Adaptation of an In-Person Internship to a Virtual Format for Public Health Undergraduates

Abstract

The disruption of traditional, in-person learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated the rapid development and use of revised and novel learning opportunities using a variety of remote instructional methodologies. This viewpoint describes the process used by an undergraduate Public Health program to transition a traditional, in-person, semester-long, 480-hour internship to a virtual-only learning experience guided by the existing student learning outcomes. Working closely with public health professionals at existing internship agencies, alumni from the program, student interns, and program faculty developed a modified virtual internship composed of 6 components. The development of this modified virtual internship model was guided by previous research on the components of successful internships and the elements of high-impact learning practices.