• Chalice Daniel, Planned Parenthood

    My time as a Public Advocacy Intern with Planned Parenthood of South, East, and North Florida was eye opening. It allowed me to actively engage in advocacy efforts for reproductive health rights, enhancing my communication, organizational, and community outreach skills while deepening my passion for public health and social justice.

  • Peter Failma, Opening Minds Through Art at FSU

    OMA allowed me to learn about a public health issue of interest firsthand. Participating in the internship program is a great opportunity to learn about the type of career path you may want to follow.

  • Kirsten Price, LIFT at CHAW

    "Since transitioning from being an Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) student to becoming the Recovery Ally Program Coordinator for LIFT in my Junior year of undergrad, it has become a transformative aspect of my FSU experience. It has allowed me to apply my knowledge from the Public Health course work to implement strategies that directly impacted students' understanding of recovery and substance misuse on campus. Having this experience has given me the courage to develop my leadership skills and ability to have an impact where my passion is my work."

Bachelors of Science in Public Health
(BSPH) Internship
PHC 4944

The undergraduate public health internship course and related internship provide BSPH students with professional skills and experiences to advance their career-readiness for public health practice.

The BSPH Internship course, PHC 4944, is a 3-credit course that must be taken in tandem with an approved internship. Enrolling in this course amplifies students’ professional development beyond the internship experience through analytical reflections and developing and tracking workplace-specific goals. The course also fulfills an elective requirement for the BSPH degree and meets the Formative Experiences graduation requirement for FSU CORE.

While our internship coordinator can help facilitate the process, students are responsible for securing their own internship. Here are some initial possibilities that students might explore to identify possible internships.

Internship Benefits

Meaningful public health internships provide students with many benefits, including:

★ Knowledge

Apply practical experiences learned in academic course work to a public health setting

★ Skills

Develop and strengthen your personal and professional skills

★ Career

Gain connections to advance future career opportunities

★ Mentorship

Receive professional guidance from experienced public health professionals

★ Participation

Engage in hands-on experience in real-world public health initiatives

★ Graduation

Fulfill Liberal Studies Formative Experience or Elective Requirements under the BSPH Program

Requirements for Enrolling in PHC 4944

Course Number and Title:  PHC 4944 Bachelor of Public Health Internships

Internship Coordinator: Dr. Annette Schwabe
Internship Semesters: Fall, Spring, and Summer C.
Syllabus: For more information about the PHC 4944 Internship, please review a draft of the PHC4944 syllabus.
Criteria for Enrolling in the Course: Students who wish to enroll in the PHC 4944 Internship course must first complete an SM Apply form, which will verify that they meet specific academic requirements and that the intended internship will facilitate professional development in the field of public health.

Academic Requirements

  • Be a Public Health major.
  • Have completed PHC4101, Introduction to Public Health, with a grade of C or higher.
  • Have a 3.00 grade-point average or higher (major and cumulative) at FSU.

Internship Requirements

The PHC 4944 internship coordinator will only approve internship experiences that offer meaningful opportunities for students to develop professional skills and substantive knowledge applicable to professional employment in the field of public health.

Typical projects and duties under a BSPH internship include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Collecting and organizing data that an organization might use to develop a policy or program
  • Creating or assisting in a public health intervention for the community
  • Conducting surveys to identify community health challenges
  • Developing materials to support health policy changes
  • Inspecting water quality, food safety, or air pollution safety
  • Designing communication strategies to address public health issues
  • Educating community members about public health topics

Internships that involve mostly clinical work, such as taking blood pressure or taking vitals, will not meet the experiential criteria and will not be approved to be taken in tandem with PHC4944.

Possible Internship Sites for BSPH Students

★ At Florida State University:
★ In the Tallahassee Area:
★ Outside of Tallahassee:

The list of internship sites are not exhaustive. If you have questions regarding your internship site or experience, please reach out to the BSPH internship coordinator, Dr. Annette Schwabe.

Keep an eye out for emails about internship opportunities from the BSPH director or internship coordinator via Campus Connect. In addition to exploring the opportunities above, contact Tyrone “TJ” Johnson, the Career Center liaison for the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy (COSSPP) at tdjohnson2@fsu.edu can meet with you to discuss additional internship opportunities.

How to Enroll in PHC 4944

To enroll in the BSPH Internship Course, PHC 4944, you must receive a course enrollment code from the BSPH Internship Coordinator, Dr. Annette Schwabe.

To obtain your course enrollment code, you are required to complete the Survey Monkey Apply form to assess your eligibility for course enrollment. This form will inquire about your academic standing in the program, the specifics of your intended internship role, and its relevance to public health. Please note that it is essential to fill out this form thoroughly before proceeding with course enrollment, including securing an internship placement and submitting a signed Internship Contract.

Download the Internship Contract

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I take the course over the summer?

Yes. The internship course is typically offered every fall, spring, and summer semesters.

Is this course required for the BSPH Degree?

No. Although this course is not required alongside your core courses, it can count toward the FSU CORE Formative Experience or toward the BSPH elective requirements.

How should I navigate the internship process as a student graduating this upcoming semester?

If you are graduating soon, you should look for internships the semester before you graduate. Please reference above to gain insight toward possible internships in the Tallahassee/FSU area or outside. If you need more help trying to secure an internship, please contact the Graduate Assistant or BSPH Internship Coordinator.

If I am located on the Panama City campus, who should I contact to identify local internships?

You may intern anywhere, including in remote work positions. However, you can search for potential opportunities in public health-related organizations in the Panama City area.

How can I prepare for interviews from internship programs?

Please refer to the FSU Career Center website or contact the COSSPP Career Center Liaison, Tyrone “TJ” Johnson (tdjohnson2@fsu.edu)

Must I have secured an internship before I register for the course?

Yes. Before you can register for the PHC 4944 course, you will be required to submit your internship contract, in which you provide detailed information about your internship site and role. If possible, you should secure an internship formally during the semester prior to taking the internship course in tandem with the internship experience. If you have a unique situation with an internship site, please reach out to us.

What does the internship application process look like?

Every internship application process differs depending on the site. You would need to reach out to your site to determine the steps needed to obtain an internship.

When should I apply for an internship if I am not yet declared a Public Health major?

You can start applying now! Some organizations may take a while to process interns, so we recommend finding internships early to give ample time to complete any onboarding processes at the internship site prior to beginning the work. As a reminder, your application to enroll in the course will not be approved until you are declared in the major and have met the other academic and internship criteria.

What should I expect from this course?

The primary focus of this course is to reflect analytically, identify specific goals for your professional growth during the internship, and self-evaluate your progress on meeting those goals to foster further development of workplace skills and dispositions. That is, the course is designed intentionally to enrich your professional and personal growth in the internship experience through weekly discussion boards and reflections.

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