Searching for Your Practicum.

Searching for a practicum is very similar to searching for a job, and is most commonly done by applying to postings for internships, practicum, or part-time jobs with an updated resume and cover letter. However, a large number of opportunities are found through networking and taking advantage of the “hidden practicum market.”

Where to look?

The first place you should look for new practicum postings is Handshake.

• Filter by “internship”
• Use various keywords to search through existing postings
• Use the “sph internship/practicum” label to easily find opportunities that are all ready identified as potential practicum by the school

While Handshake is an excellent resource it is not the only place where internships are posted. Organizations may post internships to a variety of job boards, and as long as the posting meets practicum requirements you are welcome to apply for it. If you are unsure if a posting might count as a practicum you may email the posting to sphpract@bu.edu.

Utilizing the “Hidden Practicum Market”

Keep in mind that not all practicum opportunities get posted. About 35% of students will find their practicum through the “Hidden Practicum Market”. The Hidden Practicum Market simply refers to the work and projects that exist, but are not, or will not, be turned into a job description. By networking, students are able to work with employers to create a practicum project that is mutually beneficial to both student and employer. This is a great option if you are looking for something specific or if you need something that’s a little more flexible.

Here are some tools that can help you navigate the hidden practicum market and help you connect with potential practicum hosts:

• Our Past Practicum Database: All practicum starting between calendar year 2017 and August 2023 are archived into our past practicum database, which student can use to research opportunities that may be available, connect with past students, or even connect with host organizations to see if any projects currently exist. Any practicum that stars from September 2023 on will be archived in the past practicum search in the Practicum Portal.
• Your professors or other personal connections you may already have.
• LinkedIn: LinkedIn is a networking tool first and foremost. The best place to look on LinkedIn is the BUSPH alumni search feature. You can navigate there by going to the BUSPH LinkedIn page and clicking “alumni”.

For Part-Time Students

Many part-time students in our program who work full-time for an organization that does public health work elect to do their practicum in their place of employment as it provides the most flexibility in balancing your job and MPH program. When considering this option it’s important to remember:

• The practicum you choose must be a new project outside of your current scope of work. This is a way to ensure that you will be learning something knew and applying some of what you’ve learned in the classroom in your practicum.
• It’s unlikely that your employer will pay you beyond your job to do this practicum. In order to offset this, consider negotiating with your supervisor to do your practicum within the work day so you are not doing additional work during off hours.

If you decide to do a practicum in a different organization OR you do not work in an organization that does public health work be sure to discus the practicum with your supervisor to understand what flexibility you will have. We have often had students able to negotiate a temporary reduction in hours to fit in their practicum hours during the week or cutting a day from their work week to dedicate toward their practicum. This will be helpful for you to know before you begin searching as you will need to understand what is realistic for both you and a potential practicum host.

The Career & Practicum Office is happy to support and work with you to navigate your practicum search and help you brainstorm opportunities and potential contacts!