Master of Public Health

One of the best things you can do as you position yourself for a career in public health is to participate in an internship. An internship is a temporary position with an organization; an internship usually offers credit hours toward your degree. It is meant to help you learn new skills and gain some experience in your field of expertise. Many public health programs encourage students to participate in an internship in order to get hands-on experience in the choice area of expertise. This can be beneficial to the student, since it provides him or her with work experience, rather than having to start out without working knowledge of the field. Internships may be paid or unpaid, depending on the organization. However, even a paid internship may offer only a small stipend.

Public health internships cover several different opportunities:

1. Government agencies help you learn about policy development. You might be involved in research, communications or the ins and outs of public policy. It is sometimes even possible to do public health policy internships with other governments, or with U.S. government embassies and representatives abroad.
2. Non-profit organizations intent on education and providing aid might provide internships. This includes organizations that educate the poverty-stricken on health practices, as well as organizations that provide food, health and water aid. Global humanitarian foundations can also provide internship opportunities.
3. Companies associated with health products and services might also offer internships. This includes companies that market and sell health products, lobbying firms for the health care industry and others, or companies that develop and sell different health products.
4. Clinics, hospitals, nursing homes and other similar organizations might also offer internships in public health. This provides you with a chance to learn how a clinic works, and to get firsthand experience in health administration.

Applying for a Public Health Internship

One of the biggest challenges is finding a public health internship. Some internships are quite competitive, so it helps to cultivate different options. Even though internships may not be paid positions, there are often limited positions available, so you will have to go through an application process. You will need to show that you have good grades, are doing well in your public health emphasis, and that you are prepared to learn more about a career in public health. Many internship applications require you to submit a resume or curriculum vitae, cover letter, references, and letters of recommendation. It is a lot like applying for a job, or applying to attend a university program. Some public heath internships may also require a background check.

Before you apply for a public health internship, make sure that you understand which materials are required, and the due date. If you need letters of recommendation, try to get them from people who are active in a field related to your desired internship. The need for letters of recommendation is one reason that it is a good idea to develop positive relationships with your instructors, and network with professionals in your field of study. You need to be in a position to receive a positive letter from people who know you well, and who can give you an honest — and good — recommendation. Likewise, your references should be people who know you and are involved in public health. Be sure to contact your references to let them know that you are applying for an internship, and confirm that it is acceptable to list them.

Finding Public Health Internships

The first place to look when attempting to secure a public health internship is your university’s career center. Most career centers offer helpful suggestions on getting internships, and can point you in the right direction. Your department at the university might also have information on internships in your field of study. If you have an academic adviser, ask him or her for internship opportunities that might be available.

You can also look online for public health internships. A simple search can bring up a number of possibilities. Go to state and federal agency web sites, or go to the sites of companies or non-profits that you are interested in working with. Many of these sites offer information on internships.

If you do not find an internship opportunity listed at an organization you are interested, or if you are trying to find a local public health internship, you can contact the organization directly. Contact a local charity, or your local public health department, and ask if you can intern. Many organizations are willing to accommodate students who want internships — especially if they are unpaid internships. Before you do this, though, you will need to clear the organization with your school. There might also be some additional forms and paperwork to fill out in order to get the organization approved by the university.

Prominent Public Health Internships

If you are interested in finding an interesting and challenging internship that will provide you with great experience, here are a few places to start your public health internship search:

• USA Jobs: Ground zero for government internships, including public health internships.
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: A variety of public health internships are offered through the Administration on Aging, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Food and Drug Administration, Indian Health Service and the National Institutes of Health (including a biomedical research internship).
• World Health Organization: Get an internship with a well-known international organization devoted to public health.
• Association of Schools of Public Health: ASPH Internships offers a chance for you to find placement in different public health internships. Fellowships are also offered.
• American Cancer Society: Offers internship opportunities for those interested in public health from a non-profit standpoint.
• American Public Health Association: Work with this association on public health policy and public affairs. One of the most interesting internships is with National Public Health Week.
• PIH Institute for Health and Social Justice: Offers a summer internship program that focuses on health policy and health care for the poor.
• AIDS Foundation of Chicago: Research, clinical techniques and statistical methods are required for this program internship.
• Our Bodies Ourselves: Internship focusing on women’s health and public health policy.

