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Ben Wirtz Siegel
University Community
OHIO Online students gain valuable experience through internships, practicums
OHIO Online features a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate programs tailored to the needs of each student.
And while the programs are offered online, students have numerous opportunities to gain hands-on experience through practicums and internships.
“Practicums and internships are important to online university students because they provide hands-on, real-world experiences that bridge the gap between virtual coursework and professional practice, enhance employability, build professional networks, and help clarify career goals,” said Senior Director of Student Success for OHIO Online Elizabeth Bonin.
OHIO Director of Arts in Health Dr. Sharon R. Boyle, associate professor of music therapy, also serves as program director for the Chaddock + Morrow College of Fine Arts Master of Applied Arts in Health program. Boyle added that for the programs she is involved with, practicums and internships play a pivotal role.
“It’s a very important part of our programs,” Boyle said. “We want our students to have experiences actually applying what they've been learning.”
Setting up practicums and internships
As an OHIO faculty member, Boyle works directly with students and discusses opportunities with them for internships near where they live. Sometimes these discussions take place even before the students apply to Ohio University.
Boyle works with the students to discuss different types of internships, if they have other work responsibilities that affect when they can take part in these experiences, and what is available in their areas.
And once students begin their work in their OHIO Online programs, they continue discussions with OHIO faculty and staff, contact organizations that may offer internships or practicums, and identify opportunities that fit their academic and career goals.
Ohio University has connections with organizations around the country, and the world, for practicums and internships. These contacts are often through OHIO alumni who are working at these organizations, and often through previous programs that involved OHIO students.
One recent student that Boyle has been working with, for example, originally set up an internship with the Canton Museum of Art. In the process of getting that established, Boyle and the student also talked with another organization in the area, and those discussions led to additional opportunities for the student.
“She was already building a network even before starting her internship,” Boyle said.
A few examples of where OHIO Online students have taken part in practicums or internships in the last year include the
- Darke County General Health District
- Athens City-County Health Department
- United Way of Denton, Texas
- Canton Museum of Art
- Sunshine Communities in Maumee, Ohio
- Passion Works Studios in Athens
- Ohio University Community Health
- Frank Long Elementary School in Hinesville, Georgia
- Simply Smiles Implant and Family Dentistry PC, in Ashburn, Virginia
- Cancer Services in Wake Forest, North Carolina
- Naval Air Station Fallon, Nevada
- Mississippi State Department of Health
- Cleveland Clinic Employee Health Plan
- Celebrate One – City of Columbus
Supporting OHIO Online students in their work experiences
And once students set up their internships or practicums, OHIO Online continues to support them in their work.
“Our advisors help students feel supported by checking in on their experiences, offering support and guidance, and advising them on developing practical skills in their field,” Bonin explained.
Boyle stays very involved providing support to her students.
“They'll have lots of support from me and from the program, as well as support from an onsite supervisor with the organization,” Boyle said. “It takes a lot of communication and planning on the front end, but we do it to help to give our students the best experience possible.”
The onsite supervisors work with OHIO faculty and staff to make sure students can take part in the required number of hours and take part in experiences that benefit the students and the organization. The supervisors also provide important feedback and evaluations for the students as they complete their work.
And all throughout the practicums or internships, OHIO Online faculty and staff check in regularly with the students to receive updates and answer questions.
“Communication is so important,” Boyle said, explaining that she checks in regularly with her students and their on-site supervisors for internships and practicums. “I want to know how they are progressing. I want to know how they are doing and how they are experiencing the internship.”
OHIO Online offers more than 60 user-friendly online programs, spanning associate, bachelor's, and graduate degrees in a wide range of majors. Students learn a great deal in the academic portions of their programs and then add to their knowledge and skills through practicums and internships.
Published
June 4, 2025