MSHCA Internship

Graduate students who do not have two years of supervisory experience in the health care sector will be required to take a health care sector internship. See the program director for more information.

The purpose of the internship is two-fold: first, an opportunity for the student to apply learning in a health care organization; and secondly to provide an opportunity for the student to observe management in action. To that end, the internship or practicum course (HCA 5361) for 3 units is included and graded as credit/no credit. The internship is satisfied through the following:

• Adheres to the professional attire and behavior of the organization
• A minimum of 200 service hours
• Leadership and completion of a management project
• Attendance at management-level meetings to observe and support managers making decisions
• Integration of budget information for the unit
• Other duties as assigned
• Participation in an exit interview assessing performance strengths and limitations
• Develops and submits to the Program Director a reflective paper, 3-5 pages assessing the internship

The student participates with the Program Director in developing a syllabus for the course and registers for the course before the internship begins. The placement agency may have additional requirements for the student, for example, fingerprinting or health tests, or an exam.

Advance planning is necessary and should begin during the second semester the student is in the program. While it is difficult to align internship experiences with the semester system efforts toward that end are expected.

In Kern County and in particular, the Bakersfield community internships are rarely paid. However, internships satisfy the applied service requirement for the program.

When an internship is unpaid—pro bono—the student has an opportunity to apply for a paid stipend offered through a donation by The Girish and Patel Foundation. These stipends are competitive and limited. The student completes an application; the decision is made by the PPA Department, and the award is provided at the end of the completed internship.

Each year, the Maddy Institute selects 40 students from regional universities as Legislative Scholar Interns, who are placed on assignment in government offices throughout the Valley, as well as in Sacramento and Washington, D.C.

Visit the Maddy Institute website for more information.