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Internships

What is an Internship?

An internship is a career-related, hands-on experience that allows you to explore your interests, apply what you’ve learned, and continue to build professional skills. Internships can take many forms, and you might see them described as internships, externships, fellowships, or research/project-based roles. Internships may be paid or unpaid, and can take place during the academic year or the summer.

What Makes an Experience an Internship?

Most internships share three key features:

  • Defined timeframe: your experience has a set start and end (e.g., summer, semester, or project-based)
  • Learning-focused work: you are developing skills and gaining experiences, not just completing tasks
  • Supervision and mentorship: you receive guidance, feedback, and support from a professional

At Puget Sound, strong internships are mutually beneficial - you contribute to the organization while gaining meaningful professional development and insight into potential career paths and skills.

Internships and the Psychology Experiential Learning Requirement

Many internships can count toward the Psychology Experiential Learning Requirement. To be eligible, experiences must include:

Earning Academic Credit

Internships can be completed for academic credit (academic year, summer) or recognition (summer). Credit-bearing internships typically involve:

  • A minimum number of work hours
  • A structured learning agreement
  • Reflection and/or academic components

How to Get Started

Internships are a key way to explore careers, build skills, and connect your psychology coursework to real-world settings. To explore options or pursue credit:

  • Meet with Career and Employment Services or the Experiential Learning Office to identify internship opportunities and navigate the process from search to placement
  • Discuss your goals and potential opportunities
  • Determine whether your experience qualifies for credit or the experiential learning requirement
Current Internship Opportunities for Puget Sound Psychology Majors

Hands of Hope is Casa de Esperanza’s internship program, which recruits recent college graduates and other highly qualified young adults from throughout the United States. These interns desire to help abused, neglected, and HIV-positive children through work with our agency. Hands of Hope Interns commit one year to live and work with these vulnerable children in the Residential Program’s agency foster homes. Responsibilities include daily care of the children, household management, and the coordination of medical appointments and therapy sessions. The Hands of Hope Interns also work with caseworkers, psychological staff, and community volunteers on a routine basis to ensure that the children in placement receive the highest quality of care. For more information on the program and to apply, visit the Hands of Hope Internship webpage.

City Internships runs immersive career training programs for college students and recent graduates that are designed to expand participants’ horizons and get them job-ready. City Internships offers three program formats:

  • The Global Accelerator Program - Best for students and new graduates seeking to launch and accelerate a meaningful career alongside a supportive community of like-minded adventurers and achievers. (8 weeks in person, Summer only)
  • The Global Explorer Program - Best for students, new graduates and early career-changers seeking to explore their career in a global city at their own pace independently or as part of a small group. (8-12 weeks in person, year round)

  • Remote Program - Best for students, new graduates and early career-changers pursuing the benefits of a structured internship placement while studying or from the comfort of home. (8 weeks remote, year round)

For each program, on top of hard and soft skill building at weekly career seminars, workshops, and networking events, participants undertake an internship placement at one of their partner companies. Students and graduates develop real-world skills, build their professional network, and fast-track their careers. To learn more about the different City Internships opportunities, visit the City Internships website.

Pacific Primate Sanctuary (PPS) is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization that provides rehabilitation and permanent care for threatened, endangered, and distressed primates. The organization works with New World monkeys, many of which have been rescued from research laboratories, the exotic pet trade, and tourist attractions.

Interns are trained by experienced members of our staff in all aspects of New World primate care (Callithrix, Cebus, and Ateles). Over the course of a year-long internship, interns will learn how to provide daily care, enrichment, and nurturing to monkeys by preparing food, cleaning enclosures, and maintaining the Sanctuary facility. They will also become proficient in Emergency Care, will receive specialized medical training (including administering medication, checking vitals, and intensive care), and participate in Sanctuary Management (training new volunteers, keeping detailed reports on the primates, and creating protocol and procedure documents).

Qualifications/Experience

The PPS Resident Internship Selection Committee invites qualified applicants with a background and interest in animal husbandry, welfare and conservation, exotic veterinary medicine, biology, and related fields to apply for this residency.

This is an entry level position in primate care. Candidates should have received, or be working towards, a university degree in biology, zoology, primatology, ecology, and other relevant majors, and/or have a minimum of one year experience working with domestic or exotic animals in a professional setting. Applicants must be at least 20 years of age at the start of their Internship. A one-year commitment is required. 

Salary/funding

As no medical research is conducted at the Sanctuary, our organization is not eligible for funding from any governmental agencies, nor do we receive funds from admission, as public zoos do. Therefore, we must rely solely upon donations from compassionate individuals and organizations. Our operating budget is extremely small. Financial independence for personal expenses (i.e. travel and medical needs) is required of Sanctuary Interns. Everyone involved with Pacific Primate Sanctuary is unsalaried and the organization operates with an entirely volunteer staff, funded solely by money donated by compassionate individuals and organizations.

