Environmental Health

Philosophy of the BSPH Environmental Health Internship

The primary goals of the experience are:

To provide the student with practical experience, and an opportunity to develop a realistic understanding of environmental public health, and
For the student to develop a personal and professional philosophy of the environmental health discipline.

These goals are expected to be achieved by completing an internship in an agency that will provide the environment and experimental opportunities that sustain professional and philosophical maturity. Students must be involved with planning, implementing or evaluating public health programming and the day-to-day operations of the site including any meetings, trainings, or workshops/conferences.

During the internship, students will integrate, synthesize, and apply knowledge through an applied 5 credit hour public health field experience. The internship will occur once the public health core and major coursework have been completed. This Public Health Internship will be completed in an agency that regularly provides public health services in a public, private, or community setting. Students will work under the direct supervision of an experienced, professionally trained, public health professional. The internship will provide students with the opportunity to translate their knowledge of essential services of Public Health into skills needed for entry-level public health positions. The field experience is expected to provide the student the opportunity to:

Participate in the daily functions of a public health agency, including administration and non-educational activities of the agency,
Participate in the operations of the agency, which can include assessment of needs, planning programs, implementing programs, budgeting, or program evaluation,
Create a public health project incorporating entry-level public health competencies,
Demonstrate the ability to successfully work independently and with co-workers,
Use appropriate written and oral communication and human relationship skills,
Apply knowledge and skills gained in the classroom to practical experiences in the field,
Demonstrate the ability to coordinate public health services to those populations served by the agency,
Demonstrate the ability to utilize and disseminate public health education/promotion resources, and/or
Describe how the knowledge and skills gained during the field experience will be put to future use.

Initiate an internship meeting with Sarah Commodore, the environmental health internship coordinator or meet with her at least 4 months or one semester prior to your internship.
This is a 5-credit required course for the BSPH Environmental Health degree, which means the course costs are in line with the university fees for 5 credits.
The student must complete the internship at a site that regularly provides public health services in a public, private, or community setting, and must be under the direct supervision of a professionally trained public health professional.
Students must be a senior, done with all core and required coursework with appropriate grades. The internship is the last course students take for their degree.
1. Students on scholarships requiring full loads can take 9 credits of internship (450 hours of work for the site) with a 3-credit elective or related content course to meet their full time requirements for the scholarship.
The required project for the student at the site must be either plan, implement, or evaluate a public health program. This can be something you create that is new or something they train you to do and you carry it out for the site. Students can also work on parts of a larger project the site is completing, including research. The work may or may not be completed by the time the student is done with their internship hours.
1. Please use the Internship Portal to search internships done in the past by previous majors. Use B496 as your search filter to see specific sites and types of work done at the site. Email your internship coordinator for contact information from sites you liked on the internship portal search.
2. Research and secure possible new sites who carry out any of the 10 Essentials of Public Health.
3. Please discuss with the internship coordinator if you have questions.
4. If you are interested in completing your internship overseas, please contact your internship coordinator.
The internship is completed during fall, spring or summer semester and must be at least 7 weeks (full semester preferred). Students can start on or after the first day of the semester and must finish with their hours and assignment work on Canvas by Monday of finals week.
1. The internship is an experience equivalent to student teaching in a public health setting, therefore, it is required that the student experience the day-to-day operations of the agency in order to obtain a full understanding of what public health entails.
Consider location, living costs, transportation needs, your hours of availability, type of agency or population you would like to work with, type of work you would like to do after you graduate as well as:
1. Are you someone who prefers to be behind the scenes or face to face with the community?
2. Do you prefer to sit at a desk or move around through the workday?
3. Do you prefer non-profit work, NGOs, health departments or government health agencies or businesses?
4. Do you like to have the work change through the week or have a consistent work schedule day to day?
5. What experience and/or skill gaps must I close to be promoted or hired into my desired career position?
6. Where can I get the needed experience and skills to increase my chances of securing my desired career position?
Have a resume and cover letter/email ready to send to potential sites. Use SPH Career Services to assist you in the design of your resume and cover letter/email.
Secure an internship site where you will work for 250 hours (5 credit course enrolled) on the competency(ies) for your degree.
1. a. Students can enroll in up to 9 credits of internship but must add 50 hours of work for each credit added (6 cr = 300 hours; 7 cr = 350 hours; 8 cr = 400 hours; 9 cr = 450 hours).
When reaching out to your potential site be sure to tell them about the project (listed above) and that we want you to be involved with day-to-day operations as well as any meetings, trainings, workshops, or conferences if possible.
Discuss the competency(ies) you will be addressing at your site with your supervisor as these are needed for the required paperwork in order to register for the course.
All Site Supervisors (persons who supervise and mentor interns at the field placement sites) must have at least a bachelor's degree in a behavioral health science related field and at least three years of work experience or simply 8 years of professional experience in environmental health/public health/ health promotion.
1. When selecting a site supervisor (direct family members cannot serve as site supervisors), ask the following questions:
1. Does this person have a bachelor's degree in a behavioral health science related field and at least three years of work experience as an environmental health professional or have worked as a professional in the field for at least 8 years?
2. Does this person have the desire, time, and skills to adequately supervise and mentor me?
3. In terms of personality, are the supervisor and I compatible?
4. Does this person possess cutting-edge knowledge in areas of major interest to me?
5. Is this person well known and respected in the community?
6. Would this person be a good career sponsor (i.e., one who would be very helpful in assisting me with going to my next career level)?
We love if the sites are able to pay students for their internship work, but many sites do not have the resources to do so. This is a question you can ask your site supervisor when securing the site. SPH Career Services has resources on how to have this conversation.
Students must have the required internship paperwork submitted and approved by site supervisor and internship coordinator in order to register for the course so be sure to plan this timeline accordingly. Please note students cannot count any hours toward their internship until they are officially registered for the course.
Some sites require a legal affiliation agreement with Indiana University – this process can take 6-8 weeks or even longer so be sure to get that process started immediately with your site supervisor and internship coordinator if the site requires one - IU does not require this.

