This application is necessary only for students who wish to enroll in PSYCH 493, 494, 495, or 496. Students who intend to enroll in PSYCH 439 or PSYCH 490 may schedule them without completing this application.
This first section provides an overview of the capstone application procedure. The second and third sections provide, respectively, the application for all projects and the supplemental application for internships. The fourth section provides a sample syllabus for PSYCH 495, which provides details about the specific expectations for that capstone.
How to get started
All Psychology majors must complete a capstone course in order to graduate. Typically, students complete the capstone in their senior year. If you are thinking about the capstone you should first consult the Psychology Program Handbook, available online or from Dr. Pinter. The Handbook provides detailed descriptions of the various options. Next, you should consult with a Psychology faculty member about your interests.
Eligibility requirements are a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and a minimum grade of C in PSYCH 301W. Students who are not eligible for PSYCH 493, 494, 496, or 496 may take PSYCH 439 or PSYCH 490 to satisfy the capstone requirement.
If you are interested in PSYCH 493, 494, or 496 you will complete only the basic application for review.
If you are interested in PSYCH 495 you will complete both the basic and supplemental application for review. In completing these documents, you might consult the student resources on the Penn State Altoona internship page. You might also talk to our faculty members for ideas. You will be responsible for identifying possible internship sites and inquiring about their willingness to have you. It is very important that you carefully choose your internship site. Your goal should be to find an internship site that provides a meaningful experience that is consistent with your interests and career goals. As part of the supplemental application, you are directed to ask potential internship site contacts to describe the anticipated activities, experiences, and skills you can expect. This information will be helpful in evaluating the merits of the proposed project. The typical internship is taken for three academic credits. This requires 120 site hours.
Timeline
You should begin preparations for the capstone project no later than the beginning of the regular semester preceding the anticipated capstone semester. This advice is particularly important for students interested in PSYCH 494 and 495 because those courses require additional up-front work that can require a long wait. For 494, this includes submitting and gaining approval of an IRB application. For 495, this includes submitting and gaining approval of various work clearances (e.g., criminal background check).
You must submit the Psychology Capstone Application no later than the tenth week of the regular semester preceding the anticipated capstone semester. So, for a fall capstone project, students should aim to submit an application by March 15. For a spring capstone project, students should submit an application in that previous fall semester by October 15. Early submissions are welcomed.
It is recommended that you download the Word Doc version of the application and submit it to your faculty supervisor. If needed, an online version of the application is also available.
