Psychology Capstone Requirements

Choosing the Teams

Faculty members form their teams each semester based on matched interest, qualifications, and availability. A formal application process is used (see below).

Areas of Research

Research studies have addressed questions relating to attachment priming, parenting behaviors, spiritual development in children, social media use, links between exercise and depression, attachment to God, and a variety of other topics.

Student Influence on Projects

All students are part of a research study from conceptualization through dissemination. Student roles vary on Daniel’s teams. Initially, students help in finding relevant articles and synthesizing content.  However, over time, many students assume leadership roles, influence research questions and designs, conduct analyses, and lead conference presentations.

Academic Requirements

One must have successfully completed PSYC 255 and be enrolled in PSYC 354 at the start of the program. In addition, students must have an overall GPA of 3.5. It is also recommended that PSYC 440 is taken during one’s time on a Daniels team, though this course is not required.

Application

The Daniels Program accepts online applications each spring semester for the following academic year. Applications must be submitted by April 1 by both potential incoming and returning students.

Step 1: Select an internship site

Tips for Selecting an Internship Site

• Liberty does not place students in internship sites. Finding a placement is the student’s responsibility.
• PSYC 499 is an A term course.
• Local community service boards or mental health agencies often have information about potential opportunities.
• Ask to volunteer, shadow, or work instead of asking for an internship.
• Visit the agency in person with your resume and syllabus to review the course objectives.
• All students are required to earn a minimum 3 credit 125-hour internship. Please review the Frequently Asked Questions (PDF) for more information about credits and hours.
• Due to the non-clinical nature of the internship experience, affiliation agreements should not be necessary between the internship site and Liberty University; however, if a site that you have located requires an affiliation agreement to be in place,  email psyc499intern@liberty.edu with the following contact information:
  • Site name
  • Site supervisor name
  • Site supervisor email
  • Site supervisor phone number

Some Suggested Internship Sites

• Community agencies (including non-profits, shelters, transitional programs, mental health clinics, etc.)
• Counseling practices (shadowing a counselor, attending group meetings such as AA or others, shadowing an ABA clinician, etc.)
• Care centers – child, adult, assisted living (including summer care programs, special needs programs, youth programs, nursing homes, senior centers, hospice, etc.)
• Social service agencies (including government or military agencies, shadowing a social worker, crisis response teams, etc.)
• Religious organizations – youth groups, camps, churches, etc. (there are typically a wide-range of opportunities available through churches, including shadowing pastoral care, Celebrate Recovery group meetings, children’s ministries, teen ministries, outreach events, etc.)

• Study Abroad Trip
• Visit our Internship Opportunities Page

Disclaimer about choosing a school or a hospital as your internship site:

Schools and hospitals are both acceptable potential internship sites. If you are pursuing either of these options, be advised that schools and hospitals often require extensive paperwork. They also usually require that a contract (an Affiliation Agreement) be in place between the site and LU. Please email the internship team (psyc499intern@liberty.edu) for assistance navigating these situations. If your site is unable to meet our department’s contract requirements, you will be required to find a new internship site. If you are pursuing a school or hospital as your site, please secure a second internship opportunity as a back-up in case you are unable to intern at the school or hospital.

A few examples of sites that would NOT be approved:

• Informal babysitting/nannying positions
• Secretary/administrative work (including reception work at a counseling office)
• Retail sales associate
• Prior experiences (all hours must be completed within the semester dates at a site)
• Crisis texting or phone call lines
• Suicide Prevention Hotlines
• Residence Hall Leadership

Step 2: Secure a site supervisor and obtain an approval email/document from your supervisor

Ask your potential supervisor to send you an email indicating that he or she is willing to supervise your internship. Once you receive this email, please save it as a Word or PDF document to submit as an attachment as part of the application process.

Sample supervisor approval statement: “I, [site supervisor’s name], agree to supervise [student name] during his/her internship at [site name].”

