MPH Degree

Careers in public health are becoming increasingly sought after as issues of public health come to the fore. With acknowledgments of the impact of the environment and pollution on public health, as well as the fact that more travel happens between countries is raising awareness of the spread of disease, public health jobs are becoming more abundant.

Some of these public health positions are quite competitive, though. Whether you want a job at a clinic, as a hospital administrator, an environmental health researcher or an epidemiologist, you will face stiff competition for jobs. And, while your master’s of public health program might make a difference in whether or not you get a job, the internship that you have is likely to be even more influential. A good public health internship can provide you with hands-on experience that an employer is likely to find valuable.

What is a Public Health Internship?

An internship is like a job that you don’t get paid much for. Some public health internships come with modest stipends, but you are not likely to receive a salary for the work you do in an internship. You will receive hands-on, practical experience and most likely credits toward your MPH degree. Indeed, many master’s of public health programs require that you complete an internship before you can graduate.

A public health internship, ideally, should be in a specialty or specific field that you are interested in. If you want to be a researcher, looking into pandemics, then ideally your internship will involve lab work somewhere. If you want to work in a clinic, or provide counseling services, then it is a good idea to seek out an internship that would allow you to work with people and observe experienced professionals as they perform the tasks that you hope to become proficient in.

During your internship, you will have a supervisor. This supervisor will teach you what you should do, and then watch as you learn. Throughout the internship, you will be expected to make satisfactory progress. This will provide you with the experience that can help you in your professional endeavors. In fact, successfully completing an internship — and getting a recommendation from your supervisor — can go a long way in showing that you are capable of doing a good job in your chosen area of public health.

It is important that you prepare ahead of time for a public health internship. In some cases, the internships can be almost as competitive as the jobs, especially if you want a good internship. If you want to be considered for the best public health internships, you will need to work hard and prove yourself a good student. You should also realize that, in many cases, applying for an internship is like applying for a job. You will need a resume or vitae, as well as a cover letter. You may also need letters of recommendation from some of your professors at school.

While completing your internship, you will need to make good efforts to excel, and be willing to take direction so that you learn what is expected of you. If you do not take care to perform well in your internship, you might not get a good recommendation. In some cases, a poor internship performance can lead to the need to re-take some of your credits.

Looking for Public Health Internships

You will, of course, need to find an internship. The good news is that there are many organizations and agencies willing to get a little extra help in the form of an intern. Here are some places that provide good starting points as you look for a public health internship:

• Your school career center: One of your first stops should be at the career center at your university. The career center should have resources regarding available internships, requirements to apply, and what you can do to increase your chances of getting a good internship. Many alumni, businesses and non-profits organizations reach out to universities to find good students for internship programs. A visit to the school career center can help you find these available internships.
• Local government agencies: Another option is to check with local agencies. Your town’s health department likely has room for interns. If your city has an environmental department, that might be a good place to look as well, especially if you are interested in environmental health. In some cases, it might be possible for you to develop your own internship program if there is not already a partnership between the school and the local government. You can extend your efforts to include state health departments as well.
• Federal government agencies: You don’t have to stay in your local area. Because many internships take place over the summer, when normal classes are not in session, it is possible to travel for your internship. Check with the Centers for Disease Control or the National Institutes of Health for public health related internships. Even the Environmental Protection Agency may have something related to public health that you could do as an internship. You can also look for internships at international agencies, such as the World Health Organization. However, you will need to show very great promise to get such a coveted internship.
• Clinics: Check with various clinics to see whether there are any internships available. Depending on where your interests lie, you can get some great, practical experience by interning with a clinic.
• Non-profits: Non-profit organizations are usually quite happy to get the extra help an intern can provide. Look at local, state, national and international non-profits. In some cases, you can help with public needs with the Red Cross, Peace Corps, Doctors without Borders, AmeriCorps and other organizations. Find out whether there are public health components of different services provided by non-profits you know of. This can be a great way to gain some serious, on the ground, experience.
• Professional organizations: If you visit the web sites of professional organizations in public health fields, you can find listings of available internships.

A public health internship can be a stepping stone to a good job and a distinguished career. But you have to make the most of it.

Top Online MPH Degree Programs

A Master of Public Health online degree will open new doors to your career in healthcare and health education. The six specializations of the public health study – administration, behavioral sciences, biostatistics, environmental sciences, epidemiology, and health promotion – are all available at the following list of the top colleges offering online MPH degree programs.

	Capella University's Master of Public Health program prepares graduates for careers in public health management, social welfare, or research. The curriculum includes the behavioral, psychological, and social factors that contribute to the health of populations. Courses include International Public Health, Environmental Health Concepts in Public Health, and Principles of Biostatistics. Capella also offers MPH specializations in health management & policy and social & behavioral sciences. Learn more about Capella...
	Graduates of the Walden University Master of Public Health degree program or MPA in health policy program fill the increasing need for health professionals that must understand the development of healthy individuals, organizations, and communities. The programs provide core study in the public health field, uses a real-world teaching methodology, has industry leading professors, and includes a practical fieldwork practicum. Learn more about Walden...
	The MPH degree program at Grand Canyon University specializes in disease prevention and community health. Its curriculum uses a multidisciplinary approach emphasizing psychological, behavioral, and social factors influencing population-based health disparities. The program also includes a practicum and capstone project where students can design the program to best fit their area of specific interest. Learn more about GCU...
	The Kaplan University Master of Public Health degree program readies students for healthcare jobs in governmental, nonprofit, or private organizations. The online program provides students on-demand 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. Within Kaplan's MPH program, specializations are offered in epidemiology, health education, and public health program development. Learn more about Kaplan...
	The Master of Health Administration program at the University of Phoenix prepares students to analyze current health care environments and have the tools necessary to improve their management. The MHA program in health care education features specializations including gerontology, informatics, and public health education. The University of Phoenix is one of the world's most recognized names in education. Learn more about University of Phoenix...