Internships at DPH

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) offers internships opportunities for undergraduate, master’s and doctoral-level students who are interested in gaining hands-on experience in public health.

Internship Opportunities

Fall & Spring

• Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG) Funded Internship Program 
  DPH's Academic Health Department hosts paid internships in the fall-spring that provide students with exposure to state-level public health. Interns gain meaningful, real-world experience while learning about careers in governmental public health and public service. Applications for internships beginning Fall 2026 will go live mid-March 2026.

Learn more about the Fall & Spring internships 

Summer

• Local Health Internship Program
  For over 20 years, the DPH Division of Epidemiology has offered the Local Health Internship Program, connecting students with local health departments across Massachusetts and DPH. Each summer, interns gain real-world public health experience while supporting communities and improving health outcomes.

Learn more and apply for Summer 2026 

Current Openings

• No current openings match your interests?
  Submit the DPH Internship Interest Form to be considered for future internships that become available.

Internship Requirements

In order to participate in any internship at DPH, students must be:

• At least the minimum age required by federal, state or local laws and employment standards
• A U.S. citizen, or have the appropriate employment authorization documentation
• A student enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a degree-seeking student
• Able to produce a letter of verification from your educational institution showing proof of enrollment
• Able to complete and sign CORI paperwork:
  • Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) Acknowledgment Form (PDF) | (DOCX)

High School

DPH does not offer internships for high school students. We encourage high school students interested in Public Health to look into the following programs:

• Outbreak!
  Hosted by the Massachusetts Public Health Museum, Outbreak! is a summer experiential-learning program for high school students interested in learning about the field of Public Health.
• High School Health Careers Program
  Hosted by the UMass Chan Medical School, High School Health Careers Program is a structured four-week residential program that provides Massachusetts high school students with exposure to potential career paths in biomedical research and healthcare.

Colleges & Universities

Learn about DPH's Academic Health Department Consortium