Each semester, HSSP students participate in two four-hour "Job Observations," which are HSSP's job shadowing opportunities. Students observe health professionals at work in a variety of settings, from clinical to administrative. These experiences provide students with first-hand insight into how health professionals work and what opportunities exist in these fields.  After completing each observation, students write a summary and reflection on the experience as an assignment for HSSP's core course, UC 105-106, Perspectives on Health and Health Care.

Before completing their first job observation, each HSSP student is required to complete the on-line Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) training, read and sign the UMHS Patient Confidentiality Statement, meet requirements for immunizations, TB testing, and have their immunization records on file at the University Health Services. Students also have the responsibility to dress and behave appropriately and professionally in a health care setting and to understand the rules and practices governing student observations of health interactions, which can be found on the UC 105-106 CTools sites.