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Allied Health Sciences College of Health & Human Services

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Internships in Allied Health Sciences

Overview

Internships in the Department of Allied Health Sciences offer students an opportunity to earn academic credit while working with qualified professionals to gain hands-on experience in a variety of settings such as hospitals, healthcare systems, public agencies, community health and non-profit organizations, government offices, corporate wellness programs, universities and schools, recreation and fitness centers, and more.

  • Academic internships can be paid or unpaid depending on the site.
  • Students who participate in Allied Health Sciences internships are supervised by their faculty advisor as well as an on-site supervisor.
  • For every 1 unit of academic credit received, students must work a minimum of 45 hours.
  • Credit can only be obtained when interning at sites that are authorized by the University (see below for a list of pre-approved sites).

Pre-Approved Internship Sites

Student internship sites must be pre-approved by the University. On-campus sites such as the WELL or Sac State Athletics do not need additional authorization. If students are participating in a paid internship or related work experience, the site does not have to be on the list of University Approved sites. However, students must submit proof of employment.

To search for pre-approved internship sites, log in to CEC Connect. For guidance on how to use CEC Connect, please visit Community Engagement Center (CEC) instructions page.

Get a New Internship Site Approved

Contact the Department of Allied Health Sciences (healthscience@csus.edu) at least 5 months prior to the start of the internship to begin the site approval process.

In the email, provide the following site information:

  • Name of organization or business
  • Address of organization or business
  • Contact information (email and phone number) of site supervisor

Please note: Approval from the site or Procurement is not guaranteed.

Health Science Internships

Internships are optional for students completing the Bachelor of Science in Health Science. Students who choose to participate in an internship for academic credit will enroll in HLTH 195 for the appropriate number of units based on the internship experience.

Although an internship is not required for the Health Science degree, students are strongly encouraged to consider experiential learning opportunities that align with their academic and professional goals. Internships provide an opportunity to gain hands-on experience, explore healthcare careers, develop professional skills, build relationships with professionals in the field, and strengthen future applications for employment or advanced education.

For students planning to apply to nursing, physician assistant, medical, occupational therapy, physical therapy, or other healthcare professional and graduate programs, internship experiences may also provide valuable clinical, patient-care, healthcare, or community-based experience. Depending on the program, hours accumulated through an internship may help students meet or strengthen experiential requirements for admission.

Students should carefully review the admission requirements of the professional or graduate programs they are considering, as requirements for clinical and patient-care experience vary by program. Students are encouraged to select internship experiences that complement their intended career pathway and to consult with an academic or program advisor when determining whether an internship is appropriate for their educational goals.

Therapeutic Health and Recreation Internships

Students Pursuing the Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) Pathway

Students completing the Bachelor of Science in Therapeutic Health and Recreation who are pursuing the pathway to become a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) will enroll in 10–15 units of TH 195 as part of their internship experience.

To meet National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) requirements, the internship must include a minimum of 560 hours completed over at least 14 consecutive weeks and must meet specific requirements related to supervision and professional therapeutic recreation experience.

Because not all internship sites or experiences meet NCTRC certification requirements, students pursuing the CTRS pathway should consult with a Therapeutic Health and Recreation program advisor before selecting or committing to an internship site.

Students Pursuing Other Career Pathways

Therapeutic Health and Recreation students pursuing career pathways other than CTRS certification may complete an internship for elective credit. These students will enroll in HLTH 195 for the appropriate number of units based on the internship experience.

Students are encouraged to select an internship that aligns with their professional interests and career goals.

How to Enroll

Allied Health Sciences Students must be individually hand-enrolled in internship courses. To get enrolled for credit, follow these steps:

  1. Find an approved internship site
  2. Contact the internship site
    • Introduce yourself as a Sac State student who is seeking an internship opportunity and ask if they are accepting interns for the semester in which you’d like to enroll.
    • Ask if there are any requirements to be eligible for the internship (e.g., application process, interview, fingerprinting, etc.).
  3. If you are accepted by a business or organization to participate in their internship, complete the online Allied Health Sciences Internship Learning Agreement.
  4. Click on the following link and follow the instructions below.

Allied Health Sciences Internship Enrollment Form (Adobe Sign)

How to use the form:

  1. Log into adobe sign using your Sac State email address.
  2. Click on Company
  3. Log into your Sac State Account
  4. Click on the form link and follow the instructions below.

    • Step 1: Insert your Student Email address (CSUS email only)
    • Step 2: Insert your SITE SUPERVISOR’S email address
    • Step 3: Insert your FACULTY ADVISOR’S email address
    • Step 4: Click Send and the Learning Agreement will appear

ahs-internship-enrollment-form

  1. Complete all required areas in the Allied Health Sciences Internship Agreement Form
  • The Course Code is dependent on your academic requirement or the type of internship or learning experience you want to complete. The two most common examples for Allied Health Students are general Health Science Internships (HLTH 195) and Recreation Therapy Internships (TH 195). Other course codes may be used if directed by your faculty advisor.
  • Determine unit load based on how many internship hours you will complete during the semester (note: most students complete 2 units).
    • 1 unit = 45 hours of internship work
    • 2 units = 90 hours of internship work
    • 3 units = 135 hours of internship work
  • Once you complete all required areas and sign the Allied Health Sciences Internship Agreement Form, click submit.
  1. After submitting, the form will be routed to your site supervisor for signature, then to your faculty advisor for signature, and finally to the Allied Health Sciences Department office. Upon receipt of a complete form, the Allied Health Sciences Department office will enroll you in your internship for course credit. You do not have to do anything else at this time to get enrolled.

7. Please work with your faculty advisor to complete any assignments associated with your internship.