Health Sciences Internship Program
The internship program is restricted to declared Global & Community Health, BS and Human Biology majors in their junior or senior year.
All majors have a comprehensive requirement. For the global and community health B.S., this requirement can be satisfied by receiving a passing grade in the Health Sciences Internship, BIOL 189. This internship engage students in meaningful community service and, most importantly, provide an opportunity to gain first-hand experience with the types of issues faced by healthcare professionals, as well as the skills needed to effectively deal with them. 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 5 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 from UCSC’s Dept. of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, who helps the student integrate academic coursework and research experience with the practical lessons learned in the field.
Questions? Reach out to the Internship Coordinator, bmagyar@ucsc.edu for access to the Canvas Info site and to get more inforamtion.
Prerequisites
- Successful completion of Entry Level Writing and Composition Requirements.
- Attend an Internship Informational Session, held Week 3 each quarter except during summer. Info sessions will be announced via email.
Internship information meetings
Dates and times will be added here.
Applying and registering for the internship
Students must fill out a Google form application and 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 during the first week of the following quarter. She will contact you via your UCSC email.
Students do not self-register for BIOL 189. Students must first go through the application process, 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.
Internship timeline
Students must apply two quarters before when they want to do their internship. For example, if you want to do your internship during the Spring quarter, you must attend an info session and submit your application during the Fall quarter. 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 (this doesn’t mean you have to take 15 units, just no more than that). It is highly recommended to do your internship during the lightest quarter of your last two years.
| If you intend to do your internship in this quarter: | Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 |
| Attend an information meeting during the week of: | Sept. 30th – Oct. 3, 2024 | TBD |
| Submit an application by: | Oct. 21, 2024 | TBD |
Preparing for the internship
It’s never too early to start thinking about your internship. Start exploring healthcare facilities, agencies, and organizations in the community that you are interested in. Check out their websites and volunteer opportunities. If you’re feeling up to it, go ahead and reach out to learn more about their work and opportunities available to students. Also, schedule a brainstorming session with Beth Magyar, Health Sciences Internship Coordinator at bmagyar@ucsc.edu. Reflect on how your internship will help you develop skills, gain experience, and build networks that support your future professional and personal goals.