必需的! Practicum Process

Students MUST READ this page in its entirety prior to starting the Practicum search process!

General Information

All Health Science students must complete an approved, graded and supervised practicum.  This provides the opportunity to integrate and apply classroom learning in a health care environment, enabling students to observe and learn from professionals in the field. The student contributes to a community’s resources and to the solution of health problems, while developing practical skills and personal confidence as a health professional.

Students fulfill the Health Science practicum requirement by completing the assignments associated with the following course: SAR HS405 (4 credits), 120 on-site hours, and receive a Letter Grade.

Practicum Process

Planning

Students can initiate their practicum search in various ways: through personal and/or professional contacts (you may provide them with the website information on the practicum for a brief overview), through faculty recommendations, through independent searches, or through opportunities discussed with the Clinical Instructor for the Practicum Course.

Most practicum opportunities arise through relationships that exist with various sites, including community-based organizations, hospitals, research organizations, state and local health departments, pharmaceutical companies and other local, national, and international sites.  In addition, faculty members in each department have professional and collegial relationships with many health practitioners.

Prior to Semester Start:

  • Student registers for a practicum course (SAR HS 405 – 4 credits) during course registration.
  • Prepare your resume with the assistance of Center for Career Development
    Phone: 617-353-3590
  • Complete the Practicum Interests Form
    (Please complete this form at least TWO MONTHS PRIOR to semester start – May for Fall Practicum, November for Spring Practicum, early March for Summer Practicum)
  • INFORMATION SESSION  Practicum Faculty (Professor Brown and Professor Pesanelli) will email you about an information session.
  • PRACTICUM SITE EMAIL After the information session, you will receive contact information for practicum sites based on your interests.
  • SELECT ONE of the recommended sites (this will be done during your meeting or via email)
  • APPLY to the selected site:
    • Email the contact provided within one week of receiving contact information. We are not able to guarantee the availability of sites if you contact them later than one week after we provide you with contact information.
    • In the body of your email include a few sentences about yourself, why you are interested in this particular site, any relevant experience you have). Attach your resume to this email.
    • Please be clear in the subject line (Subject: BU Undergraduate Health Science Practicum Application)
  • FOLLOW-UP If you email on a Monday, wait until the following Monday for a response – if they DO NOT respond, send them a follow-up email reminding them that you are still interested. For example, if you email a site on Monday 11/4 for the first time – wait until Monday 11/11 and send a polite follow-up email expressing that you remain interested. If you do not hear back from them by the following day, please email HSIntern@bu.edu to discuss other options.
  • RESPONSE Once the site responds, they will likely want to set up a phone or in person interview. Please respond to them professionally and quickly (even if they took a while to get back to you, we recommend you follow-up as soon as you receive their email and at the least within 24 hours). Other than scheduled courses, this should be your priority so please make yourself readily available to meet with the site supervisor as soon as you can.
  • INTERVIEW This will be done over the phone or in person. Please prepare for this interview by learning more about the site, preparing questions you may have in advance, and being yourself! If this is in person, dress professionally and show up early. If over the phone, treat it the same as an in person interview. More information on Interview preparation is available on BU Careers Interview Information.
  • SITE CONFIRMATION After the interview, you should hear back quickly from the site. Once you do, if they offer you the position then accept and make arrangements for your first day. After you do this, please go the Practicum Site Confirmation and complete ALL information.
  • PROGRESS REPORT If you have difficulty locating a site, you are required to submit a progress report update by January 20 (for Spring semester); September 20 (Fall Semester), June 1 (Summer) to provide information on steps you have taken to find a site.

