1. General Information

In the Department of Psychology, four internship/practicum courses are conducted to observe the practical application of theoretical knowledge in field conditions. In these courses, students spend one day a week at an institution for an academic semester, make observations under supervision, and regularly report their experiences.

The courses are departmental electives and have no defined prerequisites. Although not mandatory for graduation, field experience provides a decisive contribution to graduate applications and determining career orientation. The courses run on two tracks: development-focused in the third year, and clinical-focused in the fourth year. The two tracks differ in how the field placement is determined. All four courses are defined as 1+4+0 hours, 3 credits, and 5 ECTS. Official course descriptions, learning outcomes, workload, and evaluation tables can be found in the ECTS Information Package: https://auects.altinbas.edu.tr/web/Ects/ProgramDetail/CourseStructure?PID=431&BID=53

2. Common Principles

The following rules apply to all four courses:

Duration and Attendance

The fieldwork lasts at least 10 weeks and a total of 80 hours. The program is structured on the basis of one full day per week; this duration is also expressed as "10 working days" in official documents.

Weekly Reporting

Students upload their field report for that week via UZEM every week. The submission day and time are announced on the course's UZEM page; adhering to the submission schedule is part of the evaluation.

Occupational Health and Safety (OHS)

To begin fieldwork, the Occupational Health and Safety training must be completed. At the beginning of the semester, students are asked if they have received this training before; for those who have not, a course is opened on UZEM followed by an exam.

Course Schedule and Announcements

These are not theoretical courses taught in a classroom setting. The classroom and time information shown in the course schedule is not valid. All announcements, documents, and submission notices regarding the process are managed via UZEM; it is the student's responsibility to follow the UZEM page regularly throughout the semester.

Document Responsibility

Executing the paperwork process completely and on time is part of the course and the student's responsibility. This process is evaluated as a skill that has practical value in professional life.

3. Development-Focused Internship/Practicum

In these two courses taken in the third year, the field placement is found by the student. The courses focus on different populations:

• PSY001 (Fall) — Early childhood. Development processes of children are observed in kindergartens, nurseries, and similar institutions.
• PSY002 (Spring) — Different age groups. Development processes are observed in institutions such as special education centers, nursing homes, and care facilities.

Institution Suitability Criteria

The selected institution must meet the following criteria:

• It must be an institution suitable for observing the developmental processes of the target age group.
• It must offer direct or indirect developmental observation and experience opportunities. Private individual clinics are not suitable for these courses.
• There must be at least one experienced professional in the field at the institution who can supervise the student. Primarily, developmental psychologists, child and adolescent psychologists, or psychology experts are sought; professionals from related fields such as psychological counselors, child development specialists, or special education experts may also be evaluated.
• The process must be conducted within the framework of ethical principles, allowing the student's participation in observation, evaluation, and developmental support processes.

Process

1. Determining the institution. An institution that meets the criteria is researched. Finding the institution is the student's responsibility.
2. Suitability approval. Before formally applying to the institution, suitability approval is obtained from the course instructor via email.
3. Paperwork process. After approval, application documents are prepared and submitted. This process must be completed within the specified period from the start of the course.
4. Fieldwork. Fieldwork begins after paperwork and insurance procedures are completed and continues for ten weeks.
5. End-of-semester submission. The final report and evaluation forms are submitted.

4. Clinical-Focused Internship/Practicum

In these two courses taken in the fourth year, students work in the psychiatry wards of hospitals, counseling centers, and clinics.

Placement Process

1. Quota notification. The University Internship Unit sends institution and quota information to the department at the beginning of the semester.
2. Preference form. A preference survey/form is announced to the enrolled students via the UZEM course page. The deadline for filling out the form is stated in the announcement.
3. Placement. In case of high demand for a specific institution, placements are made based on grade point average (GPA).
4. Document process. After placements are finalized, the paperwork process begins; required documents and dates are again announced via UZEM.
5. Orientation and OHS. An information meeting is held before the fieldwork; OHS courses and exams are conducted for students who lack the training.
6. Fieldwork and submission. Fieldwork is carried out on a designated day of the week, weekly reports are uploaded to UZEM, and end-of-semester documents are submitted.

