CDC Internships Program
Explore a diversity of public health opportunities that can lead to an exciting career with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Do you have an interest in protecting the health of underrepresented populations or promoting health equity and eliminating health disparities? This fully funded internship program offers internships in a variety of public health settings and is a unique opportunity to explore a career with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The CDC is the nation’s health protection agency, working 24/7 to protect America from health and safety threats, both foreign and domestic. To be a truly effective public agency, the CDC’s workforce must continue to reflect the populations it serves. The CDC Internship Program focuses on increasing knowledge and interest in public health careers among students from underrepresented populations.
Learn more about the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at cdc.gov or register for one of our upcoming informational sessions.
Program Description
In this fully funded, full-time internship, you will get a unique opportunity to turn knowledge into real world experience in a public health setting, with a focus on diversity and protecting the health of underrepresented populations. Your internship could focus on areas such as epidemiology, fundamentals of public health, minority health and health disparities, working with disproportionately impacted populations, and biostatistics and statistical software.
Eligibility
To be eligible to participate you must meet the following criteria:
- Be a U.S. citizen
- Be enrolled in a degree-seeking program (AA/AS, BA/BS, Masters, JD, MD, or Ph.D.) at an accredited higher education institution during the internship. Students pursuing only a credential or certificate program will be considered ineligible. Recent graduates are not eligible.
- Have completed their freshman year of college before the internship begins.
- Have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- Be able to work full-time (40 hours per week) for the duration of the internship. Negotiation of hours to part-time is not possible. Please only apply if you know that you can handle a full-time work schedule on top of any other responsibilities.
- Have a confirmed interest in working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Reside within the United States throughout the entire duration of the internship (if virtual).
Preferred majors include, but are not limited to:
- Biostatistics
- Epidemiology
- Health Communications
- Public Health
Program Components
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention program is a 10-week Summer or 15-week Spring or Fall program in which you will work full-time, five days a week, assisting with a variety of projects assigned by your internship mentor. Assignments will span many professional fields at CDC; past placements have included:
- National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD)
- Division of Bacterial Diseases - Respiratory Diseases Branch
- Division of Influenza - Epidemiology and Prevention Branch- International Epidemiology and Research Team
- Division of Influenza - Epidemiology and Prevention Branch- Applied Research and Modeling Team
- Division of Viral Diseases - Office of the Director-Global Health Sciences Team
- Division of Viral Diseases - Polio and Picornavirus Laboratory Branch- Global Polio Eradication Program
- National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH)
- Office of Communications
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)
- Office of Communications
- National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS)
- Office of Planning, Budget, and Legislation
- Workplace Health Resource Center (WHRC)
Interested in hearing accounts from recent CDC interns? Check out our intern spotlight!
Program Benefits
This is a fully funded program. Sponsorship covers the cost of the program, housing (if needed/when in-person is available), and roundtrip travel to and from the internship site city. You will be responsible for living expenses and local transportation. However, a stipend of $2,650-$8,475 will be provided to help alleviate these expenses. The final stipend amount is based on the length of the session, your education level and your decision to accept or reject TWC-organized housing.
In addition, various professional development sessions will be available to enhance students’ knowledge and marketability. The Washington Center organizes multiple hands-on experiences to prepare you for your career including Resume Review & Cover Letter Writing, LinkedIn Review, and Interviewing & Pitching Yourself. TWC also organizes networking opportunities during your internship and has highly active alumni networks of which you will be a part.
Housing and Living
Fully furnished housing near the internship site is provided by TWC for all participants who need it. Housing accommodations can, and typically do, require shared-living arrangements with other interns. Every effort is made to arrange housing near essential amenities like grocery stores, public transit and medical facilities. When in-person, placements may be in Washington, D.C. or at CDC locations in Atlanta, Georgia, or Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Academic Credit
You may be eligible to receive academic credit for your participation in this program. However, credits are determined and awarded by each university. You are responsible for arranging any academic credit through your college or university. You should discuss arrangements with your institution, prior to starting the program and let TWC know the specific requirements of your university.
Dates and Deadlines
Spring 2024 (Virtual and in-person positions)
- Application Accepted: August 1, 2023 – October 9, 2023
- Decision Notifications: Mid December 2023 (Applicants are notified when they are selected for interviews until all positions are filled or until mid December)
- Program Dates: January 29, 2024 – May 10, 2024 (subject to change)
Summer 2024 (Virtual and in-person positions)
- Application Accepted: November 13, 2023 – February 5, 2024
- Decision Notifications: Mid April 2024 (Applicants are notified when they are selected for interviews until all positions are filled or until mid April)
- Program Dates: June 3 – August 9, 2024 (subject to change)
Please reach out to federal@twc.edu if you have any questions.
How to Apply
Applications for Summer 2024 are open! Review the Application Documents section below to see what you'll need to submit with your application.
When you're ready to get started, create an account (or log in to your existing account) in the Program Application Portal. Select Center for Disease Control and Prevention Internship Program from the list of available programs in the portal.
Register Your Interest
Interested in applying for a future semester? Want updates on webinars and application openings? Register your interest using the following form:
Have further questions? Email federal@twc.edu
Application Documents
Below are the documents you’ll need to submit with your application. Please note that all documents must be saved as PDFs in order to upload them.
- Resume: Upload a maximum 2-page resume that outlines your education background, work experience, activities and honors or recognitions.
- Statement of Interest: In a maximum 300-word statement, please address your specific interest in interning with the CDC, along with what skills and experiences you have that make you a unique candidate. Rather than repeating your resume, you should describe why you want to intern at the CDC, what skills and knowledge you have that has prepared you for this opportunity and what you hope to gain from this experience.
- Transcript: Both unofficial and official transcripts are accepted. Please ensure that your Social Security Number is crossed out on the submitted document.
- Proof of Citizenship: Proof of Citizenship includes either a scan of your U.S. passport, U.S. birth certificate or certificate of naturalization. All applicants must be U.S. citizens.