An analysis of perceptions of an internship experience of college graduates in ABET accredited occupational safety and health programs

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the degree to which the occupational safety and health internship experience provided personal, professional, and career value for occupational safety and health graduates of ABET accredited degree programs; determine those characteristics that contribute most to a worthwhile internship experience for occupational safety and health graduates; ascertain the extent to which occupational safety and health graduates were satisfied with the accomplishments of specific characteristics that were related to the internship experience; and determine those demographic and internship characteristics that contribute most to the overall satisfaction of an internship experience for occupational safety and health graduates.

An internship survey questionnaire was mailed to all 1997 through 2001 bachelor’s and master’s degree graduates of five ABET accredited university programs in occupational safety and health who completed at least one internship experience. The research study population was typically a 25.13 year old, white, single male who completed his first internship while receiving a bachelor’s degree. The typical internship sites were manufacturing, other sites (university, pulp and paper, trucking, utilities, and health care), and government agencies with two-thirds of the interns having responsibility as safety generalists. The geographical locations of the internship sites were evenly distributed over urban, rural, and suburban areas.

Each of the 18 key attributes of the internship experience was considered by the respondents to be somewhat to very important to the value of and satisfaction with the internship experience. The ten internship attributes which received the highest levels of perceived importance were learning skills from experience, interacting with management, gaining confidence in technical skills, obtaining career related experience for resume'-building, receiving on-site orientation, applying academic knowledge and skills to real situations, having a well-defined job description, performing challenging work assignments, working cooperatively with others, and using and developing basic skills. Eight of the ten most important internship attributes were also among the ten highest ranked internship attributes in satisfaction with the internship experience. Two of the ten most important internship attributes received low mean satisfaction level scores, receiving on-site orientation and having a well-defined job description.

Significant positive correlations were found between interns’ salary and the value of and satisfaction with the internship experience. Analysis of variance on the value of and satisfaction with the internship indicated that significant differences did exist between the various internship sites. Based on the results of this study, recommendations were made to improve occupational safety and health internship programs and for needed future research.