What are experiential learning opportunities?

The Mid-Atlantic Regional Public Health Training Center's (MAR-PHTC) experiential learning opportunities provide public health students a $3500 stipend while they work on a project that offers  professional experience and career connections. This Health Resources and Services Administration program helps students increase their skills while organizations achieve their goals.

Eligibility

Students can apply for an experiential learning opportunity if:

• they have not previously completed a MAR-PHTC Field Placement or Collaborative Project;
• they are enrolled part- or full-time in an accredited graduate school of public health master's or doctoral program; and
• they are a U.S. citizen, 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: Due to our federal funding requirements, individuals on a student visa are NOT eligible to apply.

*All projects must take place in the United States.

Past projects include:

In this 8-minute introductory video, students share how experiential learning works and what they gained from their projects. Click here to watch the Making Most of Your Field Placement Opportunities.

What type of projects are available?

Field Placements: Real World Experience for Public Health Students and an Invaluable Resource for Organizations

Students embed in a public health-related agency to get experience on a career-related professional project. They gain practical, marketable skills by interning with a site supervisor (note: the site supervisor is not a faculty member).
Student requirements and deliverables include:

• Project completion within one year of the start date (2 years for part-time students)
• A scientific report or poster presentation
• An abstract suitable for submission to a public health conference
• An abstract for Pitt Public Health Dean’s Day or other departmental poster fair (Pitt students only)
• Other deliverables required by host organization

Detailed information:  Field Placement Handbook

Collaborative Projects: Connecting Students and Faculty

Students receive mentoring from university faculty. Topics center on evidence-based practice in public health organizations and students get experience with public health research.
Student requirements and deliverables include:

• Project completion within 3–6 months of the start date
  
• A scientific reportor poster presentation
• An abstract suitable for submission to a public health conference
• An abstract for Pitt Public Health Dean’s Day or other departmental  poster fair (Pitt students only)
• Other deliverables required by faculty mentor

Detailed information: 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

Projects at Our Partner Schools

In addition to Pitt Public Health, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and West Virginia University School of Public Health offer experiential learning projects through MAR-PHTC. Each academic partner has its own guidelines for facilitating Field Placements and Collaborative Projects for students at their school. Contact them to learn more.

• Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health; Jennifer Kolker at jkolker@drexel.edu
• Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health; Dr. Dan Barnett at dbarnet4@jhu.edu
• West Virginia University School of Public Health; Dr. Diane Gross at Diane.Gross@hsc.wvu.edu
  

Get Started
Applying for a Field Placement

1. Check back for new opportunities.

2. 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

Email us at marphtc@pitt.edu to learn more. 

How to Find a Collaborative Project at a University

Collaborative Projects are currently full. Check back in July when they will reopen.
Click here to learn more about Collaborative Project

Have a project idea?
Students

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

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

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 scientific report or poster
•  Interview a student yourself for the best match

Networking: Exchange

Twice each academic year, MAR-PHTC presents Exchange, a virtual event that enables public health students to learn from and interact with panelists working in public health. Exchange provides bot students and panelists opportunities to mutually enrich their futures within the public health workforce. Students will discover career possibilities, hone areas of interest and focus, and forge connections with others who have experience and  knowledge to share. Panelists detail their own paths taken through education, experience, and employment, resulting in their current positions.

Click here to access recording of previous Exchanges under the Careers in Public Health category.

Contact us and Quick Links

Contact Us
Mid-Atlantic Regional Public Health Training Center: marphtc@pitt.edu
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
Collaborative Project Proposal
Student Field Placement Application
Pitt Public Health Field Placement Proposal Student-initiated Project
Field Placement Request Form Site Supervisor-initiated Project

Handbooks
Collaborative Project Handbook
Field Placement Handbook

Informational Videos
To learn more about Experiential Learning click here to watch this one hour video, Tips for Success: Making the Most of Experiential Learning.
To learn how to make the most of your Experiential Learning opportunity click here to watch our 8-minute video.