The internship is a graded practical experience in which the intern maintains a professional Health Educator workload in a community health or wellness setting.  This experience culminates with the attainment of the degree Bachelor of Science in Health Education.  It is meant to be a time of service and innovation to the supervising agency as well as a significant learning opportunity for the intern.  Only through a practical experience such as this can the efficient application of knowledge, ideas, and skills in a realistic work setting occur.  With this, both the intern and agency should benefit immeasurably.
The major objectives for the internship experience should enable the intern to:

• Complete tasks required of a professional in the health education field;
• Apply the knowledge and skills attained during course studies to practical community health and/or wellness issues;
• Develop skills and increase knowledge in areas of interest within their specialization;
• Contribute significantly to the activities, events, and projects of the internship agency; and
• Prepare for future employment and/or advanced education in the health education, or related field.

The internship experience includes, but it not limited to, those agencies which employ health educators in a community, public health or worksite health promotion and wellness setting (public health units, voluntary health agencies, hospitals/clinics, hospital and corporate wellness centers, area health education centers, nonprofit health agencies).  Intern job duties are determined by the intern and agency supervisor, and should be based on the strengths, needs, and interests of the intern and agency.  The job duties must encompass the Responsibilities & Competencies of Entry-level Health Educators (NCHEC, 2006).  In addition, the goals, objectives, and specific activities will be communicated to the university supervisor via the Internship Application, bi-weekly reports, and midterm/final evaluations.  Common job duties include, but are not limited to:

• Designing and producing (health) educational materials and media (Diabetes; Hypertension)
• Planning and implementing health programs (Teen pregnancy prevention programs; Smoking prevention program)
• Planning and implementing health fairs
• Evaluating health programs
• Data Analysis
• Employee in-service trainings
• Hospital staff in-service trainings
• Grant writing
• Research and literature reviews
• Public relations (public service announcements)
• Individual/group counseling (Prenatal and postnatal counseling; HIV/AIDS education and counseling)
• Health risk appraisals
• Fitness testing
• Body composition analysis
• Blood glucose screening
• Behavior risk identification and modification
• Plan and conduct fitness classes
• Assistance/involvement in physical rehabilitation

Special Notes:

• Interns must complete ALL coursework (both required and elective) before beginning the final, fulltime internship.  Additional coursework is not permitted during, or after the completion of a fulltime internship.
• Interns in the Health Studies specialization electing to complete a part-time internship may register 9 credit hours of coursework in addition to the internship; however, the internship placement must be within the Gainesville vicinity.
• Students are required to register for HSC4800 the semester prior to internship/graduation.  HSC4800: Health Education Professional Development (3c) replaced HSC4934: Pre-Internship Seminar (1c).  This course assists students with internship placement and paperwork requirements.
• Pre-Interns should refer to the handout Guidelines for Internship Site Selection, which will assist students with identifying appropriate/feasible internship opportunities.
• The agency supervisor and intern will receive all necessary forms and instructions from the university supervisor prior to the beginning of the internship.
• The internship office in 6 FLG has information available on many approved and potential internship sites that may not be listed below. These files are by no means representative of all possible internship sites, but they are a good starting point. Students may also submit other sites to be approved for internship placement as well.
• Prospective Internship Agencies: Ms. Holly Moses is the internship coordinator for the department. If you have questions or would like to have your site considered for internship, please contact Ms. Moses at hmoses@hhp.ufl.edu.

Gainesville

In-State

Out of -State

Special Opportunities