CYFS Practicum

Practicum | Child, Youth, and Family Studies

The purpose of a practicum is to gain field experience in professional settings that provide opportunities to integrate your coursework, apply your prior knowledge, and develop and strengthen your skills in your chosen career field. Practicums are vital because they strengthen your professional network, allowing you to receive professional references, mentorship, and/or a job. Practicums show future employers the practical experience you've gained in a field, at the same time your degree in CYFS offers you an integration of theory, research, and practice from multiple disciplines. Making your CYFS degree a unique blend of liberal arts and professional education. Our practicum experience requires you to volunteer for 300 hours with direct supervision and take a seminar course with CYFS faculty that facilitates your development of being a reflective practitioner committed to contributing to a more just world.

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Prerequisites for Practicum

Opt into CYFS
Meet with you Academic Advisor
Attend one mandatory practicum orientation (link to live newsletter w/dates and zoom)
Students must complete CFS 493-Professional Self: Ways of Knowing prior to starting your practicum.

*Note: CYFS Minors have the option to complete Practicum - contact Dr. Martin with questions.

Practicum Placement

You must have your practicum placement set-up prior to enrolling in CFS 497 or 498. Practicum placement can take up to 2 months, so please plan ahead. Here is how to make that happen:

Go to one mandatory practicum orientation (link with dates and zoom)
or Meet with Dr. Staci B. Martin, Practicum Coordinator mar24@pdx.edu

[Image above: Title: Children, Youth, and Family Studies Practicum Process, Paragraph: The purpose of a practicum is to apply your theoretical knowledge from coursework to real situations, provide concrete opportunities to develop professional skills and abilities, and enable you to explore various career options in fields related to child, youth, and family studies. Step 1. Opt into CYFS. Step 2 Practicum Orientation. Step 3 Practicum Options. Step 4 Practicum I & II courses]

[Image above: Portland State University, CYFS, Identify Practicum Site: Transfer Prior Practicum Credits, Search on your own, meet with Practicum Coordinator, Condensed Opportunities, Online learning Module, and Current Employer]