Once you begin work on-site:

  1. Review Course Syllabus and due dates (Available on Blackboard)
  2. Student discusses potential learning objectives with Site Supervisor and completes Learning Contract within two weeks of start date on-site. Submit this via Blackboard
  3. Set a date with your Site Supervisor for the mid-term review, which should be completed approximately halfway through the practicum.
  4. Complete Assignments on time (see Blackboard)
  5. Request supervisor complete and submit Midpoint Review
  6. Attend all required on-site activities and on-site hours

One month prior to end-date:

  1. Review Syllabus and due dates
  2. Remind Site Supervisor to complete and turn in final evaluation
  3. Wrap-up any loose ends on site
  4. Discuss with Site Supervisor if you intend to use them as a reference, secure letter of reference if desired.
  5. Last day on site: Provide clear instructions on any transition of your projects, ensure that all items used remain in good working order, communicate any issues with your supervisor.
  6. Request supervisor complete and submit Final Evaluation.
  7. Complete remaining Assignments (see Blackboard).

Practicum Roles and Responsibilities

 

Student Responsibilities On-Site

The student is expected to function as a professional at all times and is responsible for activities and work described in the Learning Contract.

The student is expected to:

  • Participate in the design and implementation of the project
  • Provide professional quality work
  • Comply with the policies and procedures of the organization
  • Integrate within the structure of the organization
  • Complete academic and professional assignments related to the practicum
  • Maintain communication with the Clinical Instructor

Student Academic Responsibilities

As an academic course, the practicum has academic requirements.  The practicum should be treated as any other course at Boston University. If practicum documentation is either missing or not submitted in a timely manner, or if on-site responsibilities are not met, students may be in jeopardy of failing the course and therefore NOT meeting the graduation requirement.

Site Supervisor and Organization

The sponsoring organization is encouraged to inform the Clinical Instructor about available practicum opportunities at least two months in advance, whenever possible.  This will help to distribute information in a timely manner. An ideal project allows the student to take initiative and work as part of a multidisciplinary team.

The agency agrees to assign a Site Supervisor to oversee the student’s practicum.  This person should have expertise in assigned project areas, experience, status within the organization, and the ability and desire to supervise and mentor.  The Site Supervisor shares organizational values, experiences, and contacts with the student to enhance the student’s experience. Students should be encouraged to attend meetings and in-service trainings, and conduct informational interviews with key individuals throughout the practicum. The Site Supervisor meets with the student to discuss progress as well as any issues related to the student’s activities. Feedback is crucial to the student’s professional development.

The Clinical Instructor will contact the Site Supervisor and send a welcome letter when a practicum has been confirmed.  The Site Supervisor approves objectives and goals at the beginning of the practicum and provides an orientation to the organization and specific projects.  The agency orientation may include:

  • Description of the organizational mission and vision
  • Introduction to key people within the organization
  • Informational meetings with management
  • Information about the target population
  • Organizational policies and procedures
  • Provision of appropriate workspace for the student

After the Objectives/Goals have been developed, we request that the Site Supervisor participate in regular meetings, with the student, especially at the midpoint and the end of the term. The Midpoint Review assesses practicum progress in relation to the goals set forth in the beginning of the experiences, and changes may be made at this time.  If any further follow-up is needed, the Clinical Instructor will be in touch with the Site Supervisor towards the end of the practicum. The student and Site Supervisor discuss and complete the Site Supervisor Evaluation of Student.

Practicum Faculty

The Practicum Faculty provide guidance to students and assists in identifying appropriate practicum sites and selecting students for specific roles at partner sites.  Students are strongly encouraged to become aware of available opportunities, search for possible sites independently and communicate interests and potential sites to the Clinical Instructor. Students must obtain approval from the Practicum Faculty in order to receive credits for a practicum course, and it is ultimately the student’s responsibility to secure a site using all available resources. Once the student submits the Approval Form, the Practicum Office will send the Site Supervisor a welcome email outlining the program.

The Practicum Faculty will follow-up with the organization as warranted by comments in the Midpoint Review, through regular communication and as needed.  The Practicum Faculty are available by phone, e-mail and in person meetings throughout the practicum to answer questions or to assist in the resolution of any problems.