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Human Development & Family Sciences Opportunities

Experiential learning opportunities for human development & family sciences (HDFS) students

Experiential learning is central to the Human Development and Family Sciences experience. Through internships, research, and study abroad programs, you’ll apply classroom knowledge to real-world problems, gaining skills and experiences that prepare you for future success. 

The College of Natural Sciences (CNS) Experiential Learning for Human Development and Family Sciences Majors Guide is designed to help you explore academic and experiential learning opportunities available for your major. Whether you're looking for research, internship, study abroad, or other experience, this guide will provide an overview of options you can partake in to explore your major and career in a meaningful hands-on way.
 

Experiential Learning Types

Undergraduate Research
 

Internships

Undergraduate Research

One of the most in-depth experiential opportunities available to Human Development and Family Sciences students is independent research within a faculty member’s research lab. Human Development and Family Sciences students can participate in research on-campus during the academic year and in the summer - on-campus, off-campus, or abroad. Check out our Steps to Joining a Research Lab Guide for even more resources and support.

On-campus Research Experiences
Off-campus & Summer Research Experiences

These programs often take place over 8-10 weeks in the summer and many times include a stipend and housing/travel support. They are competitive and require an application. Application deadlines and requirements vary, but are usually due in January or February and require at least one recommendation.

Human Development and Family Sciences-Related Research Programs

Research Program Databases

Resources for Getting Involved and Funding a Research Experience
Presenting & Publishing Your Research

Internships

Internships are a vital way to apply what you’ve learned in the classroom to real-world scenarios, while also building professional skills and networks. The College of Natural Sciences offers numerous resources to help you find the perfect internship. We recommend visiting the CNS Career Services Career Guides by Major for additional guidance. You can also schedule an appointment with a CNS Career Coach.

Internship Opportunities

Human Development and Family Sciences-Related Internship Programs

UT Austin Internship Opportunities

  • UT System Internship - paid 10-week program that dovetails project-based work experience with robust professional development, mentoring and opportunities for self-reflection in many different career paths
  • UT Zero Waste Program Internships - Interns develop leadership, interpersonal, and critical thinking skills in the process of providing valuable insight to zero waste initiatives, assisting in project development and implementation, and serving as an incubator and testing organization for new ideas
  • Office of the Dean of Students Summer Internship Program - provides undergraduate students at UT the chance to get real-world professional experience in many different career paths while being supported by competitive compensation and housing assistance
  • Home to Texas Internship - scholarship-funded summer program that connects first-year students with internship and research opportunities in their hometown communities.
  • UT Internship Fund – find opportunities for funding for unpaid or underpaid experiences

Internship Databases

Bridging Disciplines Program

The Bridging Disciplines Certificate Program offers sixteen different interdisciplinary certificates. All BDP certificates include unique internship or research experiences (Connecting Experiences) where you can apply the knowledge you’ve learned in your certificate courses. 

Study Abroad

Studying abroad offers an unparalleled opportunity to expand your horizons, gain hands-on experience in your field, and explore new cultures. The College of Natural Sciences provides a wide range of programs specifically designed for your major, including:

UT offers hundreds of study abroad options. For a full list of programs and to get started on your study abroad journey, check out the resources below and visit How to Study Abroad to schedule an appointment with our CNS Abroad Advising team.

Study Abroad Resources
Research & Intern Abroad
Study & Intern Away Programs
  • Archer Fellowship Program – UT Study & Intern Away Program in Washington D.C. 
  • UTNY – UT Study & Intern Away Program in NYC
  • Semester by the Sea - Spend a semester on the coast and dive into cutting-edge research with this comprehensive spring program for UT undergraduates. Semester by the Sea combines coursework and research at our field station in Port Aransas.

Interdisciplinary and career-focused experiences provide you with the opportunity to apply your academic knowledge across various fields, preparing you for dynamic careers that span multiple disciplines. In the College of Natural Sciences, students can engage in unique, hands-on projects that bridge science, technology, business, healthcare and more. These experiences not only broaden your expertise but also enhance your employability by cultivating critical thinking and collaboration skills. Whether through research, internships, or study abroad, you'll gain valuable career-focused experience to prepare for the workforce.

Entrepreneurship

UT Austin offers many programs designed to foster entrepreneurship and support students with unique ideas. These resources provide the tools and mentorship needed to transform innovative concepts into successful ventures, equipping aspiring entrepreneurs with the skills to lead and excel in the business world.

