Steps you need to take to prepare for your internship.
Human Development and Family Sciences undergraduate program
Contact the HDFS Internship Coordinator, Dr. Tasha Galardi.
Students completing an HDFS practicum or internship are responsible for investigating, selecting, and securing their own placement, similar to an actual job-search process.
The HDFS Internship Coordinator has resources to assist in this process and to help you pick a site that will be a perfect fit.
The List of Suggested Practicum & Internship Sites (online .xlsx) ONID required includes sites that have provided great internship experiences for past students, and understand the expectations of our program. Students are strongly encouraged, but not required, to choose a site from this list.
If you want to do your internship at a site that is not on this list, you must be even more organized and begin the process earlier to give the Internship Coordinator time to determine whether the site meets the program requirements.
The first step to getting a new site approved is to reach out to that site by phone and find out if they would be willing to work with you as a student. If they are willing, then you should contact the HDFS Internship Coordinator to discuss whether this site is an option. If so, the Internship Coordinator will contact the site supervisor directly to learn more about the services they offer and their ability to effectively support a human services intern.
Best to contact at least 3 different sites, using the names and email addresses provided on the suggested site list.
Put the words “HDFS internship” in the subject line, along with the term you plan to complete your internship (for example “HDFS 310 internship for Fall term”)
You should meet with 2-3 sites so that you can learn more to determine which one will be the best fit.
After you have chosen a site, and they have agreed to work with you, meet with your site supervisor to complete Form A: HDFS Internship Placement Agreement
(If the docx version above doesn't work, use the pdf version Form A: HDFS Internship Placement Agreement.)
At this meeting, you will discuss the specifics of the internship experience including your role, responsibilities, and internship activities.
This paperwork needs to be filled out together, and signed by both you and the site supervisor.
Email the HDFS Internship Coordinator a completed and signed copy of Form A: HDFS Internship Placement Agreement.
If you are taking HDFS 410, which is a variable credit course, you need to manually adjust the number of credits you are taking.