Service learning in the undergraduate health administration curriculum: theory and practice

Changing the focus of the health care system from individual to population-based health presents challenges for health administration programs as they search for innovative ways to educate students who can work in interdisciplinary and diverse environments. The increased utilization of service learning in health profession schools suggests that service learning is a way to contribute to student learning, social awareness and the health of community. Undergraduate health administration programs can take on the same challenge by integrating service learning into their curriculum. This study introduces the service learning concept into the health administration curriculum, demonstrates service learning models and recommends several health administration courses for service learning integration.