Professional Experience for Public Health Graduate Students
What are experiential learning opportunities?
MAR-PHTC’s experiential learning opportunities provide a $3500 stipend
to graduate students in public health to build expertise and gain real-world experience on
their paths to
professional careers. This Health Resources and Services Administration program helps students increase their skills
while organizations achieve their goals.
Just a Few Exciting Projects Students Have Completed

Student Testimonials
In this 8-minute introductory video, participating students share how experiential learning works and what they gained from their projects. Click here to watch the Making the Most of Your Field Placement Opportunities video.
What type of projects are available?
Field Placements
Requirements and deliverables include:
-
Finish in one year (2 years for part-time students)
Scientific report or poster presentation
-
Abstract suitable for submission to a public health conference
-
Abstract for Pitt Public Health Dean’s Day or other departmental poster fair (Pitt students only)
-
Other deliverables required by host organization
Detailed info: Field Placement Handbook
Collaborative Projects
Students receive mentoring from university faculty. Following rigorous scientific protocols, students get experience with peer-review level research. Topics center on evidence-based practice in public health organizations.
Requirements and deliverables include:
-
Finish in 3–6 months
-
Scientific report or poster presentation
-
Abstract suitable for submission to a public health conference
-
Abstract for Pitt Public Health Dean’s Day or other departmental poster fair (Pitt students only)
- Other deliverables required by faculty mentor
Detailed info: Collaborative Project Handbook
Do you have an idea for a field placement or collaborative project? Click on the links below to learn more.
Field Placement – Students
Field Placement – Organization
Collaborative Project – Students and Faculty
Experiential Learning Infographic
See the wide range of opportunities for learning and contributing with this infographic illustrating types of organizations, areas of study, core competencies, presentations, and field placement sites past students have explored.
Click here to view the Experiential Learning Infographic.
Projects with Our Partners
Besides Pitt, universities participating in the Mid-Atlantic Regional Public Health Training Center experiential learning program include:
Each Academic Partner has its own guidelines for facilitating Field Placements and Collaborative Projects for students at their school.
- Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health; for more information, contact Jennifer Kolker at jkolker@drexel.edu
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health; for more information, contact Dr. Dan Barnett at dbarnet4@jhu.edu
- West Virginia University School of Public Health; for more information, contact Dr. Diane Gross at Diane.Gross@hsc.wvu.edu
Get Started
First Things First: Are you eligible?
You can receive all the benefits of completing an experiential learning project by meeting just three simple requirements:
- You must not have previously completed a Field Placement or Collaborative Project with MAR-PHTC.
- You must be enrolled part- or full-time in an accredited graduate school of public health (master’s or doctoral program).
- You must be a citizen of the United States, a non-citizen U.S. national, or a foreign national who is a U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident (i.e., in possession of a green card).
NOTE: INDIVIDUALS ON A STUDENT VISA ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR A FIELD PLACEMENT OR COLLABORATIVE PROJECT.
How to Find a Field Placement
Check out these three pathways to a placement.
1. CHOOSE AN EXISTING OPPORTUNITY
from these postings and complete an application form.
Click here to learn more about Juris Dogtor with the Justice Dogs Foundation.
Click here to complete the Student Field Placement Application.
2. CONTACT US FOR A CONSULTATION. Tell us what public health topics interest you most and we'll help you find and reach out to an organization that matches your interests. Email us at marphtc@pitt.edu to learn more.
3. CREATE YOUR OWN
PROJECT. Already have your own idea and organization lined up? Use the Field Placement Proposal Form available at the link
below.
Field Placement Proposal Form
Click here to learn more about Student-initiated Field Placements
How to Find a Collaborative Project at a University
Collaborative Projects are currently full. Check back in July when they will reopen.
Have a project idea?
Students
Could I really launch my dream career in public health now?
Design a Field Placement around what you care about.
- Work on a topic meaningful to you
- Show future employers your initiative
- Express your creativity
- Forge your own career path
- Stand out from the crowd
Field Placement Proposal Form Student-initiated Project
Organizations
We have so many urgent and worthwhile projects in our pipeline. We could really use some help from a great student!
Field Placements for graduate students
- Exceed mission goals with substantial public health contributions not possible with existing staff
- Innovate with fresh perspectives from graduate students
- Mentor students while benefiting your stakeholders
- Interview a student yourself for the best match
Field Placement Request Form Site Supervisor-initiated Project
Faculty
I'd love to mentor a talented graduate student on my public health research project.
Collaborative Projects with a graduate student
- Enjoy mentoring a graduate student interested in your research
- High-level students bring fresh perspectives to your projects
- Promote evidence-based practice in the next generation of public health professionals
- Co-author a published an scientific report or poster
- Interview a student yourself for the best match
Networking: Exchange

What?
- Convenient , distance-accessible interactive forums
Why?
- Get current insider tips through panel discussions with -public health professionals
- Enjoy informal conversations with peers about experiences and projects
- Build career and networking connections
- Get answers and solve problems about your project and your career direction
- Tap into exclusive resources about regional public health issues and interdisciplinary possibilities
Who?
- Your peers and future colleagues: students from many locations
- Your future employer: encounter supervisors from real-world public health organizations
- Mingle with potential faculty mentors doing cutting-edge research
- Uncover opportunities with community-based training partners
When?
- At least twice each academic year
To learn more about Exchange click here to watch this 59-minute video, Tips for Success: Making the Most of Experiential Learning.
Contact us and Quick Links
Contact Us: marphtc@pitt.edu
Academic
Partners
Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health: contact Jennifer Kolker at jkolker@drexel.edu
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health: contact Dr. Dan Barnett at dbarnet4@jhu.edu
West Virginia University School of Public
Health: contact Dr. Diane Gross at Diane.Gross@hsc.wvu.edu
Forms—Applications
Student Field Placement Application
Forms—Proposals
Pitt Public Health Field Placement
Proposal Student-initiated Project
Collaborative Project Proposal
Field Placement Request Form Site
Supervisor-initiated Project
Handbooks
Collaborative Project Handbook - Download
Field Placement Handbook - Download
Infographics
Experiential Learning Infographic
Opportunities
Currently Available Field Placement Opportunities