The Epi in Action! internship is required for all epidemiology MPH students. The internship provides an outstanding opportunity for students to utilize knowledge and practice new skills learned in the masters' courses, to work outside of the classroom, to practice a broader range of epidemiologic activities, to contribute to students' professional education through assignments useful to the host organization, and to help students identify their professional strengths, weaknesses, and areas of knowledge for further study. Students are encouraged to think creatively about the type of placements that will most benefit them.
Internship Requirements
- Must be a minimum of 200 hours, generally 20 hours/week for 10 weeks
- May occur outside the University of Pittsburgh (e.g., in health services organizations, state or county-level health departments, community-based organizations) or within the University
- Is to be agreed upon between each student and his/her faculty advisor
- Begins after the student completed the equivalent of one full-time year of coursework
- Typically takes place during the summer, but arrangements can be made for other terms for part-time students
- Requires completion of an abstract and a poster presentation which acts as a final report on the internship experience
- Can be used as a basis for the master’s essay