Internship Opportunities
As a Human Development and Family Studies major, you’ll be required to participate in an internship your senior year, which is an intensive experience in a setting aligned with your career interest or concentration. The 160-240 hour internship is a more intensive experiential learning opportunity offered for variable credit (4-6 credits).
HDFS Internship Program Mission Statement
The mission of the HDFS Internship Program is to engage students in applied, practical experiences in professional settings that complement students’ academic and career goals related to human development across the lifespan.
We work towards achieving this mission through prioritizing the following goals:
- Offer students a structured, semester-long opportunity to explore their career interests related to diverse settings and populations
- Provide students with foundational experiential learning opportunities that will empower students to apply HDFS content and knowledge and strengthen transferable skills.
- Afford students the chance to learn and develop professional and transferable skills for the workforce
- Engage with community partners to create sustainable learning experiences that are mutually beneficial to both students and community partners.
- Uphold equitable, accessible, and inclusive practices at every juncture of the HDFS Internship Program.
You can complete your internship locally or outside of the Fort Collins area. The Department of Human Development and Family Studies offers local students more than 35 sites that the College of Health and Human Sciences has approved for learning experiences for students. We offer our students educational experiences that meet the goals and competencies of the HDFS B.S. degree.
Examples of Local Internship Placement Sites
Human Development and Family Studies Professions
- The Farm – City of Fort Collins Recreation Department
- The Gardens on Spring Creek – Youth Programs City of Fort Collins Recreation Department
- Northside Aztlan Community Center/Foothills Activity Center – City of Fort Collins Recreation Department
Early Childhood Professions
- BASE Camp
- Local Elementary Schools
- Early Childhood Council of Larimer County
- The Family Center
- Fort Collins Museum of Discovery
Pre-Health Professions
- Columbine Health Systems
- CSU Health Network
- CSU Student Disability Center
- UC Health Senior Services
- Elderhaus Adult Day Care Programs
- Home Instead Senior Care
- Larimer Advanced Care Planning Team
- Larimer Department of Health and Environment
- My Hero’s Therapy
- Pets Forever
- Respite Care Inc
- The Courtyard of Loveland
- Volunteers of America / Caregiver Support Program
Prevention and Intervention Science Professions
- Boys and Girls Club
- CSU Campus Connections
- CTRAC
- CSU Prevention Research Center
- Crossroads Safehouse
- Cooper Home Learning 4 Living – Poudre School District
- The Family Center
- Larimer County Department of Human Services, Children, Youth & Family Division
- Neighbor to Neighbor Inc
- Partners Mentoring Youth
- Probation Department – Eighth Judicial District
- SART Peers – Poudre School District
- Sexual Assault Victim Advocate Center
- TEAM Wellness & Prevention
- Turning Point Center for Youth & Family Development Inc.
- Voices Carry Child Advocacy Center
Leadership and Advocacy
- Compass Community Collaborative School
- Junior Achievement – Rocky Mountain, Inc. Northern Colorado/Wyoming District
- Fort Collins Senior Center – City of Fort Collins Recreation Department
- Larimer County Economic and Workforce Development: CareerRise Young Adult Services
- Lincoln Middle School
- Neighbor to Neighbor, Inc.
- United Way of Larimer County
- Volunteers of America – Volunteer Program Administration, Outreach, and Research
- Volunteers of America / Disaster Simulation Participant – Experience Coordinator
Gerontology Interdisciplinary Minor
- Aspen Club – UC Health Senior Services
- Columbine Health Systems
- Columbine Health and Wellness Partnership
- Edlerhaus Adult Day Care Programs
- Home Instead Senior Care
- Larimer Advance Care Planning Team
- Pets Forever
- The Courtyard of Loveland
- Volunteers of America / Caregiver Support Program
- Fort Collins Senior Center – City of Fort Collins Recreation Department
- Volunteers of America – Volunteer Program Administration, Outreach, and Research
Practicum Opportunities
Completing a HDFS Practicum is an exciting opportunity where students apply the knowledge they have gained in academic classes to the real-life setting of a community organization. HDFS 286 is a 3-credit course that offers students both a structured experiential learning opportunity and an opportunity to demonstrate new learnings via assignments and activities embedded in the course. HDFS Practicum students complete 75 hours of experiential learning across the semester (weeks 2-15; on average, this is 5.35 hours/week). The Practicum can also be taken as an elective course if you’re in another concentration. Please contact the Coordinator for HDFS Experiential Learning, Jennifer Reinke, for current Practicum site offerings.
