Human Development

Internship Policy

PURPOSE

An internship is intended to provide students with the opportunity to apply what they are learning in their Human Development courses to real world situations. It offers them the chance to work in a community agency of their choosing under the supervision of agency staff, who will also train and evaluate them.  The Human Development faculty are committed to making the internship a quality experience that involves the performance of meaningful activities under the direct supervision of an administrator in a community agency.

Many students are interested in human services careers, and it is acceptable for them to be involved in internships where educational guidance, telephone crisis counseling, or basic support and advocacy services are provided as long as: a) appropriate, ongoing training and supervision are provided, and b) the work the intern performs is normally done by someone with an undergraduate degree or could be done by a trained community volunteer. In other words, students should only be engaged in activities that they could perform as a job upon obtaining their bachelor’s degree. Because of licensure requirements and confidentiality concerns, students may not observe or participate in individual or group counseling and psychotherapy or psychological testing.

CRITERIA

1. An internship is typically the equivalent of a 3-credit course, though it may range from 1-4 credits.
2. Students are required to spend approximately 100 hours per semester at the applied setting (or 30-35 hours per credit).
3. Ordinarily, the student must have a cumulative 3.0 grade point average or above, a 3.25 GPA in at least 4 Human Development courses, and be of Junior or Senior standing.
4. An internship may not substitute for other courses on the student's academic plan.

PROCEDURES TO SET-UP INTERNSHIP

1. Take relevant course work specific to the setting and consult the internship lists or the faculty advisor for the prerequisite courses deemed necessary.
2. Contact the site supervisor of the location you wish to work
3. Meet with supervisor/faculty member to identify a list of learning objectives for the internship and complete a Internship/Independent Study Form.

PROCEDURES TO SET-UP INTERNSHIP

1. Before the internship experience begins, the student must have taken relevant course work specific to the setting and should consult the internship lists or the faculty advisor for the prerequisite courses deemed necessary.
2. The student must have obtained the consent of the site supervisor and of the faculty member with whom he/she wishes to work.
3. After obtaining the instructor's consent, the student and faculty member will meet to identify a list of learning objectives for the internship and complete the relevant registration paperwork (Internship/Independent Study Form). The setting and the site
   supervisor will be discussed with and approved by the appropriate Human Development faculty member.
4. The Human Development chair will need to also sign the form after it is completed.

PROCEDURES FOR SITE AND FACULTY ADVISORS

1. During the semester, the site supervisor and the faculty sponsor 
   discuss the particulars of the student's learning experience. The
   conferences will provide an opportunity for assessing the student's
   progress/performance and guide for future experiences.
2. Prior to start of the internship, the faculty member will assign a
   list of appropriate readings to provide a theoretical basis for the  
   academic integrity and integration of the experience.
3. At the end of the semester, the internship supervisor will be
   asked to complete a Supervisor Evaluation of Student Form.

WHAT'S EXPECTED OF THE INTERN

1. Intern typically will meet with their faculty sponsor 3-4 times during
   the semester to discuss the internship experience and relevant
   academic reading matter.
2. The student will be required to keep a weekly journal to record
   activities, reactions, insights and/or linkages to theoretical
   perspectives noting the date and times at setting. This journal/log
   should be shown to both the faculty sponsor and the field supervisor
   on a regular basis.
3. A 15-20 page paper will be required at the end of the semester
   describing in detail the internship experience, evaluation of personal
   growth and address any relevant theoretical and/or applied issues.
   An integration of theory (readings) and practice (experience) needs
   to be demonstrated in the final paper.
4. Write a one page description and evaluation of student's internship
   experiences that can be used as a source of future reference for
   both students and faculty.