General requirements for sites/site supervisors:

• Provide facilities suitable for fulfillment of the internship course objectives for the duration of the student’s internship
• Orient the student to the facility and provide information regarding the facility’s rules, regulations, policies, and procedures
• Provide opportunities for the student to observe the behavior of individuals/clients at the site for a minimum of 70% of the student’s required hours
• Complete a midterm and final evaluation based on the student’s performance/completion of hours (an evaluation template will be provided)

Step 3: Gather all the information necessary to fill out the online application

• Site name
• Site address
• Site supervisor’s full name
• Site supervisor’s email address
• Site supervisor approval email/document
• Detailed description of the duties you will be performing during your internship

Step 4: Complete the Online Application before the application deadline

Application Deadlines:

• Fall deadline: July 1st
• Spring deadline: November 1st
• Summer deadline: March 1st

Note: Registration dates and deadlines can be found by visiting the Liberty University Academic Calendar.

Using your Liberty username and password, log into the application form. You will be prompted to complete a short quiz before entering your internship information. Please attach the email from your supervisor as a Word or PDF document. Include the header information/dated email information on this document..

Step 5: Complete the Online APL assessment

Completion of the Assessment of Psychology Learning (APL) is required of all students applying to take PSYC 499. Once you have submitted your application successfully, you will receive an email notifying you of your successful submission and providing instructions for completing the APL. It is not necessary to study for this survey—it is simply an assessment of learning. It is not graded, but it is timed.

• Complete the APL
• Send psyc499intern@liberty.edu an email to let them know that you completed the APL!

Step 6: Wait for approval and check your inbox daily

Once you have submitted your application and taken the APL assessment, check your email daily for updates on your application. If additional information is needed to approve your application, you will receive an email from either Sharepoint or psyc499intern@liberty.edu to the email you provided on your application requesting the needed information. NOTE: If you do not reply to emails regarding your application, your application may be denied. If you have any questions as you are waiting for approval, please reach out to psyc499intern@liberty.edu. Please allow up to 4-6 weeks for your application to be processed.

Step 7: Save your approval email to upload to the PSYC 499 course

You’re approved! Congratulations! Check your inbox and your spam/junk folder for an approval email from Sharepoint (the application website). Save this approval email to your computer to upload during the first week of the PSYC 499 course. Once your application is approved, you will be automatically registered for the PSYC 499 course (you will not be able to register yourself for the course). If you have any questions about registration for PSYC 499, please reach out to psyc499intern@liberty.edu.

NOTE: You will be enrolled in a residential course section of PSYC 499. The course will still be completed virtually and entirely online, however there are assignments throughout the course. You will not be required to meet in person with the professor during any point of the semester.

• Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)
• PSYC 499 16 Week Residential Syllabus (PDF)
• PSYC 499 16 Week Course Schedule (PDF)
• PSYC 499 Summer Residential Syllabus (PDF)
• PSYC 499 Summer Course Schedule (PDF)

The Department of Psychology takes several trips throughout the year. These can be used to fulfill the internship requirements or other course requirements. These trips provide an opportunity for students to gain a valuable understanding of cultural dynamics within the discipline while studying particular topics. If you are interested in being considered for a trip, please apply through LU Send. Visit the Psychology Study Abroad page to learn about upcoming trips.

Duties for Site

• Provide facilities suitable for the fulfillment of the internship course objectives for the duration of the student’s internship
• Orient the student to the facility and provide information regarding the facility’s rules, regulations, policies, and procedures
• Provide opportunities for the student to observe the behavior of individuals/clients at the site for a minimum of 70% of the student’s required hours
• Complete a midterm and final evaluation based on the student’s performance/completion of hours (an evaluation template will be provided)

Duties for Intern

• Observe the behavior of individuals/clients at the site for the required total number of hours during the semester dates
• Perform duties that are related to the student’s program (i.e., Crisis Counseling) at the site
• Other duties could vary based on the needs of the site.