The Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences (PBS) has launched a new program Linking Employment to Academic Development (LEAD) to provide real-world psychology training for UMass students. Students in the program will spend a semester at the Mount Ida Campus of UMass Amherst working at inspiring locations in the Newton and Metro-west Boston area as interns and complete courses relevant to the psychology major. The Mount Ida Campus serves as a center for student experiential learning, industry engagement, and academic and research collaboration.

The spring 2023 semester will include orientation for students, cohort advising sessions including multiple check-ins and mid-semester program and placement assessments, monthly socials, networking events with alumni, and workplace site visits.

Students are working in the fields of mental health, medicine, and science; including internships in inpatient services at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Needham, in research positions at the Integrative Center for Child Development and McLean Hospital, in inpatient and residential services at Walden Eating Disorders Clinic, and at William James College in the court clinic and clinical referral program INTERFACE.

Students enroll in 6 credits of internship, working 18 hours per week at their sites, and earn 7 credits of academic courses. Christina Metevier, a senior lecturer II in PBS, is teaching two major requirements in-person: Junior Writing in Psychology and a seminar titled Work Life Balance. She is also sponsoring students at internship sites and offering additional professional development opportunities and activities.

The internships offered through LEAD will give students the opportunity to explore a wide range of psychology positions, apply their academic skills to various careers, and to develop professional goals. Stay tuned for more updates from this exciting program!

Learn more about the LEAD program and the Mount Ida Campus