Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Spring Semester 2026

Internship (Online)

FLHD 4890-30I

Course: FLHD 4890-30I
Credits: 12
Term: Spring Semester 2026
Department: FLHD
CRN: 10885

Course Description

The intent of an internship is to provide the student actual work experience in his/her chosen field of study, outside the traditional university setting. Students are eligible to receive credit at a variety of cooperator locations with prior approval from the FLHD Internship Coordinator. Credit will not be granted for performing tasks at which the student is already experienced. If the student returns to a continuing employment situation or to a home or family business, it is understood that the intent of work-for-credit is that he or she will be learning or developing new skills, methods, and/or concepts. -- Within this experience, students apply knowledge gained throughout their coursework. Students may take up to 12 credits. 45 hours of service or time worked is required for each credit. Students must have permission of the instructor. (Fall, Spring, Summer) [Pass/Fail] Prerequisite(s): (FLHD 1500 or PSY 1100) and FLHD 3350 and instructor permission - Prerequisite Min. Grade: C Repeatable for Add’l Credit? Yes - Total Credits: 12 

Required Texts

No required text.

Learning Outcomes

The student will be able to:

  1. Develop culturally-competent educational materials and learning experiences.
  2. Identify awareness about specific community needs in the context of the family that may or may not be apparent and demonstrate ability to implement services according to those needs. 
  3. Identify appropriate sources for evidence-based information.
  4. Implement evidence-based family life education programs to strengthen families (if you intend to move towards becoming a CFLE).
  5. Employ a variety of strategies to identify and meet the diverse and individual needs of individuals and families.

Eligibility

  • Students must complete FLHD or SW 3350 prior to enrolling in this course.
  • Student's academic background must be suitable to the anticipated field experience.
  • Students need to have a cumulative GPA of 2.50 or higher and have completed a minimum of 30 semester hours.
  • It is preferred that students get no more than 4 credit hours in any single internship activity.
  • For those students specifically moving towards earning their CFLE, taking 3 credits (135 hours) is required

Instructor's Response Time & Feedback

For messages/emails sent to me, I will respond within 2 business days (Monday-Friday, 8 am - 5 pm, excluding Holidays). I believe that feedback is an important part of learning, therefore, please look for feedback on your assignments. It is my goal to provide grades and feedback within 5-7 business days from the due date. 

Course Requirements

Grading:
  • Pass/Fail
  • 85% of total possible points = passing grade.

  • Syllabus Quiz (30 points)
    • Please review the syllabus. After you have done so, please take the syllabus quiz which also counts as your commenced attendance quiz.
  • Introduction Video (50 Points).
    • In order to make this online class as personal as possible, please record an introduction of yourself that you will upload to a discussion board. Instructions on how to do this are included in the discussion board.
  • Internship Contract (50 points).
    • Please complete the contract form found in Canvas. Attach an image (pdf or photo) of your completed contract and upload it to Canvas. 
  • Internship Goals and Discussion (25 points).
    • It will be easy for an outside objective observer to determine whether or not you accomplished a well-written goal because it follows the SMART goal structure (or something similar). Please submit at least 3 goals you have for your internship following the SMART goals outline. Make them Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time Bound. 
  • Internship Project (150 Points).
    • For this assignment (15% of your total grade), you will design and implement a project that adds value to the program/agency that is hosting your internship. The project should include professional content that supports families through education and added resources. Please find at least 2 academic sources that support the project you implement. Specific examples are intentionally being omitted from this syllabus as to not interfere with your brainstorming about potential projects. Please ask for help if you need it as you complete this portion of your project. Please feel free to consult with your supervisor and other colleagues within your internship about a project that would enhance the services provided within the agency (while this step is not required, you may find it helpful in developing your project). For this assignment, you will be graded on:
      • Project Proposal (50 points):
        • Please complete the project proposal form found in Canvas and upload either a scanned or photographed copy of your completed project proposal. You MUST have the advance approval of both your supervisor and the course instructor in order to receive credit for your project.
      • Implementation Summary (100 points):
        • Write a 2 - 3 page summary about what you did for your project, how you went about doing it, how the project turned out, the benefit it did and/or will have to the agency and individuals/families served, and insights you have gained through this project about family services and/or family life education. 
  • Journal Entries (5 entries, 20 points each).
    • 5 times throughout the semester, you will be asked to make a post in a discussion board in Canvas about your learning experiences and processes within your internship. The instructor will be looking for critical thinking, self-reflection and application of theories/concepts learned throughout your academic program. The purpose of this assignment is to process what you are learning. In order to receive full credit, you will need to write at least 1 paragraph about the discussion prompt for the week. Refer to syllabus and Canvas for due dates.
  • Mid-Term Interview (100 points).
    • Please schedule either a face to face or Zoom (if your site is more than 30 miles from campus) mid-term interview with the instructor and your site supervisor in which we will talk about your work up to this point as well as ways you are excelling and need improvement. For full credit, this interview needs to be scheduled (not completed) at least 2 weeks before the due date. The interview will take approximately 15-30 minutes. After the interview, please submit a ½ - 1 page summary about feedback received and how you will apply it.  
  • Reflection Paper (100 points).
    • Please write a 4-6 page paper summarizing your overall experience within your internship. Please share thoughts, feelings, experiences, insights, frustrations, observations, etc. about your experience. When grading this paper, the instructor will be looking for critical thinking, self-awareness, and application of theories/concepts learned throughout your academic program. Please review the grading rubric before beginning this assignment. 
  • Supervisor Evaluation and Completion of Hours (200 Points).
    • At least 1 week prior to the due date for this assignment, please provide the Supervisor Evaluation and Completion of Hours Forms to your supervisor. You will turn the Completion of Hours form into Canvas. Please ask your supervisor to complete the Supervisor Evaluation form and send it directly to me; my contact information is listed on the form. Please attach an image (scanned or photo) of your completion of hours and upload it to Canvas. 

