given in winter and spring quarters. Priority will be given first to graduating seniors, followed by seniors and then juniors.
- Additional Sites: If completing hours at an additional site, review the information in the Q&A section "Can I have more than one fieldwork site?"
The learning contract outlines the expectations between the student and the fieldwork site and must be submitted for all fieldwork sites. It is integrated into the registration request students make through Handshake (see the dropdown above). It will be helpful to review and reflect on the following questions before discussing them with your fieldwork site supervisor:
- Supervisor's name and contact.
- Weekly and total site hours.
- Learning Goals: How do you believe this fieldwork experience will complement your academic studies in Psychology? What specific skills or knowledge do you hope to gain?
- Job Description: What will your role and responsibilities be at the organization? How will these responsibilities help you achieve your learning goals?
- Training/Site Supervision: Who will supervise your experience, and what type of training will you receive?
Enrollment Timeline
Students enroll in PSYCH 497 during the same quarter the fieldwork experience is completed. For summer experience completion, students enroll during autumn quarter.
|
Quarter of Enrollment |
Registration Request Opens |
Registration On or After |
Registration Request Closes |
Suggested CPT Submission Date* |
| PSYCH 497 not offered in the summer | ||||
| Autumn 2025 | May 1, 2025 | May, 23 2025 | October 1, 2025 | September 10, 2025 |
*International students: This date provides a two-week review period before the first day of the quarter that ISS often requires. CPT approval time may vary after submission. Your CPT must be approved before starting site hours.
Supervisor Information
A critical component of a student's fieldwork experience is the training and supervision they will receive at the field site. Below is an outline of expectations for site supervisors. Students, please remember these guidelines and refer to them when talking with the agency you plan to do your fieldwork. In addition, if the student or supervisor has any questions or concerns regarding the agency's training or supervision, please don't hesitate to contact Cy Delgado in the Psychology Advising Office.
The field site supervisor must agree to the following:
- Provide a good learning and training environment for the student, including adequate orientation to the program and regular supervision, as necessary, keeping routine work such as data entry and filing to a minimum.
- Work directly with the student and make explicit arrangements concerning the student's overall learning objectives, communication, expectations, and records of the student's hours and performance.
- Complete an evaluation of the student's performance. A final evaluation will be emailed to the site supervisor toward the end of the quarter. It must be returned to the Psychology Advising Office before the student can receive credit.
The relationship with your site supervisor is very important. When you first meet to discuss your fieldwork experience, be sure to cover the following topics:
- What you hope to learn about the organization and its work.
- Your future career goals and interests, and how this experience might help you achieve them.
- The type of work you will be expected to perform at the organization.
- The quality of supervision and the training you will receive.
- The number of hours you are expected to work and your schedule.
- While not necessarily required for the discussion, you should decide on the number of credits you wish to receive (refer to the drop-down menu above for "How do I earn credit?").
Except for reviewing, approving or amending the student’s Learning Contract at the beginning of the quarter and completing the end-of-the-quarter final evaluation, the site supervisor has no additional duties beyond their typical duties of performance feedback and support.
Supervisors will evaluate the student’s performance on a scale from poor to superior in nine areas: competence, initiative, ability to learn, relationships, leadership, creativity, quality of work, quantity of work, and dependability. They will also verify the number of hours completed and have the option to provide additional comments and accolades. Please note that the evaluation will be accessible to the student.
The psychology department does not have formal affiliations with organizations for undergraduate students, and supervisors or organizations are not required to have an affiliation agreement with the department.
Students: If the position has an affiliation requirement, please verify whether it requires enrollment in a graduate program. If it does, you will not qualify for the position.
In most cases, students will have a supervisor. However, a few sites, such as Crisis Text Line (CTL) and Learn to Be, do not have a direct supervisor. While volunteering with CTL, students will receive training and can seek help from crisis counselors if they encounter challenging situations.
When completing the Learning Contract for CLT or Learn to Be, list Denisse Guerrero-Harvey as your supervisor. At the end of the quarter, Denisse will email you a request to submit a screenshot of the number of hours completed. If you are not volunteering with CTL or Learn to Be and your fieldwork site does not have a designated supervisor, please email Denisse Guerrero-Harvey at dgh22@uw.edu.
FAQs
Psychology encompasses a wide range of areas, including child development, mental health, animal behavior, and sensory perception. Since many experiences can relate to psychology, it’s important to reflect on your coursework to identify how your volunteer experience aligns with these areas.
Remember, psychology is the study of human and animal behavior. Therefore, seek positions that involve substantial interactions with people or animals. Roles focused solely on tasks like answering phones and emails, copying, stacking goods, cooking, or food preparation may not provide the in-depth interactions needed for meaningful psychological insights. Aim for experiences that offer opportunities for observation and engaging conversations.
Discussing your goals with your site supervisor can help ensure that their needs align with your objectives. Cy and the other Psychology Advisers are available to assist you in this process. When you submit your Learning Contract, be sure to specify how your fieldwork experience relates to psychology.
Some sites may have a system for students to log their hours. If not, students should track their hours in a notebook or on their computer (daily or weekly). Towards the end of the quarter, students should discuss the total number of hours completed with their supervisors. A final evaluation will be sent to the supervisor to assess performance and confirm the number of hours completed.
If you do not have a designated supervisor (e.g., Crisis Text Line or Learn to Be), please refer to the section "What if I don't have a designated supervisor?" above.
Hours are determined by the number of credits students are registered for.
