Developing Professional Standards in Family Science Internships

Abstract

Abstract This article provides an overview of the history of internships in undergraduate family science programs as well as describes internships in current baccalaureate family science programs. Although social service internships have been a component of family science programs since the 1970s, standards for them have not been developed. Representatives from 32 U.S. baccalaureate family science programs responded to a survey regarding their internship program. The programs were found to differ in their definitions of terms such as practicum and internship, how many clock hours students serve internships, how far from campus the sites are, which classes and experiences are prerequisites for the internship, who directs and/or administers the experience, the type of sites identified as appropriate, and the professions for which students are being prepared. Future research questions are also identified.