Course Description
Internship will demonstrate experiential learning in global health. Students will work as members of a team. Although observation of the team’s efforts may be an essential aspect, it is not adequate. They must be actively involved as team members in a health process at a global setting.
Athena Title
Global Health Internship
Non-Traditional Format
This internship will require approximately 150 contact hours in an approved site per 3 credit experience.
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall, spring and summer
Grading System
S/U (Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory)
Course Objectives
1. Observe (An affective function) – the student will observe the activities of the team to learn the mission of their efforts, how that mission is operationalized, how the team interacts, and how successfully it accomplishes its goals. These observations will be made within the context of the culture of the country in which the student is studying. 2. Reflect (An analytical function) – the student will put the team’s activities in the context of what they have already learned in a traditional didactic setting. They will compare and contrast the reality of the internship versus the theory-based approaches learned didactically. 3. Participate (A skills-based application function) – the student will participate actively in the team’s process. They will have assigned tasks and be responsible for completing those tasks. 4. Perform (A skills-based application function) - As a team member in a global health program, the student will be expected to make a contribution to the advancement of the team’s efforts. This contribution must be within the existing skill set held by the student; the student should not be expected to have responsibilities they are not prepared to accomplish properly. Passive observation is not an adequate level of involvement on the team. 5. Report (A demonstration of knowledge, synthesis, and evaluation functions) – upon reflection, the student will take the experience of the GH internship and correlate it to the learning that has occurred didactically. They will report this –in writing–to their academic supervisor. The student’s efforts will be confirmed by the on-site supervisor who will also submit a brief report to the academic supervisor on the student’s activities.
Topical Outline
1. Student and academic supervisor will identify a site where global health work is being conducted. 2. Student will join a team working in global health. 3. Student will observe the mission and activities of the team. 4. Student will reflect on the observations. 5. Student will become an active member of the team conducing the global health work. 6. Student will be expected to make a contribution to the advancement of the team. They develop and carry out a project, extend the works of others, develop a new project, or perform similar activities. 7. Student will report on the reflections, how the real world of global health compares to the didactic education they have received, and how they have contributed to the advancement of the mission of the organization they have been involved with. The on-site supervisor will confirm the student’s activities. 8. This effort will require approximately 150 contact hours per 3 credit experience.