Field Study Internship |Program Information

The Field Study Internship Program provides UC Berkeley undergraduate students with an opportunity to shadow a physician in the workplace in the Bay Area.  Preceptors range from primary care providers, such as internists and pediatricians, to specialty physicians, including radiation oncologists, surgeons, and neurologists.  The program allows the intern to enter the healthcare setting and experience the day-to-day workings of the medical profession. Students become acquainted with the particular field of medicine in which his or her preceptor is involved.  Interns are provided with the unique opportunity to see how physicians interact with their patients, colleagues, nurses, pharmaceutical representatives, insurance companies, and hospital administration, for example.  Interns also participate in weekly discussion sections where they have an opportunity to share their shadowing experiences and discuss a variety of issues facing the medical field.

Field Study Interns are required to shadow their preceptors for a minimum of 6-8 hours per week and attend a 2 hour weekly discussion section.  Throughout the semester, the intern is required to complete written assignments, a weekly journal, program evaluations, and projects.  In addition, they are required to attend all program meetings and events.  Students receive 3 units of P/NP credit.  However, the volume of work and the amount of time associated with successfully completing the internship warrant much more than three units.

To be selected as an intern, applicants must be undergraduates, have successfully passed PH 116 lecture AND discussion/DeCal prior to the internship semester, and submit a written application.  Based on this application, he /she may be offered an interview. Should an intern be selected, his/her participation in the program is contingent upon his/her attendance of all mandatory FSI classes, meetings, and events and completion of all assignments.  Applications for the following semester are available around the 7th week of classes every semester.  Candidates should contact the FSI Program Coordinator [Winward Choy, fsicoordinator(at)gmail.com] for exact dates and details.