Internship Options

The internship experience entails high-quality, professional placement with an agency or work on a research project with a faculty member in human development. 

Option A: Leadership in an Agency. This option is appropriate for students with an interest in a career in a variety of settings, including federal, state or local governments, and public or private agencies that directly service the needs of children, adolescents, adults or families. In addition to the formal course requirements, students complete a 300-hour internship in a public or private agency in their last semester. If currently employed in a human development field, the employer would need to add new leadership responsibilities to the position.

Option B: Applied Research. This option is appropriate for students with an interest in pursuing graduate education in a doctoral program (typically in human development and family studies) or those otherwise interested in a career in research. In addition to the formal course requirements, students complete a research project based on original research supervised by a member of the faculty. Students complete a research article suitable for submission to an academic journal. Students in this option are encouraged to take one class in statistics or qualitative research design.

Applications are processed through the Graduate School on a rolling basis for Fall admission. A limited number of graduate assistantships are available on a competitive basis each year. Students interested in an assistantship should apply by January 15 and send a letter to the Associate Dean, College of Education and Human Development, requesting to be considered.

Applicants are evaluated on criteria including undergraduate GPA, letters of recommendation and matching program interests.