Canadian internships in Family Science: Current status and future possibilities

This is a descriptive study of internships in Canadian family science undergraduate programs. In addition to a document review of 18 baccalaureate and certificate-level family science programs in Canada, faculty members representing eight Canadian academic institutions participated in interviews. Thirteen (72.2%) academic programs offered required or elective student placements. While similarities existed in the purpose of placements between academic institutions, various structural components of placements varied, including the type of placements offered, student-placement process, academic requirements related to the placements, student supervision, and faculty resources required. In addition, similarities and differences existed between the results from this study and results from previous studies conducted in the United States. Future research questions are identified. A family policy alternatives education approach (Bogenschneider, 2002) is used to identify seven possible directions for the future development of internships in family science.