Support provided for PPS Internship positions

Pacific Primate Sanctuary provides fully furnished and equipped Yurts, traditional round structures designed specifically for tropical living, with wireless internet service. The Yurts and bathroom accommodations are adjacent to the facility. Utilities, paper goods, and cleaning supplies are also supplied. Primate Care/Documentarian Interns, the Assistant Manager Intern, and local PPS Volunteers maintain an on-site organic garden and fruit orchard, supporting the Sanctuary’s sustainability goals. The verdant 4-acre site is landscaped with tropical ornamentals, flowers, and trees. This position is ideal for someone who would enjoy a rural lifestyle with simple amenities, in a subtropical climate.

Interested in Applying?

Please begin making application for the Internship by submitting the following, via e-mail: your Letter of Intent for why you are submitting your application, your Resume/CV, three Letters of Reference (from instructors, employers etc.), and a completed application. For additional information and application documents, please contact: pps@pacificprimate.org.

Application Deadlines:

  • March 20 application deadline for May 1 Start Date
  • October 1 application deadline for November 15 Start Date
  • December 1 application deadline for January 15 Start Date

 

Learn More

 

Open Doors for Multicultural Families is a non-profit organization that supports individuals with disabilities and their families by providing systems navigation, specialized programming, and advocacy for systems change.

Internship Details:
  • Program: Fall 2025 Internship (Unpaid)
  • Duration: September 24 – December 5, 2025
  • Location: In-person in Kent, WA (occasional travel may be required)
  • Eligibility:
    • Current college students or recent graduates in relevant fields (e.g., Social Work, Psychology, Special Education, Disability Studies)
    • Strong interest in working with individuals with ID/DD
    • Ability to pass a background check
 Available Teams:

(Please refer to the job description for specific program tasks)

  • Early Learning
  • Development
  • Family Support
  • Economic Stability
  • Youth – Programs & RSA/Assistive Technology
 Application Process:
  • Application Period: August 1 – September 10
  • Required Documents:
    • Current resume detailing relevant lived and professional experience
    • Cover letter explaining interest in working with individuals with ID/DD, learning goals for the internship, and any academic requirements. Please indicate your preferred team.
  • Submit Applications To: geonat@opendoorswa.org
Current Volunteer Opportunities for Puget Sound Psychology Majors

For more information on the opportunities listed below, as well as the NWIRP as a whole, please visit their website.

Play an Important Role in Community Self Defense Against ICE Raids

We are in need of volunteers to staff the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network’s Rapid Response Hotline (1-844-RAID-REP). This hotline is a key resource for helping community members report ICE activity in their communities and dispatch rapid response volunteers.

We are looking for bilingual English/Spanish volunteers to take regular volunteer shifts as well as bilingual volunteers in additional languages to be on call. The hotline is staffed 6am - 9pm; we are particularly in need of early morning, evening, and weekend volunteers.

Please contact info@waisn.org for more information on upcoming volunteer trainings.

Volunteer Translators / Interpreters

If you are multilingual and would like to volunteer to help NWIRP serve people who have immigrated to Washington from over 100 countries worldwide, we would love to hear from you! Please submit your details including your contact information, the details of the languages you speak/write, and your availability. We seek volunteers who can both interpret conversations with clients and translate written materials. Please note: Your name will be added to the list but you will not be contacted directly until NWIRP staff have a need for translation or interpretation in the language you offer. We prioritize volunteers who do not charge for their services.

The AIDNW (Advocates for Immigrants in Detention Northwest) has a variety of volunteer positions available for those interested in getting involved. We have listed a couple of these opportunities below. For more information on volunteer opportunities, visit the AIDNW website.

Welcome Center Volunteers

Welcome Center volunteers are on duty in two shifts that cover from 1:30 - 7:00 pm Monday through Friday, in an RV that is parked just outside the NW ICE Processing Center, formerly known as the NW Detention Center). Volunteers generally work two shifts a month. Volunteer duties include:

  • Greeting released immigrants and visitors 
  • Offering telephone access to released immigrants 
  • Assisting in travel planning, ensuring that travel plans follow AIDNW guidelines
  • Offering soft drinks, snacks, backpacks and clothing as needed
  • Arranging safe housing for those who are not traveling on immediately.

Volunteers may choose to drive immigrants to the bus or train station, or to the AIDNW Hospitality House. No second language is required, but we are in particular need of Spanish and Creole speaking volunteers. Full training is provided. Welcome Center volunteers report to the AIDNW Program Manager.

Hospitality House Volunteers

AIDNW leases a house for immigrants who need transitional housing. The AIDNW office is co-located in the house. Hospitality House volunteers work one day a week, Monday - Friday from 11:00 am - 3:00 pm. Duties are varied and may include:

  • Receiving, sorting, logging and organizing donated clothing and making sure guests have the clothing they need.
  • Changing bedding and cleaning rooms as guests leave.
  • Keeping surfaces sanitized in common areas, sweeping, mopping and vacuuming. (Residents are responsible for their own dishes and cleaning up after themselves).
  • Checking that food supplies are sufficient, and helping with transportation to the food bank or grocery store as needed.

Training is provided. Hospitality House volunteers report to the AIDNW Program Manager.

Updated September 2025