Research, Teaching, and Advising Opportunities
Students in the Human Development and Family Studies major have several opportunities to develop leadership skills within the department while working closely with faculty, staff, graduate students, and fellow undergraduates. These relationships lead to rich mentoring, career guidance, graduate program guidance, professional networking, and references. These courses can be applied to the overall graduation requirements as upper division credit or within concentration areas.
We provide opportunities for students to take ownership of their education and build leadership skills while working closely with faculty, staff, graduate students, and fellow undergraduates. These relationships lead to rich mentoring, career guidance, graduate program guidance, professional networking, and references. Students can earn credit through most opportunities listed below.
Research Assistantships
Research assistantship experiences are valuable when preparing for graduate studies and to enhance what students are learning in the classroom through engagement in studies that involve individuals and families.
Research assistantships can be completed for 1-3 credits per semester. Typically faculty prefer a two semester requirement. A 3.0 cumulative or major GPA is required. Other qualifications may be required by supervising faculty.
You can explore current research being conducted by HDFS faculty and contact them directly to discuss opportunities for involvement.
Teaching Assistantships
Work with a faculty member in a specific course to provide support in the organization and administration of the course. This is a great way to make faculty connections and help other students as well.
Teaching assistantships can be completed for 1-3 credits per semester. A 3.0 cumulative or major GPA is required. Faculty require you to be present in the course to support in-class activities.
Peer Advising
Peer advising is a unique opportunity for undergraduate students to explore academic advising and student affairs in higher education careers while gaining a full-year, six-credit experience. The role may be of interest if you’re seeking a career in which you work one-on-one with individuals, are involved in programming and training, and market programs to others through regular public interaction, social media promotion, classroom presentations, and information booths at large university events. Students interested in a two-year experience my apply to return as a Senior Peer Adviser.
HDFS Peer Mentoring Program
Designed for first-generation college students and/or students of color, this is a one-to-one peer mentoring program that creates community, provides college success support, and offers leadership opportunities for students based on shared identities. The program pairs first-year HDFS students with a junior or senior Peer Mentor. Mentees gain support through their transition to college, and mentors gain valuable leadership and mentorship experience. Both mentors and mentees earn college credit for participation in the program through an accompanying year-long HDFS course. Students who identify as first-generation and/or students of color are encouraged to apply.
SOUL
Student Outreach and Undergraduate Leadership is a student-run organization that is aimed at developing leadership among HDFS students. SOUL connects HDFS to CSU and the Fort Collins community, making it possible for students to create a network of peers, faculty, and community members.
Campus Connections
Campus Connections is a multidisciplinary service learning course (HDFS470A) at CSU where undergraduate students serve as mentors to youth. Students from over 90 majors work one-on-one with youth ranging from 10-18 to tackle a broad range of challenges. Youth may be referred by the the juvenile justice system, schools, human service providers, or direct from family members. Mentors work with their youth mentee to establish goals for positive growth. Leadership opportunities exist and students may earn an undergraduate certificate in Youth Mentoring (9 credits).
Study Abroad
International study, research, internship, and service experiences are once-in-a-lifetime, life-changing opportunities with enormous academic, personal, and professional benefits. Visit CSU’s “Education Abroad” to learn more.
ConX Groups
ConX (pronounced “Connects”) is a grant-funded program designed to help students integrate and create community within the five concentrations in the Human Development and Family Studies major. The ConX program is a great way for HDFS students to connect with each other based on shared interests.
Gerontology Club
The CSU Gerontology Club provides students the opportunity to have intergenerational connections and conversations, discussing aging-related topics and giving guidance and tips for interacting with older adults in a meaningful way.