Meanings and Contributions of Professional Internships in the Training of an Undergraduate Psychologist

Psychology has become a permanent part in Colombian higher education as evidenced by the increasing number of universities that offer this major and students that choose to make psychology their professional career. The present article seeks to understand the meaning that undergraduate psychology majors in a private university in Medellín (Colombia) constructed with regard to their professional internships. Employing a qualitative design, the proposed research is documental. The sample was taken from 335 undergraduate projects completed at the beginning of the internship and 269 reports completed at the end. The results indicate that the professional practice was the most important educational experience in their undergraduate careers because it allowed them to acquire knowledge outside the classroom, as well as to articulate theory with   reality and to approach the real-life work of psychologists. This helps the students form their professional identity and facilitate their insertion in the labor market. Professional internships are a mainstay to the adequate and ethical training of psychologists.

Keywords: Professional internship, psychology, professional training, higher education.