Opportunities for Internship Funding in Gov’t PH

Every spring and summer semester, the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) offers a select number of paid MPH internships for masters-level graduate public health students at UAB completing their applied practice experience for college credit (i.e, PUH 688). These students are selected by ADPH.

To apply for an internship with ADPH, email your resume and cover letter to Ken Harrison. The cover letter should include in your cover letter 1) your desired internship location and 2) the program, division or bureau in which you are interested in working. ADPH’s central office is located in Montgomery, Alabama but they have county offices located across the state. Internships with Jefferson County Department of Health and Mobile County Department of Health are not eligible for this program.

These paid positions are limited and open until filled, so apply early! If you are not selected for one of ADPH’s paid internship position, you can  apply for the Governmental Public Health Internship Stipend program (below) or complete your internship, unpaid, with APDH.

Student Eligibility

To qualify, the applied practice experience (i.e., internship) must have the following characteristics:

• The host agency for the student’s internship must be the Alabama Department of Public Health
• The internship provides a practical, competency-based public health applied practice experience that is not research-focused
• The student has identified a preceptor who is the primary point of contact, guides the student, and oversees the student’s day-to-day tasks at the internship site
• Students should work exactly 180 hours (no more, no less)

Student Commitments, if selected by ADPH:

• You must be enrolled in PUH 688 the semester the award is processed and a student in good standing in the SOPH.
• Students who are currently on academic probation will not be considered for this program.
• You must abide by all MPH internship academic requirements set forth on the UAB Applied Practice Experience Website
• You must maintain outstanding performance in your project, to be determined by your faculty internship advisor and preceptor.
• You must submit a photo and brief testimonial from the experience and sign and return a UAB media release form. You will upload these items into APEx.
• Students with exceptional experiences may be asked to work with the OPHP to record a professional video to highlight their experience.

Note: If selected by ADPH for a paid internship, your internship coordinator will discuss the details of the funding with you. Funding will consist of taxable bi-weekly payments ($15/hour) along with a small taxable stipend. The first half of the stipend payment will be distributed 2-3 weeks after the official start date of the internship. The second half of the stipend payment will be distributed at the end of the semester after the student has successfully completed the internship requirements and submitted final deliverables.

This program provides stipends each year for students completing competency-based internships with tribal, local, state, or federal public health departments or agencies in the U.S.  The intent of this stipend program is to provide students financial support for academic internships within governmental public health that are unpaid by the host organization or other means.    

Students can apply for this stipend by completing the application form below. A limited number of stipends are available each academic year.  Students should apply as soon as they have secured their governmental public health internship position. Funding is limited to students who are not 1) employed by the department/agency for which they will be interning or 2) receiving any other payment or financial support for the proposed internship.

The first half of the payment will be distributed two weeks after the official start date of the internship. The second half will be distributed at the end of the semester after the student has successfully completed the internship requirements and submitted final deliverables. There is no financial obligation by the hosting organizations. 

This form is NOT an application to apply for an internship; you must have secured an internship before applying for a stipend. 

Completion of this application does NOT guarantee a stipend will be awarded to you. 

Student Eligibility

Stipends are available for masters-level graduate public health students at UAB completing their applied practice experience for college credit (i.e. PUH 688).

To qualify for the stipend program, the applied practice experience (i.e., internship) must have the following characteristics:

• The host agency for the student’s internship must be a tribal, local, or state health department or agency located in the U.S.
• Students working with a federal health department in the U.S. (ex. HHS, HRSA, HHCDC, AHRQ) are also eligible to apply, however, priority will be given to students working in tribal, local, or state health departments or agencies
• Provides a practical, competency-based public health applied practice experience that is not research-focused
• The student has identified a preceptor who is the primary point of contact, guides the student, and oversees the student’s day-to-day tasks at the internship site
• The internship should provide a minimum of 180 hours of student applied experience
• The internship experience should be completed largely on-site (a hybrid work schedule may be considered; however the majority of the internship should be completed on-site)

Student Commitments, if selected:

• You must be enrolled in PUH 688 the semester the award is processed and a student in good standing in the SOPH.
• Students who are currently on academic probation will not be considered for this program.
• You must abide by all MPH internship academic requirements set forth on the UAB Applied Practice Experience Website (https://sites.uab.edu/apex)
• You must maintain outstanding performance in your project, to be determined by your faculty internship advisor and preceptor.
• You must submit a photo and brief testimonial from the experience and sign and return a UAB media release form. You will upload these items into APEx.
• Students with exceptional experiences may be asked to work with the OPHP to record a professional video to highlight their experience.

To Apply

To be considered for the Scholarship, submit the application below. In this application, you will be asked about the MPH Internship you have secured. This internship must be with a tribal, local, state, or federal health department/agency in the U.S. Be sure you can provide the following information:

• Name and location of organization
• Preceptor name and job title
• If the internship is paid or unpaid
• If the internship is remote, in-person, or hybrid
• Brief description of your internship roles and responsibilities
• 500-1000 word essay describing your interest in interning in governmental public health and how this opportunity will further your academic and career goals. This essay will be run through Turnitin.
• Resume

Note: In completing this form, you are acknowledging you have already secured an internship with a tribal, local, state, or federal health department/agency and have contacted your internship coordinator (https://sites.uab.edu/apex/contact/) to discuss the MPH Internship Requirements. Since a limited number of stipends are available, completion of this application does not guarantee you will be selected for a stipend. It will be easiest to complete this application in one sitting. While you can save and come back to the application, you must be using the same browser and computer.

Application Deadlines:

• For those planning to intern during the Summer semester – April 1st
• For those planning to intern during the Fall semester – August 1st
• For those planning to intern during the Spring semester – December 1st

Students who receive a stipend will be notified two weeks after the application deadline. All other applicants will be sent regrets shortly after.