Undergraduate Students
Interested in Public Health?
We have a variety of hands-on, short-term internship programs for undergraduate students still in school. All offer a unique experience in one of many public health fields.
CDC Partnership Institutions
The CDC John R. Lewis Undergraduate Public Health Scholars Program [formerly the CDC Undergraduate Public Health Scholars (CUPS)] Program provides undergraduate students from across the country the opportunity to explore public health through hands-on training, mentorship, and professional development. The Lewis Scholars Program introduces undergraduate (and recently graduated) students to topics in minority health and health equity and supports their career development. During their internships, participants work in a variety of public health settings including community organizations, health departments, university-based programs, and federal agencies. This program is part of CDC’s efforts to increase public health workforce diversity and advance health equity. CDC partnership institutions’ programs are listed below. Visit each web site to learn more and apply:
- Summer Public Health Scholars Program – Columbia Public Health
- Maternal Child Health Careers/Research Initiatives for Student Enhancement – Undergraduate Program (MCHC/RISE-UP)
- Lewis Scholars Imhotep Program – Morehouse College,
- Tribal Health Experiential Student Internship Seminar (THESIS) – Southern Plains Tribal Health Board,
- Future Public Health Leaders Program (FPHLP) – University of Michigan School of Public Health | U-M School of Public Health (umich.edu)
- Pitt Public Health Undergraduate Scholars Program – School of Public Health
- UCLA Public Health Scholars
| Topic | Description | Open To | Length/Salary | Application Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laboratory | APHL-CDC Career Pathways in Public Health Internship Program Interns will assist public health laboratory professionals as they work on meaningful projects to improve public health, like detecting genetic disorders in newborns, tracking viruses carried by insects, and testing soil for environmental toxins. |
Current undergraduate students | 12-16 weeks, paid | Rolling application with flexible start dates |
| Ethics | CDC-Tuskegee University Public Health Ethics Student Internship (For Tuskegee students only). Interns work with mentors from across the agency to develop projects applying public health ethics principles. They also gain opportunities to become familiar with the CDC workplace and observe the principles of public health ethics in practice on a daily basis. | Tuskegee University undergraduate and graduate students | 8 Weeks, paid | Eligible students are selected by the Tuskegee Center for Bioethics CDC Contact: Jo A. Valentine, MSW Associate Director, Office of Health Equity Division of STD Prevention, NCHHSTP, CDC jxv2@cdc.gov 404.639-8366 |
| Health Education/ Communication |
*Association of State Public Health Nutritionists (ASPHN) Health Equity Internship Offers a unique internship opportunity to prepare students of federally designated minority-serving institutions (MSIs) to apply academic skills and problem-solving to real-life work experiences while the public health programs they serve gain vitality and fresh perspectives from future leaders. |
Undergraduate and graduate students from minority-serving institutions | 12 Weeks, paid | Various months For more information, contact Karen Probert at internship@asphn.org. |
| General Interest | Federal Work-Study Program (FWS) Work study experience exposing students to a diverse array of careers in the federal sector. |
Undergraduates | Varies, paid | Students should contact the Federal Work-Study Coordinator in their financial aid office for available CDC/ATSDR work study opportunities |
| General Interest | Future Public Health Leaders Program (FPHLP) Participants in this program are assigned to Community-based organizations (CBOs) /non-profits, health systems, or government agencies and health departments to consider careers in public health. |
Undergraduates in their sophomore, junior and senior year and recent baccalaureate degree students | 10 Weeks residential summer program, paid | January to February |
| General Interest | *Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) National Internship Program (HNIP) Provides direct experience matched to majors and career goals in a diverse array of careers in the federal sector. |
Enrollment in a degree-seeking program (BA/BS, Masters, JD, MD, or Ph.D) and recent graduates | 10-15 Weeks paid | Spring: September to November; Summer: September to March; Fall: January to June |
| General Interest | *Junior Commissioned Officer Student Training and Extern Program (JRCOSTEP) An opportunity for students to work in the same federal programs as active duty Commissioned Corps officers while completing a health-related education. |
Undergraduates who have completed 2 years study in baccalaureate degree program or at least 1 year of study in a master’s or doctoral program Note: Enrollment must be in certain professional disciplines |
31-120 Days, paid | September to November |
| Laboratory | Laboratory Sciences [PDF – 1 Page] Fellows are assigned to laboratories in CDC’s National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH), Division of Laboratory Sciences (DLS) where they will be part of a multidisciplinary team and will work with state-of-the-art analytical instrumentation on topics relevant to public health. |
Undergraduate and graduate students majoring in applied sciences | 10 Weeks, paid | November to January |
| Management/ Leadership |
