Internships are integral to student success. As an intern, you will take your education from theory to practice by working on projects related to your area of study. Internships are available in various healthcare settings, including hospitals, clinics, health departments, community health centers, long-term care organizations, private practices, electronic health record vendors and other approved organizations. Students complete internships during their last year of study. Programs requiring internships include:
Prerequisites:
- Maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA.
- Have successfully completed 24 credit hours of health services administration coursework.
- Complete the Internship Orientation (HSA 4853). The orientation is completed once the student secures an internship opportunity and the required forms are submitted.
Requirements:
- Enroll in Health Services Administration Internship (HSA 4850).
- Complete 150 working hours and a work product/project for the internship site.
For information, email HSAinternships@ucf.edu
Prerequisites:
- Maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA.
- Have successfully completed 24 credit hours of health informatics and information management coursework including:
- HIM 3806 - Professional Practice Experience I
- HIM 4816- Professional Practice Experience II
- Complete the Internship Orientation (HIM 4998).
Requirements:
- Enroll in HIM 4838: Management Affiliation.
- Complete 120 working hours and a work product/project for the internship placement.
For information, email Steven Ton.
Prerequisites:
- Maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA.
- Have successfully completed 24 credit hours of health administration coursework.
- Complete the MHA Internship Orientation. Eligible students receive an email invitation to enroll in this zero-credit course before the start of each semester. The orientation is completed once the student secures an internship opportunity and the required forms are submitted.
Requirements:
- Enroll in HSA 6946: Internship.
- Complete 240 working hours and a work product/project for the internship site.
For information, email HSAinternships@ucf.edu.
Prerequisites:
- Complete the Internship Orientation (HIM 6927) in the fall semester.
Requirements:
- Enroll in HSA 6947: Health Care Informatics Internship in the spring semester.
- Complete 240 working hours and a work product/project for the internship placement.
For information, email Steven Ton.
How to Complete an Internship
Ready to start your internship? Follow these steps to apply and enroll in an internship program.
Find an internship placement. During the online orientation, you will receive an affiliation list with contact information from various internship locations.
- Contact an organization of interest and send your resume and cover letter.
- Set up an interview.
- Interview with the organization.
- Secure internship placement.
Become a Partner
Organizations can become affiliates by completing an affiliate agreement. Some of the organizations we partner with include:
- AdventHealth
- Cerner
- HCA Healthcare
- Nemours
- Orlando Health
- Veterans Health Administration
If your organization is interested in serving as an affiliated internship site to host student interns, or if you would like to schedule an informational presentation, please contact internship coordinator Steven Ton.
FAQS
Students receive a list of over 400 affiliated internship partners during the orientation course and are advised to contact an organization from that list. A student may also contact organizations outside of that list, however, an affiliate agreement between the school and organization must be in place before a student starts an internship.
Internships with current employers* are permitted but require approval and additional documentation. The internship director will make the final decision based upon the qualifying criteria:
- The site has an established and documented history and involved in healthcare.
- The preceptor is qualified to serve as a supervisor, mentor and guide for student interns, has the resources necessary to devote to the student to ensure student success, and can afford time to work with the intern one-on-one to ensure the intern’s growth and professional development.
- The internship project is appropriate for the student’s level and does not require the intern to conduct “busy work” (routine office tasks such as copies, performing data entry, sorting of files or other clerical tasks) for more than 30 percent of the internship service hours.
- Students must complete the internship in a different department and under the guidance of a supervisor other than their current one.
*Students are not permitted to intern at a site where there is any family ownership. Similarly, students are not permitted to have preceptors who are family members. Both scenarios present conflicts of interest and are strictly prohibited.
Reporting schedules are defined by the host site before the start of the internship semester. Most internships can be completed during normal business hours. Internship sites understand that students are working professionals and have proven to be flexible and accommodating with respect to schedules.
Remote and virtual internships are rare and highly competitive. Some onsite internships with traditional projects may offer remote opportunities or allow interns to work from home.
The majority of internships are unpaid. Paid internships are rare and competitive, and salaries are determined by the employer. There may be additional fees involved with completing your internship including but not limited to background criminal checks, drug screenings and parking permits.
Internships, like other UCF courses, are completed in one semester. Students are expected to work as interns the entire semester.
Students who register for an internship are agreeing to meet all obligations, including the completion of the required working hours. Any student that fails to meet the required hours or who decides to quit the internship, will receive an “F” in the course.
Students develop a final project or ‘work product’ as part of their internship. Designed and developed by the student with their preceptor, the work product is created specifically for the organization and allows the student to apply learned knowledge to practical situations. Past work products include:
- Organizing and producing procedural manuals/handbooks.
- Developing strategic plans or training manuals.
- Conducting audits.
- Creating employee work flow plans.
- Designing marketing plans or implementation programs.
- Coordinating and operating special events.
Once complete, the work product can be placed in a portfolio and shared with potential employers.
