WHAT ARE THE PREREQUISITES FOR HLTH 420?

1. Students must take HLTH 419 prior to HLTH 420. HLTH 419 is worth 1 credit hour. HLTH 419 will include a variety of professional development activities in preparation for HLTH 420.
2. Students must have achieved Junior standing, and maintain a GPA of 2.0 or above, and have consent of the instructor (Mrs. Meyer) to register for HLTH 420.

IS THE INTERNSHIP REQUIRED TO GRADUATE?

Students must take HLTH 420 Intership in order to graduate. Students will complete 5 credit hours. 4 hours (180 contact hours) on site, and a 1 credit digital portfolio requirement. Students will be placed in an approved site and formulate a plan of study to include goals, objectives, and evaluation methods in consultation with the internship coordinator and preceptor.

AN INTERN HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO:

1. Develop values and confidence, assertiveness, and decision-making abilities.
2. Work as part of a team.
3. Learn and improve specific skills such as communication skills, problem solving, teamwork, new computer applications, interpersonal skills, networking, and presentation skills, as well as, product, company, and career knowledge.
4. In order to qualify for academic credit, an internship should provide for several job-related experiences. These experiences might include:
   • Rotation through different areas or departments.
   • A single major project requiring the intern to interact with multiple departments, functional areas or customers.
   • Multiple assignments or projects within the same functional area.

EIGHT GOOD REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD GET AN INTERNSHIP:

1. Employers expect that you have a balance of education, extracurricular activities and work experience.
2. Gain hands-on experience within the “real world” of your interest.
3. Explore a field or business/agency as a direction finder.
4. Test-drive the job market with your major.
5. Start building your professional career network and make contacts for later job searches.
6. Serve as a bridge between Clemson and your first professional full-time work.
7. Build your resume and improve after-graduation job opportunities.
8. An internship doubles the value of your college education.

HOW MANY HOURS AM I REQUIRED TO DO?

The Department of Public Health Sciences requires that 180 contact hours be performed to fulfill the 5 credit hour internship/fieldwork requirement.

DO I HAVE TO COMPLETE THE INTERNSHIP IN ONE SEMESTER?

Students can complete their entire 180 hour fieldwork requirement (HLTH 420-001) in the Fall or Spring semesters of their Junior or Senior year. Fall internship placements can be divided into 2 blocks of time, one in the Fall and one in the Spring. Sign up for 5 credits during the Fall semester. You should enroll in the HLTH 420- 230 section. This section (230) is the extended semester option. Summer internship is also an option.

HOW MANY WEEKS IS THE SUMMER INTERNSHIP?

The Summer Internship can begin when Summer Session 1 begins and can span through Summer Session 2. Students make their own schedule with the site preceptor and can begin and end the internship at any time as long as all 180 contact hours have been completed. You will pay tuition for summer internship.

WHY IS AN INTERNSHIP REQUIRED?

An internship is a valuable addition to the Public Health Sciences curriculum for many reasons. First, it helps bridge the student from the classroom to the work world and allows for the transfer of knowledge from the classroom to the work place. It allows for the student to see their education put into practice.
Research indicates that the first item an employer looks at on a resume is an applicant’s internship experience (entry-level positions in particular). A solid internship experience is one of the critical factors in being hired.

For those students interested in graduate school, a good internship can assist the student in assessing their future career path. An internship can assist the applicant in providing thoughtful and meaningful responses to key questions posed during an interview.

Networking is one of the most important ways to locate a position. Through an internship, many doors are opened for the student that might not otherwise be available.

HOW DO I FIND AN INTERNSHIP?

Mrs. Kathleen Meyer is the Internship Coordinator for the Department of Public Health Sciences. She can assist you in locating an appropriate internship site. Please contact Mrs. Meyer with any questions.

DO I HAVE TO DO MY INTERNSHIP IN THE CLEMSON REGION?

No, you may do your internship anywhere as long as it is an approved site. Mrs. Kathleen Meyer will help determine the approval of new sites. Please contact Mrs. Meyer with any questions.

ATTENDANCE POLICY FOR FIELDWORK EXPERIENCES

Attendance is expected at all fieldwork experiences. It is the responsibility of the student to notify the fieldwork site preceptor and the instructor when they are unable to attend the field experience. It is also the responsibility of the student to reschedule fieldwork experiences. In case of an emergency due to illness, etc, notify your preceptor immediately. Do not wait until the hours of your commitment have passed.

IS TRANSPORTATION PROVIDED BY CLEMSON UNIVERSITY TO MY INTERNSHIP SITE?

Field experiences are held in a variety of locations including area wellness centers, health departments, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, schools and industries, as well as, other settings. Students are required to provide their own transportation to and from sites. Lack of transportation is not considered an acceptable reason for not attending field experiences.

CANCELLATION OF FIELD EXPERIENCES DUE TO HAZARD DRIVING CONDITIONS WILL BE CANCELLED WHEN ONE OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS EXIST:

1. Pickens County School District announces a closing
2. The school district in which the field experience takes place announces a closing
3. Clemson University announces a closing. Field experiences will begin as scheduled if delays in openings are announced.
4. Student must use their personal judgement when unforeseen weather conditions are encountered, and must keep safety first and foremost. Students should contact their site preceptor when questions exist regarding attendance at field experiences due to inclement weather.
5. Students and faculty should tune into one of the following stations to obtain information pertaining to weather conditions and school closings:

   Television
   WYFF-TV, Channel 4
   WSPA-TV, Channel 7
   WLOS TV, Channel 13
   WAXA TV, Channel 40
   
   Radio
   WCKN-Anderson, 101.1 FM
   WANS-Anderson, 107.3 FM
   WCCP-Clemson, 1560 AM
   WESC-Greenville, 92.5 FM
   WSSL-Greenville, 100.5 FM

If you have additional questions please contact Mrs. Kathleen Meyer.

• HLTH 419 - Health Science Internship
• HLTH 420 - Health Science Internship