Note: Healthcare institutions may request additional documents or procedures (health report, ID and badge, orientation, etc.) due to their internal operations. These requests are handled directly between the institution and the student.

5. Ethical Principles and Confidentiality

Fieldwork is the process where the student is in the same environment with real clients and patients for the first time. Therefore, ethical obligations are a prerequisite, not a supplementary part of the course. Adherence to the following principles is mandatory.

Privacy

• Information obtained at the institution regarding clients, patients, children, and families must never be shared in any environment. This obligation covers everyone except the institution's staff.
• Identity information must not be included in weekly reports or the final report. Names, Turkish ID numbers, file numbers, addresses, and any distinguishing details that could identify the person must not be used; pseudonyms or codes should be used when necessary.
• No photo, audio, or video recordings may be taken within the institution, and screen captures are prohibited.
• No content regarding the field experience may be shared on social media.

Boundaries of Competence

• The student is in the position of an observer and learner during fieldwork.
• Independent interviews must not be conducted, tests must not be administered, and evaluations must not be made without the knowledge and direction of the supervisor.
• No diagnostic, interpretive, or directive statements should be made to clients, patients, or their relatives.
• If given a task believed to fall outside one's competence, the student must first consult the field supervisor and then the course instructor.

Compliance with Institution Rules

• The working hours, occupational safety, and disciplinary rules of the institution must be followed.
• The provisions of the Higher Education Institutions Student Discipline Regulations also apply during fieldwork.

Continuity of Obligation

The confidentiality obligation does not end when the fieldwork concludes; it is perpetual. Violation of ethical principles can lead to termination of the fieldwork, failing the course, and initiation of a disciplinary process.

6. Documents

Application Documents

The first five of the following documents are common to all four courses. Document templates are provided to students on the UZEM course page.

End-of-Semester Documents

Three documents are submitted after the completion of the fieldwork.

• Final Internship Report: There is no standard template. It is prepared in accordance with APA style, including a cover page. The report contains a comprehensive evaluation of the fieldwork conducted throughout the semester. The final report is submitted both by hand and uploaded via UZEM.
• Student Internship Evaluation Form: Filled out by the student. This form, in which the student evaluates their own internship experience, serves as a guide for students who will do internships in subsequent semesters. The form includes rating items on transferring theoretical knowledge to practice, culture-specific practice differences, insight into professional life, and career orientation, as well as open-ended questions about the positive and negative aspects of the institution.
• Intern Performance Evaluation Form: This form is not filled out by the student. It is filled and signed by the authorized person at the institution and received by the student in a sealed envelope to be delivered. The form evaluates the student's field knowledge, motivation, ability to apply knowledge, use of initiative, quality of work, appropriate behavior in the institutional environment, responsibility, and harmony in interpersonal relations; it also includes a declaration of success/failure regarding overall performance.

Submission Procedure

End-of-semester documents that need to be submitted as hard copies must be delivered individually by hand by the announced deadline and time. Submission via third parties or to another unit is not considered valid.

7. Evaluation

There are no midterm or final exams for these courses. Success is evaluated based on the entire fieldwork process. The criteria used for evaluation are:

• Submission of weekly reports according to the announced schedule and rules.
• Completion of the attendance and hourly requirements.
• Final internship report.
• Feedback from the institution where the fieldwork was conducted and the relevant expert.

The evaluation weights for the courses are stated in the ECTS Information Package and in the course syllabus uploaded to UZEM at the beginning of the semester. Students are expected to review the syllabus at the start of the term. Attendance, success evaluation, and the grading system regarding these courses are subject to the provisions of the Altınbaş University Associate and Undergraduate Education, Training, and Examination Regulation:
Associate and Undergraduate Education, Training, and Examination Regulation

8. Frequently Asked Questions

9. Communication and Application Channels

Questions regarding the process should be directed through the following channels depending on the subject.

All correspondence regarding the process is expected to be conducted via the Altınbaş University student email address and in compliance with professional correspondence rules.

This guide has been prepared for general information purposes. Semester start dates, preference form deadlines, document submission days, and course syllabi are announced via UZEM each semester.