Before the Internship
- Determine the term in which you want to complete and, subsequently, register for your internship.
- Complete the Internship Requirement Checklist with your faculty advisor before discussing internship options.
- Attend the Pitt Public Health Internship Symposium in December to learn about opportunities and strategies to securing an internship placement.
- Identify possible internship sites and preceptors. In communicating with potential host organizations, students should communicate clearly about what stage of the process they are in - still exploring multiple possibilities, or looking for a specific placement with that particular organization. Students should be careful not to leave an organization with the impression that they are making a commitment to that placement until they are in fact ready to do so and complete the Placement Approval Form.
- Assess your academic preparation, experience, and professional development to identify areas to address in the internship.
- Register for the Internship Portal and complete the Placement Approval Form following these directions with input from the faculty advisor and agency preceptor. The proposal should include your strengths, weaknesses, and goals of this internship placement. Make copies for your preceptor and faculty advisor. The original will all signatures should be filed in Epidemiology Student Services, A536 Public Health.
NOTE: If any changes are made to the Placement Approval Form, an updated copy must be submitted to Epidemiology Student Services.
During the Internship
- Participate fully in the internship, performing activities necessary to complete work as defined in the proposal and subsequent agreements with the site preceptor. Follow the rules, procedures, and customs of the host organization, acting in a professional and respectful manner.
- Discuss the potential for using your internship experience as a basis for your Master’s Essay. If it is agreed upon between you and your faculty advisor, communicate this with your preceptor as soon as possible.
- Maintain regular communication with your advisor and preceptor, including seeking appropriate feedback.
After the Internship
- Complete the Student Evaluation of Internship Form via the Internship Portal within two weeks of the internship conclusion, and no later than the first business day of the fall term.
- Prepare an abstract of your internship activities according to the Abstract and Poster Presentation Guidelines for discussion/revision with your faculty mentor by late August/early September.
- Submit your revised abstract via the Internship Portal. Students will be notified via email of the exact due dates based on the scheduled Poster Presentation date.
- Create a Poster Presentation based on the internship experience (following the Abstract and Poster Presentation Guidelines for content and format requirements/recommendations) for the poster presentation session in early October (date will be updated on above guidelines document annually). All posters must be reviewed by, and discussed with, faculty advisors and preceptors (if feasible). Students should ensure site preceptor agrees with the inclusion of any data in the poster presentation. The overall content should be approved by preceptors - students need to be aware that some data may not be approved for presentation. This poster presentation acts as the final report on the internship experience. Click here to check out example abstracts and poster presentations.
NOTE: You will not receive a final grade for the internship until after the Poster Presentation and will instead receive an “I”. Grades will be determined by each student’s faculty advisor as H/S/U.