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Masters of Public Health Practicum

Contact Student Services early in the practice planning process concerning the University required affiliate agreement.

The Practicum is the public health practice experience of the Student’s Culminating Experience and is completed in the latter part of the Master of Public Health Program.  The Practicum affords the student an opportunity to exercise the knowledge, skills and education gained while in their academic program.  Students complete the Practicum at a qualified hosting facility who have a current affiliate agreement on-file with the University, such as state and local health, Native American health, health care facilities and private and non-profit organizations. Opportunities are available within the U.S. and globally. To view a complete list, please press here.

Culminating Experience

The Culminating Experience is the final phase of each degree program in which the student demonstrates the skills and integration of knowledge acquired in the degree.

The MPH culminating experience is comprised of the following:

  • Completion of the CPH 7003 Integrated Public Health Practice course, which is designed to tie together concepts from the individual core courses (BSE 5113, BSE 5163, OEH 5013, HPS 5213, and HAP 5453) through case studies;
  • Completion of the CPH 7941 Practicum Preparation Seminar, which is designed to help the student identify a relevant practice experience opportunity, secure a Preceptor to guide them through the Practicum, and Complete the Practicum Agreement;
  • Completion of the 240 contact hour practice experience (CPH 7950 Public Health Practicum) under the guidance of the Preceptor and faculty practicum advisor;
  • Completion of all required Practicum forms including the Mid Course Review of Student's Progress, Time and Activity Log, and Evaluations; and
  • Completion of the MPH Practicum Paper; and
  • Completion of the oral presentation of the MPH Practicum Paper and accompanying comprehensive oral examination.

The MPH Practicum should be completed as near to the end of a student’s program as practicable. If it is completed before the student’s last semester of study, the MPH Paper should be submitted during the semester of enrollment in CPH 7950 Public Health Practicum; however, the oral presentation of the MPH Practicum Paper and associated comprehensive oral examination will not occur until the student’s last term of enrollment.

Although the oral comprehensive examination component of the MPH Culminating Experience occurs in conjunction with the oral practicum presentation, the examining committee’s questions will not be limited to the scope of the practice experience. The student should be prepared to respond to questions on any aspect of their MPH studies.

MPH comprehensive examination evaluation forms:

The DrPH culminating experience is the preparation and defense of a practice-based doctoral dissertation. The dissertation defense is combined with a comprehensive oral examination.

The MHA culminating experience is the completion of the Internship Report and Presentation, and the completion of HAP 5973 MHA Capstone: Seminar in Health Administration.

The MS culminating experience is the preparation and defense of a research-based master's thesis. The master's thesis defense is combined with a comprehensive oral examination.

The PhD culminating experience is the preparation and defense of a research-based doctoral dissertation. The dissertation defense is combined with a comprehensive oral examination.