Before you start, please make sure that you can arrange your schedule to commit to completing 180 hours at your site. You should begin your hours on the first day of instruction, since hours worked prior to this day will not count.
About the Course
Public Health Practicum (PubHlth295) is an 8-unit required course for those majoring in the UC Irvine Master of Public Health (M.P.H.). The course provides opportunities for hands-on experience for graduate students at agencies or organizations engaged in public health practice. Students are matched with placement sites based on emphasis, academic preparation and career goals. Practicum requires that each student interview and select a site through the online catalog of approved Public Health sites, by working with their mentor, and/or by networking within their own communities. The catalog includes sites that have agreed to accept and supervise MPH students as they complete a practicum project(s) within the scope of the ongoing activities of the organization. During their practicum experience students will work on producing a minimum of two work products, a product report, a poster and an Integrative Learning Experience that demonstrate mastery of their selected fundamental and program competencies. All students are required to dedicate a minimum of 180 hours for the practicum quarter (average of 10 hrs a week).
Prerequisites and Enrollment
Completion of all core Public Health courses (with the exception of PH 295)
Successfully passed the Certified in Public Health (CPH) Exam
Advanced to candidacy
Master of Public Health students only
Steps and Timeline
Step 1. Research u0026 Prepare
u003cstrongu003eTwo quarters prior to enrolling in the practicum course:u003c/strongu003ernu003culu003ern tu003cliu003eResearch potential internship sites by viewing the u003ca href=u0022#u0022u003ePracticum Sites u003c/au003e(UCInetID login required)u003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eBegin selecting sites that are closely related to your academic and professional goals.u003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003ePrepare a resume and cover letter.u003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eVisit the u003ca href=u0022https://career.uci.edu/u0022u003eDivision of Career Pathways (DCPu003c/au003e) for assistance on your resume u0026amp; interviewing skills.u003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eAdditional Resources u003ca href=u0022https://sites.uci.edu/publichealthmain/for-current-students/career-resources-2/u0022u003ePublic Health Career Resourcesu003c/au003eu003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003e
Step 2. Apply to Sites
u003cstrongu003eSix to eight weeks before the Site Placement due date:u003c/strongu003ernu003culu003ern tu003cliu003eContact at least 5 Practicum sites listed, found through your mentor and/or, by networking within the community.u003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eApply to each site individually following the u0022How to Applyu0022 section of each individual listing or via email.u003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eBegin interviewing with sites that have contacted you.u003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003e
Step 3. Finalize Your Site
u003cstrongu003eTwo weeks before the Site Placement due date:u003c/strongu003ernu003culu003ern tu003cliu003eAccept an offer from one site. Inform any other sites of your decision.u003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eConfirm the placement dates with the supervisor at the site.u003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eTalk with your supervisor and make sure you understand what you will be doing at the site.u003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eBegin to discuss your Practicum Proposal, Goals, Core Competencies and Deliverables.u003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003e
Step 4. Submit Your Site Registration Form
u003cstrongu003eBefore the Site Registration Due Dateu003c/strongu003ernrnSubmit your u003ca href=u0022https://sites.uci.edu/publichealthmain/degrees-programs/graduate-programs/guide-to-graduate-practicum/site-registration/u0022u003eSite Registration Formu003c/au003e accurately and fully. Once you submit the form, it will be electronically routed to the Community Engagement Manger for review.
Step 5. Enroll in the Practicum Class
u003cstrongu003eDuring your enrollment windowu003c/strongu003ernrnOnce you have accepted a placement and submitted your Site Registration Form you will be provided with authorization to enroll in PH 295. Students following the traditional full-time study plan will enroll in PH 295 in the Winter quarter in the second year of the program. For students on a Modified Timeline, please contact the senior graduate advisor and community engagement manager for additional information.
Step 6: Final Evaluation
u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eA Practicum agreement and evaluation will be sent to your supervisor, make sure they receive it and that your total hours worked are listed.u003c/spanu003ernu003culu003ern tu003cli style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022 aria-level=u00221u0022u003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eOn the last day at our site, make sure to go over your evaluation with your supervisor.u003c/spanu003eu003c/liu003ern tu003cli style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022 aria-level=u00221u0022u003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eMake sure your supervisor submits the evaluation to the Community Engagement Manager.u003c/spanu003ernu003culu003ern tu003cli aria-level=u00221u0022u003eQualtrics link will be sent to supervisor by community engagement manager.u003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003ernu003c/liu003ern tu003cli style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022 aria-level=u00221u0022u003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eKeep a copy of the evaluation for your own records.u003c/spanu003eu003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003e
Important Dates
ACTION ITEM
WINTER 2023
Practicum Site Placement Due
December 8th, 2023
Practicum Placement Period
January 3 – June 7
MPH Poster Symposium
Week 10
* All students are held to all deadlines listed. Late submissions will place student on delayed timeline and can delay graduation. Program is not financially responsible for any additional quarters required due to late submissions. Costs for any additional quarters will be the responsibility of the Student.
Important Application Information
Please note: You will not be provided authorization for enrollment in PH 295 if you do not complete a Site Placement form on or before the specified deadlines, if you have not been officially offered a position at an approved internship site and/or if you do not meet all pre-requisites.
If your first-choice sites are no longer accepting interns, it is still your responsibility to meet the Practicum Enrollment deadline specified on the website. Some sites may require a background check, so be prepared by applying early.
For all practicum related questions, please email phpracticum@uci.edu or schedule a meeting with the community engagement manager.
