EIU B.S. in Public Health

The internship experience is a vital component in the overall training of students majoring in Public Health (Community Health or Emergency Management Disaster Preparedness), Health Administration, Nutrition, and Health Science sat Eastern Illinois University. The internship is designed to provide the student with professional work experiences. Internships assist the student in applying knowledge and competencies obtained in the classroom while acquiring practical skills needed to function as a professional in the health field. It is also meant to be a time of service to the cooperating agency.

Depending on major, internships can range from 3 credit hours (120 clock hours) to 9 credit hours (360 clock hours). The internship experience takes place in agencies that employ health education/promotion and public health specialists such as:

• Public Health Departments
• Voluntary Health Agencies
• Hospitals or Clinics
• Mental Health and Rehabilitation Facilities
• Non Profit agencies

​The internship should provide opportunities to gain experiences in learning objectives achieved through course work and other professional experiences. These may include:

• Assessing needs 
• Planning Health Programs
• Implementation
• Group Facilitation
• Health Campaign Messaging
• Evaluating and Managing Health Education Programs
• Serving as a Health Education Resource person
• Advocating for health

Provide students with practical experiences in health-related, safety, and emergency management settings under appropriate supervision by competent personnel.

Facilitate development of students’ personal skills and knowledge necessary for professional growth and employment in the health field.

Enhance students’ understanding of the role health and safety-related agencies play in the health care delivery system in contributing to individual or community quality of life.

Provide the student with opportunities to gain experiences in one or more of the Eight Areas of Responsibility for the field (assessing needs; planning, implementing, evaluating and managing health education programs; leadership and management; serving as a health education resource person; advocating for health).

Student Objectives

• Apply the knowledge and skills attained during course work to practical health-related settings and issues.
• Contribute significantly to the activities, events, and projects of the internship agency.
• Demonstrate skill in one or more of the Eight Responsibilities in the health field.
• Describe the overall structure and function of the internship agency and the role of the agency in contributing to individual or community quality of life.
• Assess professional strengths and weaknesses during the internship experience.

Prerequisites:

• PUBH 3700 and 4175
• Permission from the Internship Coordinator

Scheduling and Time Requirements:

• For Health Administration and Public Health majors, internships are typically 8 credit hours - 320 clock hours
• For Health Science majors, internships are typically 3 credit hours – 120 clock hours.
• Students must begin the process of arranging the internship NO LATER than the semester prior to interning. Deadlines for internship agreements:
  • December 1 for Spring internships
  • April 1 for Summer internships
  • August 1 for Fall internships
• It should be considered an actual job experience. For some students it may involve a 40-hour workweek, 8-week or 16-week rotation. Internships can be arranged on a part-time basis and spread out over the entire semester if the student's class schedule allows for adequate blocks of time and the agency is in agreement with a part-time schedule.
• Your schedule should be arranged with the agency. Let them know of any conflicts you have due to work or classes.
• The Internship time frame coincides with the official calendar of Eastern Illinois University for semester start and end dates.
• Students receive Credit/No Credit as a grade for the internship.
• To receive credit, you will need to complete internship activities in D2L.

Site Selection

• Identification, location, and selection of the site are the responsibility of the student.
• The internship site should be a health-related facility or program with a health-related professional acting as the intern preceptor.
• The site should be able to offer the student experiences in at least one or more of the competencies contained in the Eight Responsibilities in the health field
• Possible internship sites can be identified through discussions with previous interns, faculty, and advisors.

Procedures

Step 1: Schedule a meeting with the Department of Public Health Academic Advisor to discuss the placement (semester) of the internship within the academic program plan AND how many credit hours will be needed.

Step 2: Read and review ALL of the information at the Internship Webpage.

Step 3: Complete and submit the Intent to Intern Form 

Step 4: Schedule an appointment with the PUBH Internship Coordinator.

• Prior to meeting with the PUBH Internship Coordinator, complete the following:
  • Review information for identifying a site for your internship under the possible internship sites information.
• After meeting with the PUBH Internship Coordinator:
  • Explore and narrow down potential internship sites.
  • Apply at all the places you’ve discussed with the PUBH Internship Coordinator
  • You SHOULD NOT contact sites prior to meeting with the PUBH Internship Coordinator.
  • Keep the PUBH Internship Coordinator up to date on interviews, offers, and applications until you are offered an internship.
  • Once you have been offered and accepted an internship, complete the Internship Site Identification Form

Step 5: Student Internship Agreement Form

• The PUBH Internship Coordinator will send a Student Internship Agreement Form to the agency for official signatures. Once the agency signs and returns the form to the PUBH Internship Coordinator, the intern will be contacted to sign the Agreement Form. This must be completed by:
  • December 1 for Spring internships
  • April 1 for Summer internships
  • August 1 for Fall internships

Step 9: Registration for PUBH 4275.

• Once the Student Internship Agreement Form is signed and the internship officially arranged, the PHN Department will automatically register the student for internship credit in PUBH 4275. 
  • Responsibilities of the Student

• • • Follow all requirements for securing an internship.
    • Comply with ALL agency/organization policies and guidelines concerning the following:
    • Dress Code
    • Confidentiality
    • Professional Conduct
    • Personnel Matters
    • Sick days and holiday observances
    • Requirements such as criminal background checks and immunizations.
    • Complete all requirements of the internship including logs and the Final Summary Report by due dates.
    • Comply with university rules for tuition, registration, etc.

