Clinical Work (e.g., working at a crisis hotline or in a group home for people with mental illnesses, etc)

If you are interested in doing clinical work in a therapeutic context, many opportunities exist in the mental health arena. For instance, with a BA or BS you may be qualified to work in a group home, at a crisis hotline, or in an inpatient facility. Some of these positions depend on government funding, which can make their availability unpredictable. However, the prospects can be exciting and personally rewarding. Many employers are looking for job applicants who have had previous clinical experience or advanced training. During your time as an undergraduate, you may acquire this experience in many ways. First, you may complete an internship for course credit (e.g., PSYC 3760: Field Experiences, PSYC 3991: Independent Study, the Sociology Internship course, or through cooperative education credits for internships obtained at the University Career Center: 303-871-2150). You may also find part-time or volunteer work with a local agency (e.g., a homeless shelter, a battered woman's shelter, etc) while you are an undergraduate. Finally, you may consider taking classes that teach you about mental illness and treatments (e.g., PSYC 2500: Abnormal Psychology, PSYC 2510: Personality, PSYC 2520: Introduction to Clinical Psychology, or PSYC 2530: Child Psychopathology; PSYC 2109: Depression, PSYC 2050: Child Development; PSYC 3020: Adolescence).