MPH 508 Public Health Internship


The field experience is a 12-week (20 hr/wk) internship experience designed to integrate public health theory, knowledge and skills in a practice setting resulting in a written report with PowerPoint slides set. This course is required of all learners without at least part-time paid/volunteer work in the health or human service fields.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Discuss sentinel events in the history and development of the public health profession and their relevance for practice in the field.
  • Apply basic principles of ethical analysis to issues of public health practice and policy.
  • Apply evidence-based principles and the scientific knowledge base to critical evaluation and decision-making in public health.
  • Apply the core functions of assessment, policy development, and assurance in the analysis of public health problems and their solutions.
  • Promote high standards of personal and organizational integrity, compassion, honesty and respect for all people.
  • Analyze determinants of health and disease using an ecological framework.
  • Analyze the potential impacts of legal and regulatory environments on the conduct of ethical public health research and practice.
  • Distinguish between population and individual ethical considerations in relation to the benefits, costs, and burdens of public health programs.
  • Embrace a definition of public health that captures the unique characteristics of the field (e.g., population-focused, community-oriented, prevention-motivated and rooted in social justice) and how these contribute to professional practice.
  • Appreciate the importance of working collaboratively with diverse communities and constituencies (e.g. researchers, practitioners, agencies and organizations).
  • Value commitment to lifelong learning and professional service including active participation in professional organizations.