*Maternal Child Health Careers/Research Initiatives for Student Enhancement – Undergraduate Program (MCHC/RISE-UP) Fellows are assigned to Kennedy Krieger Institute (KKI), Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Nursing, and Public Health, University of Southern California, California State University-LA, and University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine Center for Disabilities to address health disparities. |
Rising juniors, seniors, and recent graduates | 10 Weeks summer, paid | December to January |
| Minority Health/Health Equity | CDC John R. Lewis Undergraduate Public Health Scholars Program The CDC John R. Lewis Undergraduate Public Health Scholars [Lewis Scholars; formerly CDC Undergraduate Public Health Scholars (CUPS)] Program provides undergraduate students from across the country the opportunity to explore public health through hands-on training, mentorship, and professional development. The Lewis Scholars Program introduces undergraduate (and recently graduated) students to topics in minority health and health equity and supports their career development. During their internships, participants work in a variety of public health settings including community organizations, health departments, university-based programs, and federal agencies. |
Rising Juniors, Seniors, and recent graduates | Varies per opportunity | Varies per opportunity |
| Public Health Science | *Morehouse College Project IMHOTEP Program IMHOTEP interns undergo training and research in biostatistics, epidemiology, and occupational safety and health at programs and offices at CDC, state and local health departments, and non-profit organizations. |
Undergraduate juniors, seniors, and recent graduates | 11 Weeks summer, paid | January to February |
| Environmental Health | *National Environmental Public Health Internship Program (NEPHIP) Interns are assigned to state, tribal, and local health departments to gain a firsthand perspective on day-to-day responsibilities of environmental health professionals and make invaluable connections with those working in the field. |
Current sophomore, junior, senior, or graduate student at the time the application is submitted with majority of courses in environmental health focus areas. Must be with EHAC accredited environmental health academic program | 10 Weeks; paid | May to August |
| Occupational Health | Occupational Health Internship Program The Occupational Health Internship Program (OHIP) is a full time, paid summer internship designed to link the skills and interests of students with the needs of workers employed in an under-served or high hazard job. Teams of two interns are assigned to a union or worker organization where they receive supervision from a designated staff member and an academic mentor. |
Undergraduate students enrolled in an accredited college or university who will have completed at least two years of college (i.e. juniors and seniors only) by the OHIP summer and students enrolled in graduate programs are eligible to apply. Recent graduates cannot be out of school for more than six months prior to the start of OHIP | 9 Weeks, paid | January-February |
| General Interest | ORISE CDC Research Opportunities Education experience to create expertise, information, and tools that people and communities need to protect their health. |
Undergraduates;graduate; post-master’s; doctoral; postdoctoral | Varies, paid | Varies |
| General Interest | *Public Health Leadership and Learning Undergraduate Student Success (PLLUSS) Fellows are assigned to Kennedy Krieger Institute (KKI); Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Johns Hopkins University undergraduate program in Public Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and School of Nursing in Baltimore, MD; California State University – Los Angeles (CSU–LA, a diverse Hispanic-serving |
Undergraduate sophomore and junior students minoring or majoring in public health | 10 Weeks, paid | TBD |
| General Interest | *Senior Commissioned Officer Student Training and Extern Program (SRCOSTEP) Those selected for the program will become Commissioned officers in the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) and receive full pay and benefits of an active duty officer. In return for financial assistance, SRCOSTEP participants agree to work for the USPHS sponsoring agency as a Commissioned Corps officer immediately after graduation. The service obligation is equal to twice the time sponsored. |
Full-time students about to begin their final year of academic study or professional training | Up to 1 Year, paid | September to November |
| General Interest | Student Worksite Experience Program (SWEP) A volunteer program offering opportunities to gain practical experience by engaging in projects and tasks that contribute to professional development. Student volunteers are an important part of recruiting and developing skilled workers, and preparing the workforce of the future. |
High school students; college students; graduate students |
6 Months (180 days) maximum, unpaid | TBD |
| Public Health Science | *The Summer Public Health Scholars Program (SPHSP) Fellows are assigned to state and local health departments; non-profit organizations and various Columbia University Colleges and undergo a rigorous program which includes Public Health course work at Columbia University; hands-on field experience and immersion in a diverse, economically disadvantaged urban environment; seminars and lectures with public health leaders; and mentoring by faculty members. |
Rising juniors, seniors, and recent graduates | 10 Weeks summer, paid | Late January to Early February |
*Denotes fellowships offered in partnership with CDC