Internships for Public Health Science Credit
Public Health Science majors may apply up to 6 credits of experiential learning (internship or research independent study) towards the 12+ credits of PHSC options, regardless of course prefix. PHSC internships may be paid or unpaid.
Where can I intern for PHSC credit?
The Public Health Science program maintains relationships with a variety of public health and healthcare organizations in the Washington, D.C./Baltimore metropolitan area, but you are not limited to applying to the pre-approved sites.
How can you find internship sites that have already been vetted for PHSC options credit?
Currently enrolled Public Health Science majors can request access to a list of approved PHSC internship sites. Please keep in mind, sites listed do not necessarily have a guaranteed open internship position for you. A listing means that the Public Health Science program has approved of the site and has a working relationship with the organization.
Want to request access to view sites approved for PHSC Internship Credit?
Within 3-7 days of submitting this form, you will receive an invitation to view the file via UMD Box. (You will need to log in to UMD Box with your UMD directory ID and and password to access the list.)
Already received access to PHSC Student Internships in UMD Box?
If you have an offer from an internship site that is not on the list of pre-approved PHSC internship contacts, you must submit an Internship Site Approval Request form.
The new site must be vetted by the PHSC Internship Coordinator before you can request academic credit for the experience.
On the form, you will need to provide specific information about the internship site:
- Name of organization
- Mailing address and website of organization
- Site supervisor’s name and title
- Site supervisor’s phone number and email address
- Brief description of organization, including its mission, services, etc. (in your own words, not cut and pasted from a website.)
- A list of potential internship activities (as specific as possible.) These must align with the public health science program competencies.
It is your responsibility to find and apply for an internship.
The University Career Center @SPH provides resources and guidance for students on everything from writing an email to an employer and updating your resume to preparing for interviews. The staff plans events with employers and workshops on job search topics.
Each semester, the Public Health Science program hosts professional development events for students at all stages of career planning. Find the PHSC Career Development calendar on the PHSC Student Resources page.
Public Health Science majors who wish to enroll in an internship course for Public Health Science Options credit must have:
- a minimum UMD cumulative GPA of 2.5
- a minimum number of credits earned by the start of the internship:
- College Park students: 45+ credits
- Shady Grove students: 75+ credits
- an internship offer from an organization that meets the criteria for Public Health Science credit as listed in Internship Requirements below
- applied for approval of PHSC internship credit by the posted deadline
For an internship site and position to be eligible for PHSC Internship Credit, the
- Employer/Organization must have been vetted and approved in advance by PHSC Internship Coordinator
- Intern’s work must be supervised by a public health professional with a master’s degree or 5 years of experience in the field
- Work must be related to public health, and not clinical in nature
- Intern’s duties and responsibilities must be consistent with one or more Public Health Science competencies
Requesting Academic Credit for an Internship
To receive academic credit for an internship, students must be simultaneously enrolled in an approved internship course. Most PHSC majors enroll in PHSC399 for this credit, but they may request permission in advance from the PHSC Internship Coordinator to apply credits from another 300 or 400 level internship course towards PHSC options requirements.
Deadlines
Enrollment in PHSC399 is by permission only.
In order to be considered for internship credit, the student must submit the completed and signed Internship Contract to the PHSC Internship Coordinator by the stated deadline:
If the above deadlines fall on a weekend or holiday, contracts must be submitted by the last business day prior to the deadline.
Credit Hours for Internships
Interns are expected to work in accordance with the number of credit hours they are enrolled in for their internship course.
- For internships, 45 hours = 1 credit
- 1 credit = 45 total work hours
- 2 credits = 90 total work hours
- 3 credits = 135 total work hours
- 4 credits = 180 total work hours
- 5 credits = 225 total work hours
- 6 credits = 270 or more total work hours
Restrictions
Students who have been employed at an organization for more than 3 months will not be eligible for an internship at that organization unless their job description has changed significantly to reflect a higher level of responsibility.
PHSC Internship credit cannot be granted on a retroactive basis.
Tuition and Fees
During the fall and spring semesters, students enrolled in PHSC399 pay their usual tuition and fees.
During the summer, students enrolled in PHSC399 are responsible for paying Summer Session Tuition and Fees for the corresponding number of credits.
- How to Financially Support Your Internship (from the University Career Center)
PHSC internship credit is not offered during the winterterm.
Enrollment in PHSC399 is by permission only. Students must complete all of the following steps before they can receive a registration stamp for the course.
- Accept an internship offer from an approved organization.
- Download and complete the PHSC Internship Contract.
- Have the completed PHSC Internship Contract reviewed and signed by the student's site supervisor.
- Submit the completed Internship Contract to the PHSC Internship Coordinator by the stated deadline.
Failure to secure an internship, receive approval, and submit a completed an internship contract by the deadline means a student will not be able to earn credit for the upcoming semester or summer.
Internship Contract
The contract, completed by the intern and site supervisor, ensures that all parties understand the responsibilities of the position including a description of daily responsibilities or the nature of the project for the internship period.
Students can download Adobe Creative Cloud software from UMD Terpware to be able to download and fill in the contract.
Download the Internship Contract for the term you will be working and enrolled in the PHSC399 course:
PHSC399 Course Assignments
Students enrolled in PHSC399 complete the following assignments in addition to their internship duties:
- In-person Orientation
- Signed Course Policy Agreement
- Mid-term evaluation by site supervisor
- Final evaluation by site supervisor
- Oral reflection presentation
- Written reflection paper
- Class engagement via Slack platform
Federal and Global Fellows
Public Health Science majors in these specific Federal and Global Fellows seminars may apply their FGSM internships towards their PHSC Options credit:
- FGSM320: Public Health Policy
- FGSM340: Energy and Environmental Policy
- FGSM370: Science Diplomacy: Foreign Policy & Science, Technology, and Innovation
- FGSM380: Responses to Global Challenges
- FGSM390: Water Security and Global Health Challenges
Reach out to a PHSC Advisor if you have questions.
Note - students may apply a maximum of 6 credits of experiential learning (research or internship) towards the 12 credits of PHSC Options.
I hear and I forget, I see and I remember, I do and I understand.
Resources for Employers
The PHSC Internship Coordinator is in direct contact with supervisors of Public Health Science majors enrolled in PHSC399.
Organizations who wish to recruit other University of Maryland students for full time positions have the support of the University Career Center.