This requirement is designed to ensure that concentrators participate in an experience that applies basic family knowledge (theories, frameworks, concepts) to real families in a setting beyond the classroom. It is recommended that it be completed the summer before senior year, fall of senior year, or January term of senior year. Students present the experience and concomitant learning as a graded assignment for a public audience in the Senior Seminar in Family Studies (FS 391). Students are encouraged to keep a log and journal of their experience to aid them in their presentation. Through the experience, students demonstrate attainment of intended learning outcomes for family studies. Talk with a member of the department regarding your plans to complete this requirement, and watch for email each semester from the Director with a Google Form to fill in your plans for completion. Here are examples of students’ experiences.
Guidelines for the senior experiential component:
- Includes a minimum of 40 hours devoted to experience with families;
- Can be domestic or international;
- If for credit, can be taken either graded or Pass/No Pass (P/N);
- Can be submitted for distinction in a major, if it meets that department’s guidelines for distinction;
- Must be approved by the Family Studies Program Director prior to beginning the experience;
- Must be beyond the classroom; and
- Supervised by a St. Olaf faculty member who teaches in the concentration.
The experience may be:
- A project in a senior year course, social work practicum, or nursing clinical; or
- An independent research project with family interaction (FS394); or
- An internship with a family serving agency (quarter, half- or full-credit, FS294); or
- A summer experience prior to senior year that involves direct experience with more than one family.