Internship Approval

Internship Requirement

The Public Health major includes a 100 hour internship (faculty approved volunteer or work experience) for students to integrate their academics with current professional interests and professional practice.

Internship Approval

The Public Health internship experience is intended for students to gain practical experience by applying their education to real-world problems. PHSC majors must commit to a minimum of 100 hours to an internship. Internships are typically with organizations outside of SCU, such as public health departments, health clinics, community health agencies, and non-profit organizations. If you are interested in  using research with a professor or work in a clinical setting as your internship, you must follow the guidelines found on the internal PHSC Internship website for current students. 

Students should enroll in PHSC 139 after they have taken PHSC 1 and 2 or 3, preferably in their first or second year. PHSC 139 will guide students through their internship selection process, and through career exploration and professional development in Public Health. 

Internship Criteria

• The work must be relevant to understanding and/or improving human health at the population level. This could include any dimension of community health, health care delivery, health education, or health policy.
• Internship activities must include opportunities for active engagement and intellectual creativity. Passive observation or repetitive tasks are not sufficient. Note: shadowing of medical professionals will not satisfy the PHSC Internship requirement.
• Internship activities must provide insight into human health at the community or population level. Some research and clinical experiences may qualify and must be reviewed and approved.
• Students must participate in a minimum of 100 hours of relevant activities.

Internship Process