  • CNS Inventors Program - Interested in Entrepreneurship? The CNS Inventors Program empowers you and a team of fellow STEM undergraduates to turn scientific discovery into societal impact.  
  • UT Startup Ecosystem Guide - UT Guide to all entrepreneurial resources at UT
  • The LaunchPad - UT Entrepreneurship hub that empowers students from all majors to explore and navigate their entrepreneurial journey
  • Herb Kelleher Center – Entrepreneurship Center in McCombs open to all UT students
  • Kendra Scott Institute – supports and develops entrepreneurial leadership in all UT students
  • Longhorn Startup – CNS courses that supports startups in computer science, engineering, and business students in partnership with Capital Factory
  • Innovation Center – startup resources for the UT community
  • Harkey Institute – UT undergraduate programs in entrepreneurship including the entrepreneurship minor
  • Discovery to Impact - Are you a UT researcher, staff member, or student with an idea or technology you think has potential? You’ve come to the right place. Discovery to Impact can help.
Leadership

Leadership is a vital skill that empowers individuals to inspire, influence, and guide others toward achieving common goals. Engaging in leadership opportunities not only hones these abilities but also positions students for successful careers by enhancing their problem-solving, team-building, and decision-making capabilities. 

  • Texas LEAD – Leadership Programs from the Office of the Dean of Students
    • CoachUT - opportunity to receive free, executive-quality leadership coaching
    • Project Advance - yearlong project management program partnering with local nonprofits
  • Longhorn Impact Fellowship (LIFT)  - pairs student consultants with sustainable corporations, social enterprises, and non-profits to solve sustainability and impact-focused problems.
Government

Government opportunities provide students with a unique lens into the workings of policy and administration, offering hands-on experiences that are invaluable for understanding public sector challenges and solutions. These experiences are crucial for those looking to shape policy, engage with community issues, and lead with a civic-minded focus in their careers. 

Health & Medical

There are many health and medical opportunities that prepare students for impactful careers in healthcare. These programs offer hands-on experiences in clinical, research, and policy settings, equipping students with the knowledge and skills to improve patient outcomes and advance medical science.

Health-Related Volunteering

Health-Related Experience Databases

Teaching & Mentoring

UT Austin has many programs to help you develop your teaching, mentoring, facilitation, and leadership skills. These opportunities enable students to refine their ability to communicate complex ideas effectively, foster supportive learning environments, and guide others in both academic and professional settings, preparing them for influential roles in education and beyond.

Community Engagement & Volunteering

Volunteering and community engagement are excellent ways for students to give back and learn new things. These activities enhance personal development by fostering empathy and leadership, while also offering practical experiences that deepen understanding of social issues and community dynamics. Check out UT Austin's GivePulse to find opportunities and sign up for the newsletter.

Americorps Programs

AmeriCorps members serve directly with nonprofit organizations to tackle our nation’s most pressing challenges including poverty, health, climate change, disaster response, and beyond.

  • Americorps VISTA - address community challenges where the need is greatest. Usually health-related or health-adjacent. 
  • Americorp NCCC - gain experience while supporting climate change mitigation, building affordable housing, disaster response, and more. You will travel the country, all expenses paid, and earn money for college while serving on a team full-time. 
Experiential Learning Student Organizations

Joining student organizations is an excellent way to gain hands-on experience and collaborate with peers from diverse disciplines. Serving as part of the leadership team of any student organization is a valuable experience and a great way to build your resume. Some UT student organizations also offer experiential learning and career development.

  • Texas Convergent - student-run organization that bridges the gap between science and technology by working on innovative, cross-disciplinary projects
  • Freetail Hackers - UT’s largest student-led hackathon group, providing coding, design, and innovation experiences
  • Fika ATX - organization focused on promoting entrepreneurship and innovation through networking and collaboration opportunities.
Mini-Experiences & Micro-Internships

Micro-experiences and micro-internships are short-term, (often) paid, professional assignments that are similar to those given to new hires or interns. These projects enable you to demonstrate skills, explore career paths and build your network as you seek the right full-time role. 

  • Parker Dewey Micro-internships - short-term, paid, professional projects open to all college students and recent graduates of U.S.-based institutions
  • MindSumo - employers can crowdsource breakthrough ideas quickly and affordably with help from creative problem solvers. Sign up as a “problem solver” and get paid to build skills
  • The Forage - Provides bite-sized 5-6 hour virtual work experience programs that give students a genuine career advantage with Fortune 500 companies. 
Hackathons, Competitions, & Game Jams

Hackathons

Sprint-like design events in which computer programmers and others involved in software development, including graphic designers, interface designers, product managers, project managers, domain experts and others collaborate intensively on software projects. 

Case Competitions 

Case competitions can play a role in highlighting the many skills involved in case writing, teaching and learning. They can benefit faculty, researchers and students and offer the opportunity to showcase expertise at business schools and universities. 

Skill Development & Certifications

You can use a variety of free tools and certifications to help you learn both soft and hard skills that employers want. Make sure to read job descriptions for positions you are interested in for the future to see which skills you need to develop now.  

  • LinkedIn Learning - online educational platform with more than 5,000 courses that helps you discover and develop business, technology-related and creative skills through expert-led course videos. This service is free for all current UT students, staff, and faculty.
  • Coursera’s Career Academy - through the Career Academy, the UT community has the opportunity to explore over 30 career areas in Software Engineering & IT, Business, Sales & Marketing, and Data Science & Analytics