The UMSI Internship Courses are an integral part of the School of Information's professional master's programs. These courses allow students to integrate the application of knowledge and skills to specific problems outside the classroom and enables you to combine what you have learned in the classroom with what you observe and experience in the "real world." 

Master of Health Informatics students must complete an approved internship(s) for three to nine Internship Course Credits (via SI 681 or SI 690) in order to graduate. Internships are often short-term or part-time work that builds on the knowledge and skills you gain in coursework. Typically students fulfill this requirement during the summer between the first and second years of the program, but there is flexibility to complete an internship during fall or winter of their second year. Internships happen around the world, and a full summary of outcomes can be found in the MHI Internship Outcomes Report

A key resource for finding internships is UMSI CareerLink, UMSI's online recruiting system. Our Career Development Office educates students on conducting a successful internship search.

UMSI students may pursue the internship of their choosing; for an internship to be approved for the UMSI Internship Program, however, students should be seeking roles with the following benefits:  

• Relates to what is taught and researched at UMSI and connects to the student’s coursework and future career goals
• Provides hands-on professional work that helps the student develop new learning, skills and abilities
• Has a professional supervisor with three or more years of experience who provides mentoring for a successful experience

We ask all students to participate in an internship for a number of reasons. First, it gives you the opportunity to see the results of the skills you’re building in real-world situations. Second, it gives you a better understanding of the opportunities and challenges in the field, which you bring back to your second-year coursework. Third, it allows you to build experience, as well as a stronger resume and/or portfolio, which future employers look for. And finally, we know that the connections made during internships are critical for networking and can lead to job offers.