The Human Development and Family Science (HDFS) program focuses to educate students through quality instruction and experiential learning in lifespan human development and family science by fostering critical thinking and the research, communication, and career-ready skills that prepare them to become professionals in service to individuals and families.
Human Development & Family Science (HDFS) prepares graduates to use family-centered and strengths-based approaches to support the health and well-being of individuals and families in diverse communities. HDFS students learn to engage with families across the lifespan and in a variety of service settings and professions, from early childhood education and care to family law and policy advocacy.
The Human Development and Family Science (HDFS) curriculum prepares students to effectively engage with families in a variety of service settings, including: childhood development, education and services; adolescent development and services; adult development and aging; and family health and well being.
Our family research, policy, and advocacy program also prepares students to critically analyze complex family issues, advocate for families in schools, communities, and in the policy arena, and address social factors contributing to and influencing family functioning, health, and well-being (e.g., poverty, immigration, family homelessness, family violence). Students are required to complete a 6-credit internship and integrate research training with service fieldwork. Such an experience is a critical component of HDFS student development and will further prepare our students for diverse careers in the human development and family science field.
Internships are vital. Not only does participation in an internship make a student more career ready, but it can also be an avenue to a job.
Human Development and Family Science (HDFS) students complete a 6-credit internship and integrate research training with service fieldwork. Such an experience is a critical component of each of the HDFS concentrations and further prepares our students for graduate education and diverse careers in the human development and family science field.
Note: To allow time for processing and verification, students must complete all forms prior to the deadline by 2:00 pm.
Semester |
Application Period (see list of forms below) |
Internship must begin on or after |
Internship must end by |
Spring 2024 |
TBD *Applications will be accepted during winter break; however, the university is CLOSED Dec 18 - Jan 1) |
TBD |
TBD |
Summer 2023 |
March 11th - May, 1st, 2023 |
May 22, 2023 |
August 9, 2023 |
Fall 2023 |
NOW OPEN - August 1, 2023 |
August 28, 2023 |
December 9, 2023 |
Careful planning and implementation are the goals to a great internship. Students should schedule their internships during the two semesters of their senior year. Summer courses are not guaranteed.
Prepare a professional resume and have it reviewed at Career Services.
Contact agencies, interview with them and assess whether they can meet all requirements for the course and support you during your internship.
Get site approval from the internship coordinator prior to filling out the application forms.
HDFS faculty can provide information on internships students have participated in listed on this webpage. We encourage students to use Career Services and Handshake to find an internship that is of interest to them.
HDFS internships must address individual development and families at one or more specified points across the lifespan.
Students must look for positions where they will report to a direct supervisor. Parents do not qualify for this role.
The site should meet the responsibilities and competencies for an entry-level HDFS graduates, quality of program, and interest as well as availability of staff. Contact boconne@gmu.edu if you need clarification prior to accepting an internship.
HDFS internship credit hours require both site and in-class hours to complete the course. “In-class hours” do not increase for additional credits, they are always 10 hours. Total class and site hours per credit is 45 hours, so, for example, a 3-credit course would be 135 hours. In this case, 125 of those hours would be on site. If you took a 1-credit course, there would be 35 hours on site. If you took a 6-credit course, there would be 260 hours on site.
Students in HDFS 499 can only take 3 credits maximum.
Students in HDFS 498 need to take 3 credits but may take up to 6 credits.
**Note: classroom hours do not change regardless of total credit hours.
Students can create two internship experiences or opt to complete all 6 credits within one organization.
You will be issued a department override from the internship coordinator after your application is approved.
Additional questions can be answered by calling (703) 993-6610 or email boconne@gmu.edu.
Students have participated in internships at the following locations.
Formed Families Forward - FFF https://formedfamiliesforward.org/
National Alliance on Mental Illness - NAMI https://nami.org/Home
Hopecam https://www.hopecam.org/
Just Neighbors https://www.justneighbors.org/
Inclusion Consultants, LLC https://inclusionconsultants.com/ & SPARC Solutions https://sparcsolutions.org/
Supervised Visitation & Exchange (Stronger Together) Fairfax County https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/juveniledomesticrelations/domestic-relations/supervisedvisitation
Other sites can be suggested, please contact boconne@gmu.edu for information.
Quotes from Site Supervisors:
HDFS interns have helped me grow both professionally and personally. They are passionate about helping people and that passion is seen in their work. I am proud to host such kind and dedicated students at NAMI.
It starts out as an internship and soon becomes a “way of life” as interns learn to see the world from different point of views. We have benefited from the energy, talents and life experience each of the HDFS interns have brought to our programs over the years. –Inclusion Consultants and SPARC Solutions
HDFS interns have helped us elevate our messaging and launch products specifically designed for foster, adoptive and kinship families raising children and youth with special needs. - Formed Families Forward
Students select Human Development and Family Science careers that focus on a particular stage of family life, such as working with young children, at-risk adolescents, new parents, or families with aging members.
While career guidance tends to be organized around what people do in their jobs (e.g. teach, manage), many students pursue an HDFS major because they want to work with families during particular stages of family life, such as working with young children, at-risk adolescents, new parents, or families with aging members. But students may not know what kinds of jobs exist that would allow for such work with families across the lifespan.
Please visit the National Council on Family Relations website for a comprehensive list of career options.
Child Life Specialist
Child life specialists are trained professionals who promote child well-being by:
To become certified as a Child Life Specialist, you must take HDFS 301 - The Hospitalized Child and Family. This fully online course is offered by the Human Development and Family Science program and is taught by Jamie Gentille, a Certified Child Life Specialist. This course is required for those students seeking Certification as a Child Life Specialist by the Association of Child Life Professionals and is now pre-approved by the association.
Register Today!
HDFS 301 - The Hospitalized Child and Family
Prerequisite(s): HDFS 200 or permission from instructor
All students have opportunities to