Course Syllabus

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Indiana University Kokomo

School of Business

Department of Public Administration and Health Management

 Syllabus:PAHM V585 Syllabus_Summer 2026_Practicum Course.docx

PAHM-V585: Practicum in Public Affairs

Summer 2026 (May 18, 2026-Aug 14, 2026)

(Section # 8677)

 

Instructor: Hyunkang Hur, Associate Professor                                                     Email: hyunhur@iu.edu

Office: KO 174G                                                                                                        Class Time: APR

Office Hours: By Appointment                                                                                 Class Location: APR

Course Description

The Practicum in Public Affairs (V585) is designed to provide students with an opportunity to integrate their academic studies with practical administrative experience. It is hoped that the program will allow participating students the opportunity to reflect on their public administration or health services career aspirations. It is anticipated that this internship course will also galvanize capable students to seek careers in public service, healthcare and nonprofit organizations. In particular, the Department of Public Administration and Health Management (PAHM) believes that the internship program benefits both students and public agencies by allowing them meaningful participation in “real world” problem solving; by using fresh minds and new perspectives to address and solve agency problems. Internship could also expose students to potential permanent employment opportunities; by incorporating future leaders into the management and decision-making processes of government agencies, nonprofit and healthcare organizations.

The Department of Public Administration and Health Management subscribes to the following objectives but does not expect each student to achieve every objective. Internships will provide students the opportunity to test their interests in the public administration or health management professional career before permanent commitments are made. Many of the internship objectives will only be important to a few students, but each student should achieve a substantial portion of those listed below.

Objective and Goals

  1. Learn more about all aspects of public administration or health administration by examining the respective functions from a practitioners’ perspective;
  2. Learn more about the skills students’ need to be better public administrator or hospital administrator;
  3. Demonstrate competence in presenting information in both oral and written form.
  4. Learn how to apply the knowledge learned in the classroom to the functions of public administrator at the federal, state and local governments levels;
  5. Develop practical knowledge of what it takes to be an effective administrator or manager in a government agency or hospital setting;
  6. Gain an understanding of the technical skills and knowledge required in the human resources workplace;
  7. Gain decision-making and critical thinking skills as well as increased confidence and self-esteem as it relates to all functional areas in hospital administration or government agencies.
  8. Provide students the opportunity to develop attitudes conducive to effective interpersonal relationships in a hospital or government department work setting.
  9. Provide students the opportunity to understand informal organizational interrelationships in government departments or hospital administration.

Policy Regarding Sexual Misconduct

As your instructor, one of my responsibilities is to help create a safe learning environment on our campus. Title IX and our own Sexual Misconduct policy prohibit sexual misconduct.  If you have experienced sexual misconduct, or know someone who has, the University can help.

 

If you are seeking help and would like to speak to someone confidentially, you can make an appointment with Beth Barnett, Room KC234, Kelley Student Center, 765-455-9553.  More information about available resources can be found here:  http://stopsexualviolence.iu.edu/help/index.html (Links to an external site.)

 

It is also important that you know that federal regulations and University policy require me to promptly convey any information about potential sexual misconduct known to me to our campus’ Deputy Title IX Coordinator or IU’s Title IX Coordinator.  In that event, they will work with a small number of others on campus to ensure that appropriate measures are taken and resources are made available to the student who may have been harmed.  Protecting a student’s privacy is of utmost concern, and all involved will only share information with those that need to know to ensure the University can respond and assist. 

I encourage you to visit stopsexualviolence.iu.edu to learn more.

