Welcome, internship sites and supervisors!
Thank you for your interest in providing Human Development and Family Sciences students with the opportunity to serve as an internship under your supervision and mentorship. The experiences students gain through internships are invaluable, and your expertise and guidance provide them with a strong foundation.
Thank you for your time, energy, and service as you change the lives of these students, and the individuals they will serve in years to come.
Practicum & Internship Overview
Length & Type
Human Services:
HDFS 310 Practicum – Consists of 90 hours of on-site observation over 10 weeks
HDFS 410 Internship – Consists of 300 hours of work on-site over 10 weeks
Early Childhood:
HDFS 330 – Consists of 20 hours of observation over 10 weeks of Winter Term
HDFS 331 – Consists of 60 hours of interaction over 10 weeks of Spring Term
HDFS 433 – Consists of 270 hours at internship site over 10 weeks of Fall Term
Learning Objectives
HDFS 310 Human Services Practicum
As a result of participation in field work, students will be able to:
- Describe the everyday operations of the agency/organization
- Identify ethical standards of behavior for professionals within the agency/organization
- Identify the needs of the population served by the agency/organization
- Engage in introductory practical experience under close supervision of a professional in the field
HDFS 410 Human Services Internship
As a result of participation in field work, students will be able to:
- Describe the everyday operations of the agency/organization
- Identify ethical standards of behavior for professionals within the agency/organization
- Identify the needs of the population served by the agency/organization
- Engage in applied professional-level work under supervision of a professional in the field
HDFS 433 Early Childhood Internship
As a result of participation in field work, students will be able to:
- Identify the ethical standards of behavior for professionals and interns in a preschool setting
- Describe the everyday operations of a preschool classroom
- Identify the needs of the population served by the preschool
- Engage in applied professional-level work under supervision of a professional in the field
3 steps to hosting a student:
1. Check requirements
Before offering a practicum or internship to a student, please double check that your organization aligns with OSU’s Internship guidelines and employer responsibilities.
Affiliation Agreements
An Affiliation Agreement between Oregon State University and the training site/internship host is the preferred method to document the relationship, establish the responsibilities of all parties, and define the education objectives of the experience. The affiliation agreement lasts 3 years and allows professional liability coverage to follow the student to the site. Please refer to Internships and Risk Management Services for more information or contact the Cascades Career Development Center.
Background Checks
It is not OSU policy to perform background checks or hold medical records for vaccines for OSU students. OSU does not certify or vouch for the background of the students who participate in this experiential learning. You must conduct your own background check and obtain other information from the student if it is a site requirement.
Insurance
Students participating in the HDFS Practicum and Internship Program receive professional liability coverage at $2,000,000 per occurrence, $3,000,000 aggregate. Please refer to Internships and Risk Management Services for more information or contact the Cascades Career Development Center.
Learning Agreements
Are required and included in the Handshake approval process. They indicate that all parties; the student, the site supervisor, and the faculty supervisor are going to fulfill their roles to help the student complete the learning objectives for the course.
2. Create a position description and advertise
If your organization would like to advertise an intern position to students, create a description of the position. Include: organization information, position description and title, required qualifications, and application process.
Follow instructions on Posting a job or internship on Handshake.
If a student contacts your organization, follow the steps below.
3. Select your intern and get started
Follow your organizations typical hiring process (i.e. request a resume, host an interview, review candidates, and make your selection). Notify student(s) of your selection. Coordinate with the selected student on start date, hours, schedule, logistics, etc.
The student will notify the Faculty Supervisor and start the Handshake experience process. The Site Supervisor will receive an email directly from Handshake with a prompt to view and approve the student’s internship. Please note that Handshake emails often go to junk or spam folders. Notify the student if you have not received an approval email.
Refer to the Employer and Site Supervisor Responsibilities for tips on how to best work with your intern.