Research and Internships

Internships are not only exciting, interesting, and fun—they can also be extremely beneficial to your personal, academic, and professional growth. These experiences can allow you to test out different careers and fields, learn new skills, and network with potential employers and mentors. Internships also give employers the opportunity to guide and evaluate your talent.

Attention

The deadline to submit an internship request for each semester:
May 1 – Summer
August 1 – Fall
Dec 1 – Winter and Spring

Submit an Internship Request Form

What is an Internship?

According to The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), an internship is a form of experiential learning that integrates knowledge and theory learned in the classroom with practical application and skill development in a professional setting. An internship should be a legitimate learning experience benefiting you, the student, and not simply an operational work experience. This means you must plan to take your internship beyond administrative tasks or shadowing a physician by incorporating an educational component such as original research, regularly attending seminars related to your internship's area of focus, or following a schedule of academic readings pertaining to relevant subject matter that can be discussed with your supervisor, for example.

First, consider these NACE guidelines when choosing an internship:

  • The experience should be an extension of the classroom: a learning experience that provides for applying the knowledge gained in the classroom
  • There should be clearly defined learning objectives/goals
  • There should be supervision by a professional with expertise and educational and/or professional background in the field of the experience
  • There should be routine feedback by the experienced supervisor

Next, be sure your internship meets these criteria set by the Human Biology Program at Hunter College:

  • The internship is part of an official program at your host institution or agency
  • There is a documented website that explains internship goals and requirements (or your supervisor is willing to fill out a form to be included in the Human Biology internship database)
  • The experience is NOT a “shadowing” or “scribing” experience, unless part of a broader formal internship program
  • The internship is NOT the same as your regular employment, or employment generally that is offered at the agency

Please note you may not take on internships with relatives/significant others/friends or anyone else who might have a conflict of interest in providing a formal assessment.

Where can I find an Internship?

Please refer to this document for information on internships, research opportunities, and postbac opportunities available to Human Biology majors! Please note that this is not a list of ALL available opportunities.

The Human Biology Program does not arrange internships for students but there are a lot of resources available to you to begin your search. The Career Center is a great resource for Hunter students. For a guide to exploring Healthcare internships, please visit this resource from EDUMED.ORG.

If you are interested in applying for healthcare internships, apply to the CUNY Inclusive Economy (CIE) Program for exclusive access to career resources and additional support.

Although the below resources are a starting place in your search, all internships must be approved by the Human Biology Program director in order to be eligible for credit.

Organizations

Academic Institutions

Human Biology Internship For Credit

As a Human Biology Major, you can earn up to 3 credits for participating in an internship (HMBIO 40300). Please note, that while the internship is not a requirement of the major, a 3 credit internship or independent study is required to fulfill part of the requirement for graduation with honors. The number of credits you receive for your internship is determined by the amount of hours you will work during the semester. A 3 credit internship is equivalent to 100-120 hours, a 2 credit internship is equivalent to 60-80 hours, and a 1 credit internship is approximately 40 hours.

Please note that an internship or independent study for credit is subject to tuition charges and fees, as it is a credit-bearing course. Students are responsible for discussing this with the Bursar or Financial Aid office to be aware of the tuition charges for adding and/or withdrawing from this course, including late registration and petitions.

To enroll in a Human Biology internship for credit, first, complete our Internship/Independent Study Request Form for an in-person internship or independent study. Then, once given approval for HMBIO 402 or HMBIO 403, enroll in the course through CUNYfirst.

For more information, please contact humbio@hunter.cuny.edu.