Internship Experience

Ensuring its students are prepared for current marketplace needs and demands, the Bachelor of Science in Health Services Management (BSHSM) program at the IU Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health has made several changes to its curriculum requirements. 

One of the most notable changes, is the requirement for all Health Services Management majors to complete an internship. According to BSHSM program director, Sarah Johnson, data from the IUPUI First Destination Survey, a graduation survey, show that graduates who completed an internship were significantly less likely to still be seeking employment after graduation, and reported significantly higher starting salaries.

The internship is now one of three related courses BSHSM majors must complete before graduating. The three-course sequence, taken in their final semesters of study, also consist of a career preparation course that is taken prior to the internship in order to set students up for success.

Following the internship, students will also take the new Health Services Management capstone course that builds on the professional experiences they will have had in their internship. The capstone course will allow students to apply concepts learned throughout the program to case scenarios and prepare them to make the transition from student to professional.

Johnson also shared that, in the updated curriculum, students will now be required to take Health Economics, as well as Health Care Marketing, two courses that were previously electives. “We want to be sure we are aligning our curriculum with Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA) standards.”

The program’s course and internship requirements will be effective for students entering the program for the fall semester of 2018. If your organization is interested in preparing the next generation of health care leaders, contact Sarah Johnson at shm@iu.edu to learn more about hosting interns from the BS in Health Services Management program at Fairbanks School of Public Health.