All students seeking the Master of Public Health (MPH) degree in the School of Public Health are required to complete a minimum of 3 credit hours (approximately 240 clock hours) in an internship experience. An internship gives students the opportunity to apply what they've learned in the classroom to a real-world setting under the supervision and guidance of an experienced site supervisor and faculty advisor in the School.  

By the time they begin their internship, our MPH students will have at a minimum completed their first year of coursework. These include courses in biostatistics, epidemiology, environmental health sciences, maternal and child health, and health behavior. They will have also taken additional courses in their area of interest. Therefore, they are prepared to apply their knowledge in practical ways that not only benefit themselves, but your organization as well.

As interns, students want to be treated as an integral part of the work team. Characteristics of a successful internship include:

• An applied, real-world experience that offers professional tasks that relate to the student's field of study
• Supplies an internship supervisor who is committed to mentoring and providing career advice and constructive feedback
• Assures that the intern gets an overview of all departments and functions
• Being part of the "team" (i.e., attend staff meetings, project planning team meetings, etc.)

The supervisor should have expertise and experience in the assigned project areas as well as an interest and competence in supervising and mentoring students. We ask that you provide:

• An orientation to the organization
• Identification of a project with clearly stated goals and objectives
• Access to the resources necessary to complete the project(s)
• Access to individuals and meetings to assist in providing a context for the work performed
• Opportunities to explore career options and other skill areas through informational interviews within and outside of your office
• Regular professional feedback on progress – both strengths and weaknesses

Students are required to work at least 240 hours over a 12 week period (some programs may require more).

Students can begin an internship at the beginning of any of our three semesters (FALL: August – December, SPRING: January – May, SUMMER: June to August).

Yes. The Financial Aid Office at UAB estimates Birmingham base monthly living expenses to be around $1000; however, the range for stipends or salaries varies widely from organization to organization.  If travel and relocation are involved, the costs may be higher. There are organizations which have an intern but are unable to provide a stipend. They normally offer something unique that students cannot find elsewhere.

At the completion of the internship, the student provides a final product to his or her faculty advisor that documents the experience. Also the student and site supervisor complete a detailed evaluation. Students receive a Pass/No Pass grade based on these products.

Because students are enrolled for credit during the internship, they are required by UAB to maintain their own health insurance. We can work with each organization to determine the status of liability and workers compensation coverage.

Students are ultimately responsible for securing their own internship, based on their discipline of study, and personal preferences and circumstances, so we cannot predict which organizations they will choose. However, we are eager to work with you to increase your chances of getting the right student for your organization.

For more information on the UAB School of Public Health Internship Program contact: