Many students learn better when they can experience what they're learning and have the opportunity to reinforce lecture and reading content through hands-on exposure to the material. Experiential learning can be obtained in many different settings such as:

• internship and summer job settings
• study abroad programs
• undergraduate research experiences
• active student clubs and professional organizations such as Psi Chi or Psychology Club
• classes where you serve as an undergraduate teaching assistant
• experiential components of courses

To obtain a degree in psychology at URI, students must complete an experiential requirement. The type of experiential learning setting depends on students' career interests. For example, students who plan to apply to a doctoral program in psychology should obtain research experience as an undergraduate. They may also be interested in service experience, depending on the field of psychology. Students who plan to become a psychological services assistant may wish to gain experience in a psychological or social service delivery agency.

Obtaining experience in local agencies will help develop a network of professional contacts that may help students pursue professional job opportunities.