Internships play a crucial role in helping you explore career interests, apply academic knowledge to industry or research settings, and become competitive in your field. As a school with a strong commitment to public health practice, we value internships and experiential learning in building students’ competitive advantage after graduation. Both undergraduate and graduate students can integrate internships into their academic programs.
Internships and their value
770 Number of internships completed by SPH-B students last year.
An internship is a hands-on, supervised work experience conducted in a professional setting. More than a part-time job or volunteer experience, an internship focuses on learning objectives to increase knowledge, facilitate skill development, and support growth.
Depending on your academic program, you may or may not be required to complete an internship during college. Meet with your academic advisor to discuss academic credit, program requirements, and timelines. Even if not required, internships are highly recommended to gain industry-specific skills and experience.
Take a closer look
Course Credit: Are you curious if your academic major requires an internship for graduation? Unsure of which course to enroll in? Meet with your academic advisor to discuss program requirements and internship course numbers. Then, look up the internship course number to learn about the details of the internship requirements, including steps to take before, during, and after the internship.
Look up SPH-B Internship Courses
Internship Coordinators in SPH-B: Each program has an Internship Coordinator who directs all aspects of the internship requirements.
- First things first: Reflect on your priorities
Before starting your internship search, take some time to identify your priorities and goals. - Research Prospective Employers
Create a list of organizations that interest you. Talk to faculty, alumni, and career coaches, and use the Internship Portal to help build your list. Then, research these organizations for internship postings and alumni who work in these organizations. - Build and Leverage your Network
Network with alumni and individuals working in your field. Engage in informational interviews, career fairs, employer sessions, and site visits to build and leverage your network. - SPH-B Internship Portal
The Internship Portal is a searchable database of organizations that have previously hosted SPH-B students. Note: This is not a list of currently posted positions. It is a resource for learning about organizations with experience hosting SPH-B students and are "warm connections" for you to reach out to. To utilize the portal, follow these steps:- Go to https://internships.publichealth.indiana.edu/students/search.html
- Enter relevant keywords into the search box (for ex: sport marketing, community health, etc.) and click Search
- Sort by most recent enrollment semester
- Review results and research organizations of interest
- Handshake, LinkedIn, and other professional job boards
- Career Fairs and Networking Events
SPH-B Career Services and Indiana University host many career fairs and networking events on campus. These are important events to attend and connect with employers about internships. Log in to Handshake to review and register for these events. - Professional Associations
Research professional associations in your career field to learn more about internships, opportunities, and organizations. - Meet with a Career Coach
Schedule an appointment in Handshake with a career coach to discuss your interests, internship goals, and target organizations.
Internships are just one way to build marketable experience. You can also build key skills through these experiences:
International students interested in completing an internship should also review this information on work authorization from the Office of International Services at IU: Work authorization information