AI Policy:
AI is a useful tool and it's one that you will likely want to be familiar with as you look for a job. That being said, the purpose of this class is to train and develop critical thinkers that can analyze, solve problems, and apply research. In this class you are welcome to use AI to help you during the brainstorming and research gathering part of the class as well as checking grammar and syntax. However, during the composition of the assignments, the work needs to be your own. AI used to answer questions or create drafts for your discussion posts, assignments, or projects is in violation of academic integrity under plagiarism and will result in punishments from failing the assignment/class up to being expelled. AI checkers and plagiarism checkers may be used for any discussion, assignment, test, or project. The responsibility for violations of intellectual property laws, misinformation, or unethical content lies on the student. If you have any questions, please reach out to me.

Course Outline

Fri Jan 9, 2026 Assignment Announcement Agreement due by 11:59pm
Discussion Topic Internship Goals due by 11:59pm
Discussion Topic Introductions due by 11:59pm
Quiz Syllabus Quiz due by 11:59pm
Wed Jan 14, 2026 Quiz Commenced Attendance Quiz due by 11:59pm
Fri Jan 16, 2026 Assignment Contract due by 11:59pm
Discussion Topic Internship Journal Entry 1 - Getting Started due by 11:59pm
Fri Jan 23, 2026 Assignment Project Proposal due by 11:59pm
Fri Jan 30, 2026 Discussion Topic Internship Journal Entry 2 - Culture Competence due by 11:59pm
Fri Feb 6, 2026 Assignment Midterm Interview Scheduling due by 11:59pm
Fri Feb 13, 2026 Discussion Topic Internship Journal Entry 3 - Workplace Environment due by 11:59pm
Fri Feb 27, 2026 Assignment Midterm Interview and Reflection due by 11:59pm
Fri Mar 13, 2026 Discussion Topic Internship Journal Entry 4 - Community Needs due by 11:59pm
Fri Mar 27, 2026 Discussion Topic Internship Journal Entry 5 - Reflection on Goals due by 11:59pm
Sun Apr 5, 2026 Calendar Event Provide Completion of Hours and End of Semester Evaluation Forms to your supervisor 12am
Fri Apr 10, 2026 Assignment Project Implementation Summary due by 11:59pm
Assignment Reflection Paper due by 11:59pm
Fri Apr 17, 2026 Assignment Completion of Hours due by 11:59pm
Assignment End of Semester Supervisor Evaluation due by 11:59pm

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Late work will not be accepted in this course. 

  • The instructor will consider emergencies and/or extenuating circumstances if you plan ahead and communicate ahead.

Extra Credit will not be given.

Attendance Policy

Attendance - This is an asynchronous online course and therefore no synchronous attendance is counted. Your participation in the course activities, assignments, and exams are essentially your attendance.

Course Fees

There are no additional course fees.

Instructor Expectations and Course Requirements

  • Emotional Safety - Due to the emotionally and psychologically vulnerable content that may be discussed throughout this course, it is essential that all participants contribute to an environment of emotional safety. In the event of a student participating in emotionally unsafe comments/behavior, the instructor will provide feedback which will serve as a warning. At that time, the student will be invited to converse with the instructor about what made their comments/behavior emotionally unsafe. If the behavior is repeated, students will be referred to campus services. If you find you are emotionally overwhelmed by content in this or any other course, the University Counseling and Psychological Services Center (CAPS) is a resource available to you. The phone number for CAPS is: 435.865.8621.
  • As a student in this course, you are responsible for the content presented in this course and for your own learning. If you need help, please ask. If you have questions, please ask. The instructor is a resource to you; however, if you do not effectively communicate that you need help, the instructor cannot help you.
  • All assignments are due at midnight on the due date unless otherwise noted and should be turned in via Canvas. The instructor will not accept assignments turned in any other way. 
  • All papers must be typed in Times New Roman with a 12 point font, double spaced, and 1 inch margins.
  • All documentation must be done in APA 7th Edition format. For this course, abstracts, cover pages and headings are not necessary for informal papers. You will not be docked for using these. When required to use outside sources, students are expected to use credible, peer-reviewed sources; wikipedia is not allowed for use as a reference in this course. OWL at Purdue is a great resource. If you are going to pursue your education in the social sciences field, you may find it useful to purchase an APA manual.
  • Assignments may be turned in early. Late Work will not be accepted except in the event of a true emergency; i.e. emergency surgery, natural disaster, death of a family member, etc. It is the expectation of this instructor that you communicate as early in the process as is reasonable and possible if you experience an emergency that will result in late work. This applies to all assignments that will receive a grade. The only exception to this is if you communicate with the instructor in advance. This does not guarantee your late work will be accepted. The instructor will consider the circumstances if you plan ahead and communicate ahead. 
  • Critical thinking, writing quality, grammar, and following instructions matters. Your grade will be affected by these things. Please pay attention to page limitations. Once the page limitation is reached, I will stop reading and any information included after that point will not be included. 
  • Additional Disclaimer: University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires me to report disclosures I receive from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to me in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, I will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.