PBH 341 is a research internship for undergraduate public health students at UT Austin who are interested in gaining experience in public health through partnerships with state and local public health agencies and other institutions involved in population health. The course fulfills any concentration requirement for students enrolled in the public health degree plan prior to Fall 2022; it also fulfills the capstone requirement for all students enrolled in public health in Fall 2022 or later.
Student interns will have the opportunity to conduct goal-oriented, semester-long research projects for university credit under the supervision of public health practitioners. In addition to valuable research experience, student interns will gain communication skills by participating in written discussion with peers and preparing an oral presentation about their completed projects. They will present their projects before an audience that includes their fellow interns.
Students will be selected to participate based on merit via a competitive process without regard to race, color, religion, or gender. Completed applications will be reviewed and students may be interviewed. Selected students will be assigned research projects based on the mutual interest of the student and mentor.
Student interns must complete 180 hours of work for the semester (approximately 12 hours/week during fall and spring semesters, 16 hours/week during long summer session) to earn 3 hours of academic credit in PBH 341R Public Health Research. They must provide their own transportation to the internship site for in-person internships.
The Public Health Internship Program is offered fall, spring, and summer. No lecture classes are held. Students must attend presentation sessions at the conclusion of the course.
Application Process
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SoHE Advising will send information and the application link about a month before registration for each semester. (fall, spring, long summer session). Be sure to read your SoHE advising emails.
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Applicants must be able to commit to working 12 hours per week for the semester, or 16 hours per week for the long summer session at the internship site plus additional time interacting with Dr. Felkner and fellow intern
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Students will review the internship descriptions and rank them in order of interest as part of the application process. Internship descriptions will also indicate if the internship is remote, hybrid, or in-person
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Students will be notified if they have been matched to an internship approximately two weeks after applying.
Texas Department of State Health Services Internship Application
Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) offers internships through their own competitive application process. Acceptance to any DSHS internship will result in automatic acceptance to the Public Health internship program and the PBH 341R course. Students interested in a DSHS internship must apply directly through the DSHS website. If accepted, forward your acceptance to Dr. Felkner to enroll in the PBH 341R course if you wish to receive credit for the DSHS internship. You are not required to enroll in PBH 341R to participate in the DSHS internship, but you will not receive course credit.
Please contact Dr. Marilyn Felkner with questions.
