Forms for Students:
Field
Experience in Public Health Agreement (PDF
File)
Field
Experience Description (to be attached to the Agreement; PDF
File)
Student
Evaluation of Field Experience Placement (PDF
File)
Agency
Preceptor Evaluation of the Student (PDF
File)
Field Experience in Public Health:
Guidelines for Students:
Agencies and Preceptors Hosting an MPH Student:
About:
The Master of Public Health (MPH) degree program provides a graduate student an opportunity to bridge professional academic preparation and public health practice through a supervised field experience. Knowledge and skills acquired in the five core public health courses and the area of emphasis-specific courses are applied in an agency under the supervision and mentoring of an experienced employee. The student gains first-hand experience with areas of public health for which future employment is sought and the host agency receives the benefit of a highly motivated individual who is eager to work in the field of public health. The field experience component of the MPH degree program plays a vital role in training students to assume public health leadership positions.
A well-designed field experience does the following:
- Offers professional experience with continuous supervision
- Applies to the student's area of interest and emphasis
- Grants access to additional opportunities for leadership development, seminars, project development, etc.
- Assures that the student receives an overview of many public health functions
- Supplies a mentor who is committed to providing career advice and constructive feedback
- Provides involvement in specific projects of which the student can take "ownership"
Credit hour/Clock hour Requirements:
For students completing the full field experience requirement in
one block of time:
6 credit hours = 480 clock hours
This time requirement can be taken at 30 hours per week for 16 weeks during
a fall or spring semester OR at 40 hours per week for 12 weeks during a summer
session.
For students who need to spread the experience over a combination
of two different semesters:
3 credit hours = 240 clock hours
This time requirement can be taken at 15 hours per week for 16 weeks during
a fall or spring semester OR at 20 hours per week for 12 weeks during a summer
session.
For students who are completing the Master's Report (2 credit hours)
in combination with a field experience (4 credit hours):
4 credit hours = 320 clock hours
This time requirement can be taken at 20 hours per week for 16 weeks during
a fall or spring semester OR at 40 hours per week for 8 weeks during a summer
session.