Provides an opportunity to integrate HDFS classroom knowledge into real-world experiences. Students complete between 160-240 hours (4-6 credits) at an internship site established and approved by the HDFS Department. Weekly meetings with internship site supervisors foster the development of professional skills and feedback to enhance students’ performance, conduct, ethics, and communication skills for the workplace.
Course Learning Objectives
(These are to communicate the observable and measurable student learning outcomes for every course offering.)
- Display content knowledge and understanding of theory, research, and practice relevant to optimizing the development, health and well-being of individuals and families across the lifespan in the context of the larger social environment.
- Evaluate and interpret relevant information related to individuals and families from a variety of sources.
- Exhibit effective written and oral communication skills appropriate to the field of human development and family studies, including use of technology for presentations.
- Compare and contrast multiple points of view, including diverse and multicultural influences and perspectives in HDFS
- Develop and implement effective collaboration, problem solving, and goal setting skills
- Justify appropriate actions and behaviors in the context of professional ethics, conduct, and presentation including social media, email, and other arenas of presentation.
Prerequisite
HDFS 477 (HDFS Professional Preparation); Required background check through CBI, FBI; Human Development and Family Studies majors only; Instructor approval must be given prior to enrollment. Students will be provided enrollment instructions once they have been cleared for internship by the Coordinator of HDFS Experiential Learning.
Important Information
This is an experiential learning experience that should be closely aligned with students’ career plans. Students will work closely with the Coordinator of HDFS Experiential Learning to ensure appropriate placement; therefore, permission is required to enroll in this class.
Students must enroll in no fewer than 4 credits (160 internship hours) and no more than 6 credits (240 internship hours) of HDFS 488.
All prerequisites must be completed or consent from the instructor given prior to enrollment. Students must have completed 90 credits by the time they begin their internship.
Students who are registering after the start of the term should contact the instructor at the time of registration. If they receive permission to enroll, students will be added to the CANVAS section as soon as possible and have access to the course and details about the class requirements.
Instructors
Jennifer Reinke
Jennifer.Reinke@colostate.edu
Dr. Jennifer Reinke is an Associate Professor in the Human Development and Family Studies Department at CSU. She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, a Certified Family Life Educator, and co-editor of Family Life Education: The Practice of Family Science. Dr. Reinke’s scholarly interests are centered around the scholarship of teaching and learning in family science.
