Hello,
I will be entering a clinical Psy.D. program this fall 2000 straight from
earning my bachelors degree in psychology. The program that I will be
attending does not offer teaching assistantships, because it is a small
school that really takes pride in its faculty being teachers. I would like to
keep my options open as far as being able to teach on the undergraduate level
after earning my doctorate (even though I am primarily interested in private
practice now and this is what my program emphasizes), but I'm not sure how to
accomplish this if I can't get graduate teaching experience. I do have
extensive undergraduate experience in teaching psychology 101 for 50 minute
periods once every week during my last semester. My faculty mentor and my
students gave me rave reviews.
My question is...what options do I have that will keep the teaching option
open to me (if any)? Would substitute teaching in a high school have any
positive impact on teaching on the undergrad level after earning my
doctorate? Is it idealistic to think that my undergraduate institution may
offer me a summer teaching position for an introductory course while I'm in
graduate school so that I can get some more experience? (There are several
faculty in my undergraduate department who have clinical Psy.D.s and I have
had masters' psychology students at my undergraduate university teaching
summer courses before). I would appreciate any advice or suggestions that
anyone may have for my situation.
Thank you,
Jessica Percodani
