Practice Based Learning for MPH Students
The Office of Public Health Practice focuses on building bridges between academia and the “real” world of public health and serves as the nexus for practice-based learning at YSPH. All MPH students complete a public health practicum as a prerequisite to earning their degree. The practicum is a critical part of the educational experience and is the principal way that students apply classroom knowledge to genuine public health issues during their course of study. The practicum also opens the door to careers within the various MPH specialty areas of environmental health, biostatistics, health management and policy, social and behavioral health, global health, and microbial or chronic disease epidemiology. Students may fulfill the practicum requirement by completing an approved summer internship and/or a practicum course. Information on the practice requirement and internship:
YSPH Practicum Guidelines(connects to the internships section on the website)
Internship Information (connects to the internships section on the website)
Practicum course offerings with examples of recent student placements:
Community Health Program Planning (EPH542b)
Public Health Practicum (EPH 500b)
Public Health Practicum (EPH 500b) is offered to second-year students and advanced professional (AP) students in the spring semester. The course combines experiential learning and guided classroom discussion. Students select a field placement where they apply public health concepts and competencies learned in the classroom through a practice experience that is relevant to their interests and area of specialization.
Health Management/Health Policy, (HPA 555a, b)
Health Management Practicum, (HPA 555a, b) is offered to students seeking health administration or policy related careers. Students are individually placed within hospitals and other health care organizations, or in settings where they work on current state and/or local health policy issues with legislators, policy makers, and senior staff, or at non-profit health policy or advocacy groups. The course is offered in both the fall and spring semesters giving students the opportunity to take a one or two semester practicum.
