Health Sciences Internship Requirements

Global and Community Health B.S. & Human Biology majors are required to undertake an internship at a health care facility in Santa Cruz County or elsewhere. These internships engage students in meaningful community service, provide an opportunity to gain first-hand experience with the types of issues faced by healthcare professionals, and build the skills needed to deal with them effectively. 

Students complete 80 hours at their placement over the course of the quarter, keep a reflective journal, and submit required documentation such as an hourly log, evaluation forms, and a final reflective essay. Interns earn 3 units of academic credit per quarter during the internship. 

The Health Sciences Internship Coordinator counsels and helps place students in internships at local hospitals, clinics, and other facilities. Each intern is trained and mentored on-site by a healthcare professional, and assigned to a faculty advisor who helps the student integrate academic coursework and research experience with the practical lessons learned in the field. 

Career Center resources are available to help guide students in identifying career choices, meeting requirements for, and preparing applications to graduate school and professional schools. 

Contact us

Beth Ann Magyar

• Pronouns
  • she, her, her, hers, herself
• Title
  • Internship Coordinator
• Campus Email
  • bmagyar@ucsc.edu
• Office Location
  • Social Sciences 1, 117-B

Program application deadlines 

Students must apply two quarters before they can begin their internship. Student applications will not be accepted one quarter before or during the same quarter of their anticipated internship. It can only be taken in your junior or senior year. It is not permitted to be taken alongside BIOL 130/L (Human Physiology). The internship may only be taken as part of a 15-17 unit quarter, not in addition to. It is highly recommended to do your internship during the lightest quarter of your last two years. According to departmental policy, any student whose internship is terminated before completing the required hours will automatically receive a failing grade in BIOL 189. As BIOL 189 is a senior exit requirement, a failing grade in the course will also necessitate a change of major.

To apply, students must first attend an info session (hosted at the beginning of each quarter and then fill out a Google Form application  where they will submit their resume, letter of intent, and proof of health insurance by the application deadline. The link to the Google Form is available on the Canvas website. The Internship Coordinator will reach out to students to schedule an interview shortly after the application deadline via UCSC email.

Registration

Students do not self-register for BIOL 189. Students must first attend an information session, have an interview with the Internship Coordinator, and receive their internship placement. Once these steps are completed, students will be issued a permission code to enroll in BIOL 189.