Health administration, behavioral studies, biostats, environmental science, health education, epidemiology, and occupational health form the foundation of public health. Individuals interested in one or more of these areas would do well to advance their careers by earning a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree. The schools below are all accredited online universities that offer the MPH or a similar degree.

MPH MPH: Epidemiology MPH: Health Mgmt MPH: Intl Public Health	University of Liverpool – The University of Liverpool Master of Public Health degree provides a foundation in the science of promoting health and preventing disease. Areas of emphasis within the MPH program include epidemiology, healthcare management, and international public health. As an added convenience, the university offers a modular system that provides students the flexibility of obtaining credits at partner institutions.
MPH MPH: Health Education	Kaplan University – Graduates of the Kaplan University MPH program are ready to take their careers to the next stage at the government, nonprofit, or private level. The online program provides students with an education on how to analyze and apply scientific research, prepare public health policies, develop health education programs, and review the impact of occupational and environmental factors. Kaplan offers several specializations within their MPH program, including health education.
MPH MPH: Disaster Mgmt MPH: Health Education MPH: Health Policy MPH/MBA Dual Degree	Benedictine University – Benedictine University's Master's in Public Health program features a curriculum of public health core with a focus on the needs of today's healthcare industry. Courses feature a conceptual, factual, and skill base where students are given the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills in a professional setting. Benedictine offers areas of emphasis within their MPH program: disaster management, health education, and healthcare policy. They also offer an MPH/MBA dual degree.
MPH MPA: Health Policy	Walden University – The Walden University MPH degree teaches the development of healthy individuals, organizations, and communities. The program provides core study in the public health field, using real-world teaching methodology, industry leading professors, and a capstone fieldwork practicum. Those interested in policymaking may find Walden's MPA in health policy to be of interest.
MPH MPH: Behavioral Science MPH: Health Policy	Capella University – The MPH program at Capella University prepares students for careers in public health management, social welfare, or research. Key facets of the curriculum include the behavioral, psychological, and social factors that contribute to the health of populations. Specializations include behavioral science and healthcare policy. Courses include International Public Health, Environmental Health Concepts in Public Health, and Principles of Biostatistics.
MS: Health Services MBA: Health Services	Strayer University – Strayer University offers two health services administration degrees through its accredited online program. The Master of Health Services Administration prepares students for high-level careers as healthcare managers, managed healthcare plan coordinators, hospital administrators, and much more. The MBA in health services administration gives students a well-rounded business education in addition to healthcare-specific knowledge.
MPH	Grand Canyon University – The Grand Canyon University Master of Public Health program is recognized as a leader in training the next generation of public health advocates. Featuring a curriculum that is developed around a multidisciplinary methodology, courses include Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Environmental Health, and Social, Behavioral, and Cultural Factors in Public Health.
MS: Health Communication	Boston University – At the Boston University online Master of Science in Health Communication program, students are taught cutting edge methods in hospital administration through a dynamic curriculum that examines current healthcare issues. The program gives students a world class education in the art of communicating health literacy.
MS: Disaster Mgmt	Philadelphia University – The Master of Science in Disaster Medicine and Management at Philadelphia University is focused on the study of terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, hazardous materials, natural disasters, psychological effects of disasters, stress intervention, and disaster research. In a post 9/11 world, this knowledge is in high demand.
MHA: Health Education MHA	University of Phoenix – The Master of Health Administration and MHA in Health Education programs at the University of Phoenix provide a foundation in sciences with a relevant working knowledge of the industry. Graduates of either online degree program will be empowered to both analyze current public health care environments and have the tools necessary to improve their management.
MPH MPH: Dental Health MPA: Health Administration	A.T. Still University of Health Sciences – The A.T. Still Universty of Health Sciences Master in Public Health program is focused on graduating leaders in community health centers, institutes of higher education, non-profit organizations, and local, state, and federal government. They also offer an MPH in dental health and an MPA in health administration. The university is renowned for both its innovative research and creative faculty.
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