Epidemiology Elective Program Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can complete the rotation as your MPH practicum if you have completed 2 years of your medical or veterinary school curriculum by July 1 of the application year and meet all other eligibility criteria.
It is your responsibility to coordinate academic school credit with your school. EEP staff are willing to provide necessary documentation and complete any evaluations, as needed.
No, you can only participate in the program once.
Yes, you can apply for an EEP rotation again if you continue to meet EEP program eligibility requirements and have not previously participated in the EEP program.
No, you may not participate in EEP if you have prior commitments to another rotation during the set rotation period.
Rotation dates are pre-determined. When applying, you should select all set rotation periods that you are available. You must be available to complete the entire rotation (option for 6 or 8 week rotation). Requests for date changes and exceptions will not be considered. Please make the appropriate arrangements prior to submitting your application.
No, we do not allow students to participate outside of the set rotation periods.
No, students must be available to complete the entire set rotation period.
In some cases, excused absences for up to 2 days may be provided at the discretion of the EEP program. All requests for excused absences must be made prior to accepting a rotation. Requests exceeding 2 days will not be considered.
Unless otherwise specified by your supervisor, you are expected to work during federal business hours. Federal business hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (ET).
While most rotations are in person, each year, there are some remote and hybrid assignments available. Students are encouraged to select all possible work statuses they can commit to on the application.
Selected students are placed in a subject area within CDC, other federal sites, and in state, Tribal, local, and territorial health departments. Examples of sites that have hosted students previously are listed below. To learn more about specific centers, institutes, and offices at CDC, visit the CDC Organization web page.
Atlanta, Georgia sites include:
- CDC, Global Health Center (GHC)
- CDC, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP)
- CDC, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID)
- CDC, National Center for Environmental Health / Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (NCEH/ATSDR)
- CDC, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP)
- CDC, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD)
- CDC, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC)
- CDC, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD)
- CDC, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
Other sites include:
- CDC, Dengue Branch, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID) in Puerto Rico
- CDC, Arctic Investigations Program (part of NCEZID) in Anchorage, Alaska
- CDC, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases (part of NCEZID) in Ft. Collins, Colorado
- Indian Health Service (IHS) in Albuquerque, New Mexico
- CDC, National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) in Hyattsville, Maryland
- Administration for Children and Families (ACF) in Washington, DC
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
Anchorage, Alaska
Cincinnati, Ohio
Denver, Colorado
Morgantown, West Virginia
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Spokane, Washington - National Park Service (NPS) — Office of Public Health
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Ft. Collins, Colorado
Washington, DC - State and local health departments
States and territories within the U.S.
Yes, all international assignments are remote. EEP does not offer in person or hybrid rotations abroad.
On the EEP application, students are asked to select their preference for topic areas, project type, and locations they are interested in. Through a separate host site application, EEP staff identify sites internal and external to CDC that are interested in mentoring an EEP student. Host site supervisors are asked to provide similar information about their site, including topic areas of focus, types of projects available for students, and their geographical location. EEP staff use a matching algorithm to align EEP student selections and availability with those of host sites.
There is no cost to participate in EEP. Students do not receive a stipend and are responsible for living expenses and round-trip transportation to their assigned location.
Yes. The in-person orientation is hosted during the first three days of the rotation at CDC headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. Students assigned to a host site outside of Atlanta, Georgia will be traveled in at EEP’s expense. Please note that this is not a travel stipend and travel must be arranged through EEP. Students assigned to a CDC site in Atlanta are responsible for transportation to orientation as part of their travel and housing for their rotation.
While EEP is not able to offer scholarships or financial awards to participate in a set rotation, EEP has partnered with the CDC Foundation to provide several awards to EEP graduates annually. The awards benefit EEP graduates who have demonstrated commitments to global health, public health, or One Health through their EEP assignments. EEP graduates may submit proposals after completing their EEP rotation. Learn more about the CDC-Hubert Global Health Award and the Pappaioanou Veterinary Public Health and Applied Epidemiology Award.
No, not all qualified applicants are accepted. During each of the set rotations, 15 to 20 students are selected. Please understand this opportunity is competitive with a limited number of programs that host students. Eligible candidate applications will be reviewed by the potential supervisors. During this process, potential supervisors may schedule interviews with qualified applicants. CDC assigns students to participating programs based on rankings.
The EEP program will send an email to notify students of their acceptance into the program and their assignment no later than the notification date provided. Matched students must accept the assignment and complete necessary initial paperwork within 10 business days.
Acceptance e-mails will be sent no later than the notification date provided. Students who are not accepted will not receive notification. Status of all applications can be checked on the application website.
No, we cannot guarantee notification prior to the listed date.
Each week, students are provided with a list of seminars and trainings available at CDC and encouraged to attend as a group. EEP students outside of Atlanta can view most seminars and trainings online. Students should make every effort to learn more about CDC’s fellowship, training, and employment opportunities and to network with fellows currently in these positions. Some related fellowships include:
Fellowship opportunities can be explored at the CDC’s Fellowships and Training Opportunities web site. Various employment opportunities for students can be explored at the Careers at CDC web site.
Currently, students will only be assigned to assist virtually with an Epi-Aid. This opportunity provides students with invaluable experience to work with a response team, including CDC subject matter experts and Epidemic Intelligence Service officers. EEP students assigned to the CDC site leading the Epi-Aid will be asked to assist first. If no student is available, students will be chosen according to a pre-determined response roster. Students are assigned to this roster during their second or third week of rotation and are given advance notice of their on-call status.