There are no specific weekly hour requirements; students can adjust their weekly hours to fit their schedule. However, it is essential to discuss scheduling expectations with your supervisor at the start of your experience and throughout the quarter. Be mindful of holidays and organizational closures.
By the end of the quarter, your total site hours should match the number of hours required for the registered credits. For more details, see "How do I earn credit" in the Registration Information section above.
For first-time students, the minimum registration is 2 credits. Continuing students can register for a minimum of 1 credit. The maximum registration each quarter is 5 credits. Students can earn up to 10 credits of Psych 497 toward the psychology degree. Once this maximum is reached, further registration in Psych 497 will be restricted. Additionally, students may apply a total of 18 credits from Psych 496-499 toward the 180 credits required for the BA or BS degree.
F-1 international students must be registered in 497 before applying for CPT. An email is sent to all students who have been registered in 497, and you may apply for CPT once you receive the email. Questions? Watch the introduction to CPT video for more information.
Note: If you initiated the registration and learning contract and a few days have passed but you have not recieved your request for review from Handshake, please check with your supervisor to see if they have received and approved their request.
If you want to extend your internship end date, you must submit a new CPT request in MyISSS. If you wish to cancel, shorten, or change the credit for CPT, you can update your CPT by completing the CPT Update Form in MyISSS.
Yes, students may earn up to a maximum of 10 credits of Psych 497 by registering in the continuing 497 section.
Yes, most sites are volunteer-based, but it is up to the site to decide if they will offer payment for the position you are interested in. Allowing paid positions for Psych 497 is intended to compensate you for your efforts during the internship or fieldwork. In contrast, academic credit is awarded for completing assignments that demonstrate your learning during the internship.
It is generally best to choose a single fieldwork site due to factors like time demands, travel concerns, and supervisor coordination. However, it is possible to work at two sites and combine the hours for credit. Please contact Cy or Dr. Nelson for final approval, depending on your registration section. If approved, you will need to complete separate learning contracts for each fieldwork site. Read below on how to submit an additional learning contract which are also steps for submitting the learning contract for late registered students.
Steps to Submit a Learning Contract for Multiple Sites (or for Late Registered by Denisse):
- For the primary site:
- Complete the steps in the above drop-down "Submit a Registration Request" for one of the sites. (skip step if Late Registered by Denisse)
- Complete the steps in the above drop-down "Submit a Registration Request" for one of the sites. (skip step if Late Registered by Denisse)
- For additional site(s):
- Log into Handshake using your UW net ID.
- Click on the "Career Center" link from the menu.
- Select the "Experiences" link.
- On the Experiences page, click on “Submit an Experience”.
- From the drop-down menu for “Experience Type,” select "Psych 497 - For second fieldwork site (optional)"
- Complete the learning contract, then click the green "Submit an Experience" button at the bottom.
- Your site supervisor will receive an email from Handshake asking them to approve your position.Once your experience is approved, you will receive a final confirmation email
- If your status in Handhake remains "In Progress," follow up with your supervisor to ensure they received the email from Handshake with the subject line "Approve experience for [Your Name]." Once approved, Denisse will review it for final approval.
If you have already been working at a site for some time or before registering for Psych 497, you are encouraged to do an additional project or take on additional responsibilities to further your learning.
Psych 497 is designed to provide credit for academic work done concurrently with the fieldwork experience. However, students may complete their hours in the following ways:
During the Summer and Autumn Quarters:
- Students will be registered in Psych 497 for the autumn.
- Since Psych 497 is not offered during the summer, students may complete their hours entirely in the summer, entirely in the autumn, or start their hours in the summer and finish them in the autumn.
During the Winter and Spring Quarters:
- Students may complete up to half of their hours in the quarter preceding their enrollment in Psych 497 and must complete the other half during the quarter they are enrolled in Psych 497.
Yes, students can receive credit for hours completed during the summer by registering for Psych 497 in the autumn quarter. However, these summer hours can only be applied to the autumn quarter and cannot be used to fulfill the winter or spring hour requirements.
For autumn, students have three options to complete their hours:
- Complete hours during the summer,
- Complete hours from summer through autumn, or
- Complete hours solely in the autumn.
Please review the credit vs. hours chart above to determine the appropriate number of credits to register for in autumn. If you complete hours during the summer, your final performance evaluation will be sent to your supervisor during the first few weeks of the autumn quarter.
International students on an F-1 visa are strongly encouraged to review the Curricular Practical Training (CPT) information available through the International Student Service (ISS) office during the spring or prior to starting your search for a summer fieldwork site.
If you have questions, contact Denisse before the summer quarter begins to discuss this process.
first-time students are required to attend the weekly class and should ensure they have time in their schedule for it. Continuing students do not have a weekly class and will receive assignments through Canvas.
If Psych 497 is full, your name will be placed on the waitlist. You may be added to the course once a space becomes available. If you cannot resolve time conflicts, consider adjusting your schedule or planning to take 497 in the next quarter.
If you cannot register for Psych 497 or are completing a non-psychology-related internship, you can apply for General Studies 350 credit. This course is managed by the Community Engagement & Leadership Education (CELE) Center at 171 Mary Gates Hall. International students may register for GEN ST 350 and apply their Curricular Practical Training (CPT) to the course. For assistance, please contact genst350@uw.edu.
No, Psych 496, 497, 498, 499 are experience courses and will not fulfill the upper divisional academic course requirements.
You can direct specific questions to Denisse Guerrero-Harvey (dgh22@uw.edu)or visit 119A Guthrie Hall
Alternatively, you may contact the Psychology Undergraduate Advising Office at psyadvis@uw.edu or 206.543.2698