To do BEFORE

your Early Childhood HDFS internship
Before Internship
During Internship

Finding an Internship Site

Securing an internship is like a job search. It鈥檚 best to start planning at least two terms in advance, as it can take time. You're responsible for finding a site and completing onboarding before the term begins. Be professional and respectful鈥攕ites are volunteering their time to support your growth.

Explore internship opportunities

Start with these approaches:

  • Use the relationships, insights, and professional contacts you built during HDFS 330 and 331 to explore further internship opportunities.
  • Follow internship announcements and posts from organizations you're interested in.
  • Talk to family, friends, faculty, and classmates who work in early childhood education or related fields. Ask questions about their work and projects.
  • Schedule informational interviews to learn more about what professionals do in their roles. Most employees enjoy sharing their experiences with students, so don鈥檛 hesitate to reach out!

Use these resources to explore opportunities:

  •  鈥 星空影视鈥檚 university-wide job board for on- and off-campus jobs and internships.
  • Career Options page 鈥 Connect with professionals, discover opportunities, and build your network.
  •  鈥 Explore international internship opportunities in child and family development.

Preschool and Elementary options

The HDFS 433 internship may be completed in a preschool or elementary school setting (K-2) within Bend-La Pine School District or Redmond School District.

  • Elementary (K鈥2) Setting: The HDFS 433 internship may be completed in a K鈥2 classroom within the Bend-La Pine or Redmond School Districts, offering hands-on experience supporting early childhood development in a structured school environment.
  • Preschool Setting: Students may also fulfill the HDFS 433 internship in a preschool classroom, engaging with young children in play-based learning and foundational skill-building activities.

Connect with Employers

Identify sites

  • Reach out to at least 3 different sites of interest.

Craft a Professional Email

  • Use the subject line: 鈥淗DFS internship for [Term]鈥 
  • Attach your resume (created in HDFS 331).
  • Include the email:
    • Introduce yourself and your career interests.
    • Explain why you鈥檙e interested in that specific site (do some research!).
    • Be clear, concise, and professional.

Follow Up

  • If you don鈥檛 hear back within one week, it鈥檚 appropriate to follow up鈥攃onsider calling the site.

Meet with site supervisors

  • Aim to meet with 2鈥3 sites to learn more and assess fit.
  • Be prepared with questions and open to multiple options鈥攜our top choice may not be available.

Handshake process

Once you've found an internship opportunity and defined the expectations with your Internship Site Supervisor, you're ready to apply! Start this process by submitting an experience in Handshake. 

Collect your info

Before you start, you will need to know:

  • Your internship site's name and location

  • Your internship site supervisor's name and email address

  • Number of credits you plan to take
  • A job description or the tasks and responsibilities you will take part in during your internship experience.

Submit an Experience in Handshake

  1.  with your 星空影视 credentials.
  2. On the left side menu, click on Career Center.
  3. Go to Experiences and Submit an Experience.
  4. For the Experience Template, select "星空影视-Cascades HDFS 433 Internship."
  5. Then select the Term in which you plan to do your internship.
  6. Fill out information pertaining to the Organization where you will do your internship.
  7. Under Experience Details, input 鈥渋nternship鈥 under Experience.
  8. Enter the email address for the Internship Site Supervisor. NOTE: This will be an employee from your internship site/place of work that will supervise you during your internship (this is NOT someone from 星空影视-Cascades). 
  9. Respond to all the General questions pertaining to your internship. 
  10. Lastly, click Submit an Experience at the bottom.
    *Let 鈥媦our Internship Site Supervisor know to look for an email from Handshake to approve your Experience request. The request must be approved within 5 business days. Handshake emails often go to junk/spam inboxes, so remind your Supervisor to check there. Contact the Career Development Center with any issues regarding Handshake approvals.

Final step is to register

Once your Handshake request is approved, you will receive an email from your Academic Advisor instructing you to register for the course. It is your responsibility to register for the course and the corresponding number of credit hours.