• Contact PUBH Internship Coordinator immediately if problems arise.

• • Requirements During the Internship

• • • D2L Assignments include but are not limited to:
    • Meetings (Virtual)
    • Weekly Logs
    • Final Summary Report
    • Site Visit
    • Advice Video

• Forms

• • Intent to Intern Form
  • Internship Site Identification Form

• Resources
• Career Services
• Internship Resources

Benefits of Sponsoring Internships

• The agency or organization benefits from the internship program by acquiring an “extra” staff member. Interns increase productivity while reducing down-time and recruiting costs. Interns can provide assistance with special projects and free up staff for other work, helping an organization to stay on target with projects and deadlines. Interns bring diversity to the workplace. Student interns raise an agency's profile on campus and in the community. Interns can bring a different perspective to the work environment. In some cases, employers use internship experiences as a screening tool to assess the skills and abilities of prospective permanent

The Public Health Student

• Public Health, Health Administration, and Health Science majors are preparing for a variety of professions in the health, wellness, and emergency planning and response fields .
• The curriculum incorporates the competencies and sub-competencies highlighted in the Eight Responsibilities in the health field, as well as defined learning goals for Health Administration and Health Sciences.
• Students are being trained to do needs assessments, to plan, implement, evaluate and manage health programs, to serve as health education resource persons, and to communicate and advocate for health and health initiatives.

Best Practices in Internship Supervision for Potential Internship Sites

• Studies have examined the variables that contribute to successful internships from both the students’ and site supervisors’ perspectives. Site supervisors value communication about the expectations of the internship experience from the university. They attribute quality internships to the student who shows initiative, works independently, is self-motivated, and who exhibits professionalism in the work culture by showing up to work on time, following policies and procedures, and performing duties in a responsible manner.
• Effective internships provide interns with regular supervision and the identification of a specific person to act as the intern preceptor. Students feel valued when they have a designated space for their use, are included in staff meetings and other interactions among staff in the agency, and are compensated for their work. Payment is not required for EIU Public Health Interns, but best practices show students value any type of compensation such as parking passes, meal discounts, mileage reimbursement, and other incentives when available and/or feasible.
• Students appreciate being provided with specific responsibilities and clearly identified tasks, as well as opportunities to be productive and creative on individual projects. Below is a list of potential projects or activities suitable for interns:
  • Conduct a needs assessment for a particular area or population served by the agency.
  • Plan a health education program in response to determined needs.
  • Assist with the implementation of a planned health education program.
  • Assist with the development of an evaluation tool for a program.
  • Assist with the coordination of health education services.
  • Act as a professional resource person in responding to requests for health information.
  • Develop educational media or media plans, such as social media posts, posters, presentations, press releases, etc.
  • Participate in community outreach.
  • Assist with research projects or data collection.
  • Attend and observe planning or administrative meetings.
  • Attend professional conferences and/or meetings when possible

Responsibilities of the Cooperating Agency

• Sign the Internship Agreement Form and return it to the university prior to the start date of the internship.
• Designate a specific staff member who will be responsible for coordinating and directing the student's internship and provide a planned and supervised experience.
• Orient the student to all applicable policies and regulations of the agency.
• Provide the intern with:
  • A broad work exposure to the programs and services of the agency.
  • Opportunities to participate in the routine professional activities of the agency such as staff meetings, planning sessions, and special events.
  • An opportunity to work on a project(s) that provide experiences in one or more of the Eight Responsibilities in the health field
  • Professional working space, facilities, and resources for the intern's use if possible.
• Notify the EIU Public Health Department Intern Coordinator of any situation or problem which may threaten the student’s successful completion of the assignment.
• Complete two Intern Evaluations during the internship.
• Be available for one arranged site visit.

Responsibilities of the University/Department

• Approve students for registration in the Internship and placement at an appropriate site.
• Identify an Intern Supervisor to act as liaison between the department and site.
• Maintain communication with the cooperating agency concerning progress of the student intern.
• Maintain regular contact with the student intern.
• Assign a grade for the internship (credit or no credit).
• Instruct students on the importance of confidentiality.
• Insure that students are following the rules and regulations of the internship site.

Liability Coverage

• The University is a member of SURMA - an intergovernmental self-insurance pool that provides its members with a program to fund liability exposures. Employees, students in internships and agents are “covered persons” under this self-insurance program and are subject to its terms and conditions. The coverage of said employees is limited to occurrences or professional services that are within the scope of their assigned duties. The program provides coverage with limits of (amount up to $1,000,000) per occurrence and covers civil liability for bodily injury, personal injury, and property damage to tangible property resulting from occurrences in the conduct of university business, and damages arising out of certain professional services. Upon request, the University will furnish a certificate of insurance evidencing such coverage.

Sites can also be found by exploring some of the links below.

• • Internship List - Click here to see a comprehensive listing of sites where our Interns have completed internships.
  • To read the logs of students, contact the Department of Public Health Internship Coordinator.

Resources for applying or searching:

• Health careers
• City of Chicago Internships
• Americorp
• APHA Internships
• Career Up
• The Carter Center
• IPHA
• VA Pathways Internship
• Illinois Department of Public Health
• Illinois Extension
• Will County
• Will County Emergency Management Intern
• 2025 Rural Health Careers Camp (RHCC)
• EIU's Health Education Resource Center (HERC)
• Active Minds (paid)