Internships
The public health program offers numerous opportunities for real-world experience supervised by both community and faculty mentors.
Community Engagement Internship (PHLT 397W) – 4 credits
This course, offered in both the fall and the spring semesters, is an opportunity available to juniors and seniors who have declared their major in public health.
PHLT 397W gives students a mentored community project under the auspices and supervision of a University faculty member and community agency in Rochester, NY, working with an under-served population on an identified area of health promotion.
Students spend eight hours per week working at their community site. A weekly seminar led by multiple faculty members gives academic support to the internship. Admission to the course is by application only. Applications are accepted the Wednesday after fall break and the Wednesday after spring break.
Washington Semester Internship (PHLT 394C)
This opportunity is offered in conjunction with The Washington Center's (TWC) Academic Internship Program.
For more information about the program and the application process including information on how to apply, visit the Greene Center Washington Semester page.
Several preliminary steps need to be completed to determine eligibility before applying:
- Complete the online Interest Form.
- The Greene Center will review your form and assess your eligibility for the program based on TWC's standards.
- Meet with Dr. McNulty for permission to register for PHLT 394C, the 4-credit portion of the 16-credit Washington Semester.
Once these three steps are completed, application directly to The Washington Center can be made.
PHLT 394C is only available during the academic year (fall and spring).
Public Health Internships (PHLT 394G) – 4 credits
This is a mentored community-based experience under the supervision of a URochester faculty member. This course requires a special application and instructor permission. Once approved, students must use UR Student to register for PHLT 394G; this course is not an independent study (I.S.) course.
This course, offered in both the fall and the spring semesters, is an opportunity available to declared public health majors and public health minors. PHLT 394G provides the opportunity to experience "real life" public health work with a designated community agency.
Course Director Prof. Molly McNulty, m.mcnulty@rochester.edu.
Internship Requirements
- Open to public health majors and minors.
- 10-12 hours/week/13 weeks, in person (special exceptions possible for remote agencies), starting first week of class through last week of class.
- Agencies have been pre-selected. Fall 2026 agencies are:
- Common Ground Health (community health programming and analysis)
- HOPE585 (foster care/family policing reform)
- NYS Sen. Jeremy Cooney (community; state legislation)
- The Children's Agenda (local and state advocacy)
- Separate application required (pdf), agencies will review and select, notification by Monday August 31.
- Registration by instructor permission only.
Academic Credit Requirements
- Three in-person meetings with Professor McNulty during the semester.
- Three analytical journal entries analyzing the content of a public health-related peer-reviewed journal article, combined with your experience at your internship.
Independent Study at a Rochester Community Agency
Students can develop individual work plans with input from a faculty mentor who has a relationship with local Rochester agencies.