The internship paperwork must be approved by site supervisor and internship coordinator in order to register for the internship course. Students cannot start counting any hours toward their internship until they are officially registered for the internship course.

Initiate and complete the online required internship paperwork with competency(ies) listed.
Inform your site supervisor/preceptor that they will be receiving an email prompting them to create an IU Site Supervisor/Preceptor log in if they don't already have one and asking them to approve the paperwork. Be sure to discuss the importance of a specific timeline for the approval so that you may register for the course at IU.
After your supervisor approves the paperwork, it will route to your faculty coordinator for approval. Once your faculty coordinator approves the paperwork, the SPH Records Office will put in authorization for you to register for the course.
Once authorization is in, students must register for the course, section, and correct credits of the respective internship course/practicum.
Attend required zoom meeting for all enrolled students prior to internship start date where internship assignments and other important internship information is discussed.

Student's Responsibilities and the Role with the Agency

The student will assume the responsibilities and tasks which have been defined by the site supervisor and submitted in the internship paperwork to the faculty coordinator.
The student will always dress professionally and appropriately, observe agency rules and regulations and display professional conduct.
The student will notify the site supervisor and faculty coordinator of any illnesses and emergencies immediately. Extended illnesses or special requests regarding absence from the internship must be approved by the site supervisor and faculty coordinator in a timely manner.
The student will be responsible for all travel expenses related to the internship (i.e. commuting to and from the agency, travel to other agency sites). Reimbursement of any expenses by the agency for the travel required of the student as part of the internship will be determined by the site supervisor and the agency. Neither Indiana University nor the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health/School of Public Health will reimburse students for any travel expenses during the internship.
The student will not be responsible for the transportation of agency patients, participants or clients in the student's personal vehicle.
The student will complete the evaluation of the site supervisor and agency site and the faculty coordinator at the end of the internship.
Student understands that site can dismiss interns for lack of following agency policies.

Student Responsibilities to IU During the Internship

Attend required meeting held by internship coordinator prior to internship start date.
Complete and submit weekly journals on time.
Discuss any reasons for missing internship work or being late with supervisor and internship coordinator.
Explain and set up midterm and final evaluation meetings with site supervisor for mid-point in hours and end of internship.
Complete all remaining assignments on Canvas by Monday of finals week.
Complete the internship coordinator evaluation and the site/site supervisor evaluation.

Environmental Health

Philosophy of the BSPH Environmental Health Internship

Preparing for the Internship

Registering for the Internship:

During the Internship:

Student's Responsibilities and the Role with the Agency

Student Responsibilities to IU During the Internship