Through the internship program at The Quaker School at Horsham, we are able to partner with various colleges in Philadelphia, Montgomery and Bucks counties, and leverage the diverse skills and talents of their students while providing a unique learning experience. One example is the partnership with Temple University.
The Human Development and Community Engagement (HDCE) program in the College of Education and Human Development at Temple University prepares students to make a difference in people’s lives by influencing the programs, policies, and practices of organizations. This Bachelor of Science undergraduate program allows students to build the skills required to facilitate the cognitive, physical and social development of individuals, particularly in urban communities. Students pursue concentrations in one of four areas: Human Services, Applied Behavior Analysis, Community Education, and Nonprofit Management and Social Entrepreneurship.
An integral part of the HDCE program is students’ yearlong practicum and internship experience. Through this field experience, students gain practical, hands-on experience while serving people in the local community. The HDCE program has partnered with organizations, aligned with students’ career goals, such as The Quaker School at Horsham. These partnerships with organizations across Philadelphia and neighboring communities provide students with a critical learning experience in their academic journey. Through both coursework and the internship experience, students learn skills in the areas of grant writing, program evaluation, interpersonal communication, social justice, and advocacy.
The BS in Human Development and Community Engagement helps students develop skills to advocate for all types of vulnerable groups, devise solutions for a variety of social problems, and manage programs for a wide range of organizations. Graduates have gone to work with non-profit organizations, out-of-school time programs, advocacy groups, and adult education programs such as Free Library of Philadelphia, Teach for America, Bethesda Project, and the Women’s Center of Montgomery County. Others pursue graduate degrees in fields such as counseling psychology, applied behavior analysis and school psychology.