years of experience (Bradley & Saracino, 2013).
Therefore, relevant work experience is one of the
essential attributes that any entry-level FCS professional
can offer a potential employer.
Internships provide one of the best ways for
students to attain that work experience and
become a more marketable candidate. The purpose
of this article is to discuss the critical role
that internships play in the professional development
and career preparation of FCS students. In
addition, the authors present a professional devel
opment model that can be implemented into the
FCS curriculum in order to better prepare students
for their future careers.
One major obstacle that graduates encounter
is lack of real-world work experience, which is a
vital component; many positions require several