Internships and Independent Study
Students may earn MHS credit for independent study/research, internships, and service learning projects.
Independent study is a program of reading and/or research to be selected in consultation with an adviser. Internships and service learning combine practical training with academic research. Under faculty supervision, students gain experience in a broad range of public and private health-related agencies.
Independent Study/Research
MHS 3850: Independent Study is designed for students who wish to conduct research or a directed course of reading under the supervision of a faculty member. The research may include an analysis of primary sources, an analysis of secondary sources, clinical research, or laboratory research. Keep in mind that even in the case of clinical or laboratory research, your work must focus on the social and/or cultural dimensions of health and/or health care.
Students are required to submit a research product as part of their independent study. The content of the product should be negotiated with the faculty supervisor. A typical assignment is a research paper including five written pages per 1 credit hour.
To enroll in MHS 3850, complete the A&S Independent/Directed Study form and the MHS Independent Study Form, including the project description, your signature, and the signature of the faculty supervisor. Please email your completed forms to mhs@vanderbilt.edu. We will get the signature of the chair or director of undergraduate studies.
- Centromere Protein F as a Prognostic Indicator for Cancer
This was a scientific paper that included the student’s work in a lab identifying cancer cells and also a discussion of the disparities that exist in cancer research and treatment accessibility. - The Effects of Parental Depression on Adolescent Offspring
This paper looked at risk factors for developing mental disorders and coping strategies among children of depressed parents. - ICU Delirium and Cognitive Impairment
This paper investigated ethnocentrism in the NIH’s funding of research studies. - The Importance of End of Life Discussions with Children
This paper served as a precursor to an exploratory health communication study that addressed the importance of communication during the end of life for pediatric oncologic patients and their families. - The Intersection of Race and Mental Illness: Clinical and Police Encounters
Reduced access to and quality of medical care, provider discrimination, and lack of cultural sensitivity contribute to racial and ethnic mental health disparities. This leaves more unresolved cases of mental illness on the streets. As a result, cases become more severe, and people of racial/ethnic minorities find themselves in a police encounter. - Eating Disorders among College Student Athletes
This paper was a literature review of current research on factors related to eating disorder in U.S. college athletes. - Low Socioeconomic Status and Negative Health Outcomes: SNAP and Type 2 Diabetes
This paper investigated the limits of SNAP to cover the cost of healthy food options and the link between utilization of this program and the development of Type 2 diabetes. - Psychosocial Barriers Contributing to Adverse Mental Health Help-Seeking Behaviors in African-Americans
This paper looked at trust/mistrust, the role of religion, and the effects of culture on why African-Americans are less like than whites to seek mental health treatment. - The Opioid Epidemic, Chronic Pain, and Pain Management
This paper examined the historical use of opioids in the United States as well as the current opioid epidemic. A discussion of policy makers’ and medical associations’ push to curtail opioid use was included. - The Long-Lasting Effects of the U.S. Public Health Study of Untreated Syphilis in the Negro Male
The role of informed consent, the act of withholding treatment, and the medical mistrust that resulted were explored. Health consequences, such as the AIDS epidemic, of medical mistrust are chronicled.
Internships
MHS 3880-3881: Internship is for students who wish to earn credit for an internship under the supervision of a faculty member.
Students must enroll in both MHS 3880 and MHS 3881 concurrently. MHS 3880 is a pass/fail course; it counts toward graduation hours but does not count toward hours in the MHS major. Students earn credit in MHS 3881 for reading and research conducted in relationship to their community service, is graded, and counts towards hours in the MHS major.
To earn internship credit, first request an appointment with Dean Dan Morgan to review your project, and contact your MHS adviser or the MHS director of undergraduate studies to confirm that the project is appropriate. Then, complete the Internship Application and the A&S Independent/Directed Study form and email both forms to mhs@vanderbilt.edu. You do not need to have the signature of the chair or director of undergraduate studies when you submit your forms to MHS. Administration will review your application and sign off on the forms if they are approved.
Service Learning
MHS 3830-3831: Service Learning is offered for students who want to design a program of community service associated with a set of learning objectives under faculty supervision.
Students must enroll in both MHS 3830 and MHS 3831 concurrently. MHS 3830 is a pass/fail course; it counts toward graduation hours but does not count toward hours in the MHS major. Students earn credit in MHS 3831 for reading and research conducted in relationship to their community service, is graded, and counts towards hours in the MHS major.
To apply, complete the A&S Independent/Directed study form including the project description, your signature, and the signature of the faculty supervisor and email the form to mhs@vanderbilt.edu. We will gain signatures from the chair or director of undergraduate studies.
Timing
Students interested in independent study, service learning, or an internship should discuss the project with their MHS adviser during the registration period. Forms and project descriptions are due before the first day of class. Students getting internship credit must also schedule a meeting with Dean Dan Morgan and get his approval.