On the Path from Student to Practitioner: Testing the Water Before the Internship

Individuals entering careers in environmental health or safety must either decide to be generalists or must specialize in one of several diverse areas. At Illinois State University, the Environmental Health Program and the Safety Program coordinate one-day student-practitioner partnerships that provide students with the opportunity to observe professionals in the field. These partnerships are called "Professional Days" and help students experience a potential career before beginning an internship. The authors discuss how the visits are coordinated, what role workplace visits play in students' selection of career paths, and how both students and employers evaluate the experience.