 

Accessibility Statement

Every attempt will be made to accommodate qualified students with disabilities (e.g. mental health, learning, chronic health, physical, hearing, vision neurological, etc.) You must have established your eligibility for support services through the appropriate office that services students with disabilities. Note that services are confidential, may take time to put into place and are not retroactive; Captions and alternate media for print materials may take three or more weeks to get produced. Please contact your campus office as soon as possible if accommodations are needed. Find your office at: http//ada.iu.edu.students/index.shtml

Guidelines for Completing the V585 Requirement

The PAHM Practicum in Public Affairs is designed to provide students with an opportunity to integrate their academic studies with practical administrative experience. If a student registers for V-585, Practicum in Public Affairs, 3 to 6 credits (one time only) can be earned (success/fail) upon successful completion of the course requirements. Academic credit is earned on the basis of assignments, which call for academic appraisal and analysis of internship work. The major requirement is an internship reflection paper (6-7 pages in length (double-spaced)) written by the student that reflects upon the internship as a learning experience (that is, an integrative paper on the educational experience of the Internship). Papers are to be turned in to the course professor by Aug 12th(Wed), 2026 during the last week of class of the Summer 2026 semester via Canvas in which Internship is undertaken.

 

Weekly Journal: Each student will keep a journal of his/her daily work routine. Entries should include, but are not limited to, date, hours worked, tasks performed, impressions, and reflections. Weekly journal should be approximately 1 page in length (double-spaced).

  • Weekly Journal 1 Due: May 24, 2026 (Sunday, 11:59 pm) via Canvas
  • Weekly Journal 2 Due: May 31, 2026 (Sunday, 11:59 pm) via Canvas
  • Weekly Journal 3 Due: June 7, 2026 (Sunday, 11:59 pm) via Canvas
  • Weekly Journal 4 Due: June 14, 2026 (Sunday, 11:59 pm) via Canvas
  • Weekly Journal 5 Due: June 21, 2026 (Sunday, 11:59 pm) via Canvas
  • Weekly Journal 6 Due: June 28, 2026 (Sunday, 11:59 pm) via Canvas
  • Weekly Journal 7 Due: July 7, 2026 (Sunday, 11:59 pm) via Canvas
  • Weekly Journal 8 Due: July 12, 2026 (Sunday, 11:59 pm) via Canvas
  • Weekly Journal 9 Due: July 19, 2026 (Sunday, 11:59 pm) via Canvas
  • Weekly Journal 10 Due: July 26, 2026 (Sunday, 11:59 pm) via Canvas
  • Weekly Journal 11 Due: Aug 2, 2026 (Sunday, 11:59 pm) via Canvas
  • Weekly Journal 12 Due: Aug 9, 2026 (Sunday, 11:59 pm) via Canvas

 

Internship Reflection Paper: To assist students in the process of preparing the required paper for this internship course, please used the following outline to write your paper. Papers should be approximately 6-7 pages in length (double-spaced). Papers are to be turned in to the course professor by Aug 13th (Thursday), 2026 during the last week of class of the 2026 Summer Semester via Canvas in which Internship is undertaken.

  1. Introduction: A brief description of the organization where the internship was completed.
  2. Organizational chartlocating the internship position
  3. Discussionof major responsibilities
  4. Relationship of Internship Experienceto the Master of Public Management or Bachelor of Science in Public Administration (Draw on materials studied in the various PAHM courses, including theories issues raised, readings and other related experiences to integrate internship experience with degree program).
  5. Conclusion: What you have gained by participating in the internship and in what ways has your internship experience help you to develop interest(s) in a particular profession within the public administration and health management fields.
  6. References/Bibliography

 

In addition to completing this final paper, students are required to work approximately 8 hours each week for the agency or department. In all, the student should have completed 120 hours (for 3 credits or 240 hours for 6 credits) of work over the course of the semester. These hours should be completed no later than Aug 14th, 2026.

Supervisor’s Evaluation: Near the end of the semester, the internship supervisor or a senior member of the organization where the student worked will complete an evaluation form for each student being supervised. This evaluation is left to the discretion of the professor, but should include a summary of the strengths of the student intern, as well as areas where he/she can improve upon the development of their professional skill set. Supervisor Evaluation form should be turned in to the course professor from supervisor via (hyunhur@iu.edu) by 11:59 pm, Aug 13th (Thursday), 2026.

Course Summary:

Course Summary
Date Details Due