IU Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health
Undergraduate
Internships and Research
Internship Program
In hiring decisions, employers give preference to students who have related work experience, and internships are an excellent way to gain related work experience and an investment in the students future that will have long-term benefits. IUPUI posts many more internship opportunities than are filled each year, which means that students can choose among many various experiences to acquire job skills and contacts for future positions.
The Environmental Health Science major requires 3 credits of internship, which is equivalent to 240 contact hours. The Health Services Management major (B.S.H.S.M.) allows students to take 1-6 credit hours of internship (1 credit hour = 80 contact hours) as elective credit.
In addition to local opportunities, students are encouraged to consider internship experiences with national or international organizations. More information on the process of acquiring and registering for an internship is available at the Department of Public Health website, link to Completing the Internship.
JRCOSTEP (for Environmental Health Science majors)
Each year, the U.S. Public Health Service hires about 25-35 students for summer Junior Commissioned Officer Student Training and Extern Program (JRCOSTEP) positions. These positions are available to students in environmental health degree programs accredited by the National Environmental Health Science and Protection Council, and the B.S.P.H is one of these programs. Most JRCOSTEP positions are with the Indian Health Service (IHS) in many different areas of the United States, including Alaska. Other agencies that typically hire one or two JRCOSTEPs per summer are: ATSDR, CDC, Coast Guard, and the National Park Service.
The JRCOSTEP students are Commissioned Officers for the summer and they earn about $2000 a month as an Ensign in the Public Health Service. In addition to being paid, JRCOSTEPs have unique opportunities to apply what they have learned to environmental health issues and to gain new knowledge, skills and abilities related to real world problems.
These positions are competitive, so students are encouraged to meet with the Director of Undergraduate Education shortly after they enter the B.S.P.H degree program to discuss their interest in the JRCSTEP program, to learn more about students experiences in the program, and to discuss strategies to strengthen their applications.
National Student Research Competition (for Environmental Health Science majors)
Students are invited to enter a national research competition sponsored by the Association of Environmental Health Academic Programs (AEHAP). This competition is available only to students enrolled in degree programs accredited by the National Environmental Health Sciences and Protection Council, and the B.S.P.H is one of these programs.
Students whose projects are selected as winners will be invited to give a 20-minute presentation at the National Environmental Health Association's Annual Educational Conference and Exhibition. Students may win a $500 award and up to $1,000 in travel expenses to the annual conference. Projects are typically submitted in April for consideration for the June conference, so it is important to get started early. The research submission guidelines are available at http://www.aehap.org/students/scholarships_srcompetion.htm. Students are encouraged to consider this opportunity and discuss their interest with their faculty mentor.