H.S. 498

Internship Syllabus

Health Science Department

Instructors/Supervisor: Jim Lamph, Fred Pearson, Brian Schaat, Larry Shaw

Fall 2008

An internship is supposed to be like having a real work experience or as close as possible. The internship experience is using the skills learned in the courses at BYUI and the learning of new skills by your work experiences. It is important for those working on internships to provide day to day work activities that will help you and your employer fulfill the job responsibilities. Hopefully, this internship may lead you into the regular work force or into a full time job with the agency where you have completed your internship.

Every student who graduates with a Health Science degree must complete an internship through the department and the internship office. Minimum hours are at least 100 hours of service/work generally done by completing10 hours of work per week for at least 10 weeks. The 100 work hours and 10 weeks are minimums, but the more hours you spend in fulfilling your internship, the more prepared you are to move into the regular work force.

Many internships like Madison Memorial Hospital and Eastern Idaho Public Health has minimum service hours of 20 hours per week for the 13 week semester. Most other Public Health Centers also require a minimum of 20 hours per week for the full 13 week semester. All areas of service hours will be arranged for under the guidance of the supervisor from that agency or office, but under no instances will those hours be less than 100 hours and 10 weeks during the semester. For most students, this will mean they will not be able to take a full load of classes or work during an internship. If you must work, then you should plan on taking no classes or a limited number of credits for the semester while you are completing your internship.

The Paramedicine and Medical Assisting areas have internships that are required by their accrediting agencies. The internships must follow the national guidelines of their accrediting agency. These hours will be more than the Health Science Department minimum hours. Internships in this area must have supervision by Health Science personnel from these fields of study. Those who complete either a Paramedic or a Medical Assisting Associates degree and who continue to receive a B.S degree, will have their internship in either of these two areas accepted as the graduation requirement for the Health Science bachelor degree.

The one credit internships will require from 100 to 150 hours, two credit internships may be allowed if the number of hours are between 151 and 300 hours, and three credit internships may be available to those who spend more than 301 hours on their internship. The Health Science Department coordinators will determine the credit hours that may be received for an internship. It is expected that most internships will be for one credit through the Health Science Department.

Internship forms must be completed and returned to the Health Science Internship Coordinators no later than the first week of the semester. It is highly recommended that all internships be arranged for the semester before the internship is set to begin. All internships should begin on the first week of the semester and end on or shortly before the last week of the semester. Work must be completed no later than the last day of the semester without special approval from the internship coordinator and the internship office. All internships must be completed within one of the 3 semesters of the BYUI school year. Some over-lapping may be allowed from one semester to another. But no internships can completely take place in the times between semesters, like the 7 weeks of the summer break.

Emphases Areas

Those in the Community Health and Life Time Wellness Emphasis must complete at least a 100 hour 10 week internship. Those in the Public Health Emphasis must complete at least 100 hours and 10 weeks of service/work. Acceptable areas of service/work are Public Health Agencies, Hospitals, Healthcare Providers and similar institutions. If you are seeking a public health or community health licensure or certification, you will have to complete more than the 100 hours and 10 weeks described above. Some will be required to complete at least 320 hours in obtaining CHES certification. This can be completed by having more than just one internship opportunity. Those in the Occupational Health and Safety Emphasis must complete at least 200 hours and 10 weeks to graduate.