The Practicum Process

Starting Your Search

Students can start their practicum search in a variety of ways:

• Personal and/or professional contacts
  
• Faculty recommendations
• Independent search
• Opportunities discussed with the practicum course instructor
  

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

• Register for your practicum course (SAR HS 405 – 4 credits)
  
• Prepare your resume with the assistance of Center for Career Development
  
• Complete the Practicum Interests Form. Please complete this form at least two months prior to semester start

Attend an Information Session

• Practicum Faculty (Professors Brown and 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 Your Site

• Email the contact provided within one week of receiving the information
  • We are not able to guarantee site availability if you delay connecting with them
    
• In the body of your email include a few sentences about yourself, why you are interested in this particular site and any relevant experience you have.
  • Attach your resume to this email
• Be clear in the subject line
  • Example: BU Undergraduate Health Science Practicum Application

Follow Up

• Be courteous. If you email on a Monday, wait until the following Monday for a response
  
  • If they do not respond within a week, send the site a follow-up email reminding them of your interest
    
  • If you do not hear back from them by the following day, email hsintern@bu.edu to discuss other options

Site Response

• Once the site responds, they will likely want to set up a phone or in-person interview. Respond to them professionally and quickly.
• Other than your scheduled courses, this should be your priority. Please make yourself readily available to meet with the site supervisor as soon as you can.

Interview

• Prepare for this interview by learning more about the site, preparing questions you may have in advance, and being yourself!
• If you interview in person, dress professionally and show up early.
• If you interview over the phone, treat it the same as an in-person interview.
• More information on interview preparation is available on the Center for Career Development’s website

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, complete the Practicum Confirmation Form.

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.

Progress Report Form

Once you begin at your practicum site:

1. Review course syllabus and due dates
2. Discusses potential learning objectives with supervisor and complete the Learning Contract within two weeks of start date
3. Set a date with your supervisor for the midpoint review, which should be completed halfway through the practicum
4. Complete assignments on time
5. Request that your supervisor complete and submit your Midpoint Review

One month prior to practicum end:

1. Review syllabus and due dates
2. Remind supervisor to complete and turn in their Final Review
3. Wrap-up any loose ends onsite
4. Discuss with supervisor if you intend to use them as a reference; secure letter of reference if desired

Last day on site:

1. 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
2. If needed, remind supervisor to complete and turn in their Final Review
3. Complete any remaining assignments
   

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

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.

The sponsoring organization is encouraged to inform the Clinical Instructor about available practicum opportunities at least two months in advance, whenever possible.

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 will share 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 will approve objectives and goals at the beginning of the practicum, and will provide an orientation to the organization and specific projects.

That 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.

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 encouraged to search for available opportunities and sites independently, and communicate their interests to the Clinical Instructor.

Students must obtain approval 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.

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, email, and in-person meetings throughout the practicum to answer questions and assist in the resolution of any issues.

Students may choose to complete their practicum while studying abroad in any of the following BU Study Abroad Programs.

Health Science students should select the Health/Human Services track.

The practicum course numbers of these international programs are either SAR HS 405 or CAS PS 495.

Please review the track and course numbers with your advisor while planning your practicum.

• Auckland, New Zealand
• Geneva, Switzerland
• London, England
• Dublin, Ireland
• Sydney, Australia
• Madrid, Spain (please contact Professor Shelley Brown for prior approval)
• Washington, D.C. (while not technically ‘abroad’ it falls under Study Abroad programs and offers exciting internship opportunities in policy, federal government, international health, health advocacy organizations)

Health Science students can meet with their own Faculty Advisor or the Clinical Instructor regarding Practicum inquiries.

• Director/Professor Briah Dunham; dunhamb@bu.edu
• Professor Shelley Brown, shelleyb@bu.edu
• Professor Susan Foster; sfoster@bu.edu
• Joshua Merson, Advisor; mersonj@bu.edu
• Professor Eileen O’Keefe; ebokeefe@bu.edu
• Professor Kelly Pesanelli; kpesan@bu.edu
• Professor Anne Sullivan-Soydan; apsoydan@bu.edu
• Professor Katy Quisell; Quissell@bu.edu
• Professor Lawrence Were; werelpo@bu.edu
  

Q: What should I do to prepare for the practicum?

Meet with career services to prepare your resume the semester prior to starting your practicum.

If you plan to complete your practicum in:

• Fall Practicum- meet with the Center for Career Development by May of your Junior year
• Spring Practicum – meet with the Center for Career Development in November
• Summer Practicum – meet with the Center for Career Development by March 1

Reach out to the Center for Career Development

Q: How many hours are required to complete the practicum?

You must complete 120 hours on site. This is approximately 8-12 hours on site per week, this depends on your site and start date. You will discuss this with your supervisor during the interview.

Q: How do I find a site?

There are a variety of ways to find a site. The Health Science program works with many sites to determine their needs each semester, and these sites will be made available to students.

However, you may also have a specific site or interest, which you will discuss with the Clinical Instructor after course registration.

Q: I have my resume ready! When does the process of finding a site begin?

We work closely with sites to match their needs, and typically they are ready to start interviewing prior to the start of the semester.

Q: Once I meet with/hear from the Clinical Instructor, what’s next?

You will contact your selected site by sending them your resume, cover letter, and any other requested information (occasionally sites request transcripts, letters of reference, or writing samples).

Most sites respond within a few days and will work with you to set up a time for an interview.

Q: What if I don’t hear back from my selected site right away?

Potential supervisors are busy and may not respond right away. We suggest following up with an email one week (5 business days) after your first communication.

Remind them you are still interested and look forward to meeting with them. If you still receive no response within a few days, please contact the Clinical Instructor of the course.

Q: What if my site requires a contract?

Some sites might require a clinical contract or ask if we have an existing contract with them. There is a dedicated individual in Sargent College who handles all contracts. Please contact HScience@bu.edu if you require assistance with a contract.