Undergraduate: Internship Program

The Internship Program is designed to assist you in gaining pre-professional experience and in establishing a professional identity in the human services field to enhance your appeal to potential employers. The internship is your opportunity to get work experience and to be a professional in a setting of your choice. Usually you will begin the internship process in your junior or senior year.

You must take the introductory course, HDFS 490, before you enroll in your internship. No exceptions are made in this sequence. It is recommended that you schedule HDFS 490 ONE semester before your internship, unless you are planning to do a CHILD LIFE INTERNSHIP. In this case, HDFS 490 needs to be scheduled TWO semesters prior to your internship due to the prerequisites for child life internships, which include 80-100 hours of volunteer work and early application.

For more information on child life internships (Child Life Advising Information), search for internship sites by Professional Interest Area or contact Carolyn H. Johnson at chj101@psu.edu.

The Internship Program consists of three courses (14 credits). These courses are:

HDFS 490: INTRODUCTION TO INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE (2 credits)

HDFS 490 is the first in the series of internship courses and should be taken one semester before your internship (unless you are pursuing a child life internship--see above). HDFS 490 is offered fall and spring semester. The primary goal of this course is to prepare you for a successful undergraduate internship in your professional area of interest. In this course you will develop your résumé, job search techniques, research possible internship sites, and develop and complete an internship agreement (Internship Program Document). This document is an agreement between you, a suitable internship agency or organization, and the University. You must complete HDFS 490 with a minimum grade of "C" and have the instructor's approval before you can continue with the internship program.

HDFS 495A: INTERNSHIP: ADVANCED EXPERIENCE (9 credits)

Represents a full-time, one semester internship experience. Its focus is experiential learning accompanied by intensive supervision, provided by on-site personnel, as well as University based mentoring. Taken concurrently with HDFS 495B.

HDFS 495B: INTERNSHIP: ASSIGNMENTS (3 credits)

There are three assignments for this part of the internship: The Organizational Analysis, Policy Analysis, and Personal Development paper. These assignments will be based on information and experience gathered at your internship.

Even though HDFS 490 helps you with the details of making arrangements for your internship, it is important to be thinking about the internship prior to HDFS 490. If possible, try to volunteer at an agency before your internship or try to get a summer job in a related field. Then you will be ready to ask yourself the following questions:

It is possible to choose internship agencies or organizations from among those previously used by the department or you may identify new sites. Although most students will complete their internships in agencies within Pennsylvania and surrounding states, you may request approval for completing your internship anywhere within the United States . Under special circumstances, the Department may also approve internship sites abroad.

The internship can be taken during the fall, spring, or summer semester. It is one full semester spent working as a professional in a setting of your choice. Generally you will work as a full-time professional (a minimum of 35 hours a week) for the semester. Even though you will spend one semester away from the University, you will be expected to enroll as a full-time student and pay full tuition. The internship is one of the most valuable experiences you will have as part of your education at Penn State. Approach it seriously and think of it as an exciting time in your education. Remember, many students get their first job offer from their internship site or make contacts for possible future employment.

All internship sites must be approved and must have completed an Affiliation Agreement (found below). Students must have professional liability insurance for their internships. A link to a professional liability insurance site can be found below. Students are not permitted to begin their internships without submitting copies of their Affiliation Agreement and proof of liability insurance. In addition, students need to register for HDFS 495A and 495B and their registration must be COMPLETE, before they will be approved to begin their internship. It is recommended that students register for these internship courses 2-3 weeks prior to the end of the semester preceding the internship. For example, if your are planning a Spring internship, your registration must be complete by the first week in December.

You can also ask for advice regarding internship choices. For further questions regarding the Internship Program, contact Dr. Carolyn Johnson. Your faculty adviser, academic adviser, or a trusted faculty member can also help you.

Search for Internship Sites by Professional Interest Area

Internship sites are listed below according to interest area. All files are PDF.

You may also go to the websites for Internships at Penn State Altoona and Internships at the University College to find more information about internships at these locations.

Documents for the Internship Program