Welcome to your MPH Practicum Experience!

Welcome, MPH Students! The Applied Practicum Experience is designed to support you as you apply your public health training in a real-world setting, gain hands-on experience, and reflect on your professional growth.

When you embark on your practicum, you’ll be working closely with a community organization and mentor and completing a series of course assignments to help guide and document your experience. This Canvas site will be your central hub for accessing resources, course materials, deadlines, and announcements.

This course is designed to be mostly centered around your internship, with flexibility to accommodate the unique schedules and timelines of your practicum placement. While there are a few structured assignments and check-in meetings, the majority of your time will be spent in the field applying your public health skills. You are encouraged to complete assignments in alignment with your practicum milestones and to stay in regular communication with your mentor and the Practicum Coordinator (Erin).

Learning Objectives

On completion of this course, you should be able to:

Implement public health principles and methods in a public health agency that focuses on population-level activities
Achieve at least 5 public health competencies through your practicum experience
Demonstrate and apply theory, skills, and knowledge from coursework in a public health practice setting
Apply communication and professional skills to public health issues through on-the-job training
Assist in identifying and analyzing public health problems
Assist in identifying potential solutions to public health problems
Assume leadership roles and responsibilities as relevant to your practicum work plan
Exhibit professionalism in all work situations (e.g., behavior, dress, oral and written communication, ethics)
Work collaboratively with the site mentor(s) and other agency staff to implement site activities and thus, achieve your practicum goals
Communicate effectively in a multidisciplinary setting

Here's what to expect

Practicum Assignments to support goal-setting, tracking progress, and reflecting on your learning.
Check-in Meetings where you’ll have the opportunity to connect 1-on-1 with the Practicum Coordinator.
Resources and Templates to help you stay organized and make the most of your practicum.
Support from the UCSD MPH Team with help every step of the way.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out via email at hwsph-practicum@health.ucsd.edu. We’re excited to support you during this important step in your public health journey!

Warmly,

UCSD MPH Practicum Team

Erin Warren, MPH Practicum Coordinator

Dr. Sara McMenamin, MPH Program Director