Internships
Internship information for the public health sciences major
Public health internships are positions within established, health-related organizations that provide students with professional-level training and meaningful, practical work experience in the field of public health.
Students participating in public health internships apply the public health knowledge they have gained in the classroom to their internship experience, where they develop practical public health skills and advance their understanding of public health disciplines and careers.
Internship positions may be paid or unpaid, and students may apply to earn academic credit for an internship experience. Students wishing to earn academic credit for a public health internship must fulfill the criteria described below.
Earning academic credit for a public health internship
Students participating in a public health internship may apply to earn academic credit for their internship experience. The credit application process must be completed no later than the last day of the add/drop period in the semester or term for which the credits are sought.
If the credit application is approved, students will be enrolled in the Public Health Internship course (PUBHLTH 398) for the approved number of credits. Completing this course involves participating in an online, asynchronous Canvas-based course, which includes the required academic components associated with earning academic internship credits.
Eligibility criteria:
- To be eligible for PUBHLTH 398 credit, internship positions must be offered through an established, health-related organization, and students must have a designated, on-site supervisor and a structured set of public-health related learning objectives and responsibilities associated with the position.
- Students may not earn PUBHLTH 398 credit for internship hours already completed; academic internship credit is not awarded retroactively.
- Students must have earned a minimum of 45 credits by the internship start date. In-progress credits are not counted towards this requirement.
- Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher.
- Students must complete and submit the credit application materials listed below. These materials are reviewed by the University’s Office of Career Development & Professional Connections, and by the Public Health Sciences Program Director, Dr. Sofija Zagarins.
Credit Application Materials and Instructions
To apply to earn PUBHLTH 398 credits, students must submit the PUBHLTH 398 Credit Application Form, as well as a Field Experience Request in Handshake.
PUBHLTH 398 Credit Application Form
- This form is open for submissions during class registration periods, and closes after add/drop ends.
Directions for submitting a Field Experience Request in Handshake
- For PUBHLTH 398 credits, please list Anne Skillings (annes [at] umass [dot] edu) as your approver, and Sofija Zagarins (zagarins [at] umass [dot] edu) as your faculty sponsor.
UMass Field Experience Risk Acknowledgement Form
- When filling out the Field Experience Acknowledgement form, click the fillable box in the third paragraph and fill in any known risks specific to your placement. If you aren’t aware of any, then type in the following phrase: “Other Industry-specific hazards” in that box.
How do I find an internship?
UMass Amherst and the School and Public Health and Health Sciences are committed to helping students locate relevant, stimulating internships. Check out the following resources to help get started:
- Handshake and SPHHS Office of Career Planning
- Now What? Career options with a degree in Public Health
- Public Health and CareerSnap newsletters, which are sent to your UMass email on a weekly basis.
- Find your own internship! Your local hospitals, health departments, and social service organizations are all great sources for internships opportunities, as well as informational interview and career “shadowing” experiences. Many professionals are interested in mentoring and supporting young people in the field — networking and making personal connections is very important!
When should I find an internship?
Students may complete internships during the school year or over the summer. If you are interested in receiving course credit for your internship, please consider the following important logistics:
- If you wish to receive credit for an internship that you complete during the school year, the credits will be included as a part of your regular tuition.
- If you wish to receive credit for an internship that you complete over the summer, the credits must be paid for separately, through University Without Walls (UWW). Financial aid may be available — ask the Financial Aid Office about Summer Financial Aid.
Some students find that paying to complete a for-credit internship over the summer makes their course schedule more feasible. It is important to think about what works best for your circumstances and learning style.
How do I get credit approval and sign up for my internship in Spire?
In order to get approved to receive credits for your internship, you must fill out the Internship Application Form by the last day of the add/drop period. Once you’ve received credit approval, the department will register you for PUBHLTH 398 in Spire.
In order to receive internship credits, students are required to participate in a reflective coursework experience, administered via Canvas. The Canvas course involves completing a series of online discussions and guided reflection paper assignments throughout the semester, as well as a final, comprehensive reflection paper at the end of the semester. Students will receive a notification to begin participating in the Canvas course at the beginning of the semester.
How many credits will I get for my internship?
Internship credits are calculated by the number of hours spent at the internship site each week, during the semester in which the internship is completed.
- 1 credit = at least 40 hours total, including time for required reflective coursework
- 2 credits = at least 80 hours total, including time for required reflective coursework
- 3 credits = at least 120 hours total, including time for required reflective coursework
For example:
- 1 credit = 3-5 hours per week for 14 weeks, including time for required reflective coursework
- 2 credits = 6-8 hours per week for 14 weeks, including time for required reflective coursework
- 3 credits = 9-11 hours per week for 14 weeks, including time for required reflective coursework
Students may apply a maximum of 18 internship or independent study credits toward their university degree. Students may apply a maximum of 9 internship or independent study credits toward their public health coursework.
How many internship credits can I take?
Credits for internships can range from one to nine credits. However, the norm is three credits per semester, with no more than nine total credits allowed for internships and independent study work in the major. No more than a total of six internship or independent study credits can count towards either Public Health electives or Public Health Focus Area.
How much does it cost to do an internship over the summer or winter?
Credits during the summer/winter are paid for separately through University Without Walls (UWW). Visit the UWW website for current tuition rates.