HDFS Internship Program

The HDFS Internship Program fulfills the capstone experience requirement for the undergraduate human services major in HDFS 45500. It is also available as a selection for the capstone requirement for the developmental and family science major in HDFS 45800.

Internship placements are arranged through the preparatory course HDFS 45400 (Career Assessment and Professional Development), based on student, agency and department agreement. Beginning in fall 2020, if you choose to major in human services, you may elect to add the addiction studies concentration, which requires a specialized internship.

Students majoring in human services will complete an internship in one of the following formats:

• Full-time internship (12 credits) at 40 hours per week for 16 weeks (fall/spring)
• Half-time internship (six credits) at 20 hours per week for 16 weeks (fall/spring)
• Full-time internship (six credits) at 40 hours per week for eight weeks (summer only)

Students majoring in developmental and family science may complete an internship in one of the following formats:

• Half-time internship (six credits) at 20 hours per week for 16 weeks (fall/spring)
• Full-time internship (six credits) at 40 hours per week for eight weeks (summer only)

Internship Placement Sites

Internship placement sites may represent a broad range of settings related to human services, developmental and family science, and related fields, including:

• Nonprofit, for-profit or government agencies (e.g., community centers, family resource centers, autism centers, elder care facilities, correction facilities, military installations, etc.)
• Indirect services (e.g., fundraising, program development, grant-writing, technical assistance, etc.) or direct services to clients (e.g., program implementation, case management, outreach/education, family support services, etc.)
• Human needs (e.g., poverty, disability, criminal offenses, health and wellness, etc.)
• Human service programs

Human services majors are required to take a series of courses designated as “practical skills,” which prepare you for clinically-oriented roles. Because the developmental and family science curriculum does not include this preparation, developmental and family science majors will not be placed in internship roles that include clinical tasks, such as counseling services, risk assessments or working with families who are receiving services due to abuse or neglect. However, it is still possible for DVFS majors to be hired into these roles following graduation, as many organizations have extensive training for new employees.

Internships are often local placements but may be completed in other locations as long as the capstone requirements are met as defined by the HDFS 45400 instructor. For a list of some past and current internship placement sites, view our internship site partners.

HDFS Internship Program site partners

The Department of Human Development and Family Science appreciates the ongoing collaboration of each of our site partners. We’re also always interested in partnering with agencies that can offer high-quality experiences and supervision. The following documents may be useful to you in supporting current or future interns.

• HDFS internship policies
• Intern performance evaluation forms
• Apply to be a site partner

Contact an Internship Coordinator

Natasha Watkins, watkinsn@purdue.edu, 765-496-2106

Cézanne Elias, chaas@purdue.edu, 765-494-2944