What Are The Guidelines?

Students are eligible to begin practicum coursework following successful completion of the  required core classes and at least two classes in the selected concentration.

Securing a practicum is a collaborative effort involving the student, the practicum coordinator, the student’s advisor, and the preceptor. The experience must relate to the student’s chosen specialty track of study and track faculty can serve as consultants in the selection process.

Students should begin looking for a practicum placement three to six months prior to the desired start date. Opportunities are shared in weekly emails distributed to the listserv, but students are encouraged to network with faculty, fellow students, and alumni to secure a practicum.

For students entering the MPH program prior to Fall 2014, the practicum must account for three (3) academic credits representing 300 hours of field-based work and a monthly in-class component. Students entering Fall 2014 and later will have a two (2) academic credit hour requirement representing 240 hours of field-base work and in-class component. Field-based work can be performed in a concentrated fashion within one semester or carried out in two consecutive semesters. Credits will be awarded by demonstrating achievement of all related requirements as outlined in the full guidelines, including those described in the section “Roles and Responsibilities.”

Enrollment and Grades for the Practicum

To complete the practicum, students must enroll in PH7960 (Public Health Practicum) for a total of three (3) hours or two (2) hours, depending on semester enrolled in the MPH program.   The practicum is an academic course that students register for, pay tuition and receive academic credit that applies toward the degree requirements.  Students only register once for the practicum and credit hours are only applied once. If the practicum is not completed in one semester, the student continues the fieldwork until the hours are completed.

University rules state that no letter grades will be given for a practicum except “S” (satisfactory), “U” (unsatisfactory), or “IP” (in progress). IP grades are fairly common, because often a practicum does not completely coincide with the semester time frame and completion may occur in a later semester.  Using the practicum evaluation and in-class progress reporting, the practicum coordinator and faculty advisor will evaluate student work and determine the appropriate grade for the practicum period under review.

Site Selection Criteria

Exposure of future public health professionals to practice relies to an important extent on the collaboration of a diverse set of public, private and not-for- profit organizations engaged in public health and other related disciplines. Eligible organizations are those that offer practice settings with the following characteristics:

• Field experiences that are commensurate with the student’s concentration;
• Well-defined activities that enable students to apply academic theory in practical situations;
• Engagement of experienced preceptors or practicum supervisors as outlined in the practicum plan; and
• A work environment, including work space, conducive to successful performance

Affiliation Agreement

A memorandum of understanding (MOU) concerning affiliation of students for applied learning experience, on file at Georgia State, establishes a formal relationship between the University and the practicum placement organization and articulates the terms and conditions for the practicum experience. Each prospective practicum site will be required to enter into an MOU with Georgia State. Once the student secures his or her practicum, the practicum coordinator will initiate the MOU. Students should check with the practicum coordinator to determine if an MOU is already in place or if one must be initiated.

Preceptor Selection

Skilled practitioners who are willing to serve as preceptors or practicum supervisors represent a critical component of the practicum experience. Effective preceptors are those who possess the following qualifications:

• Extensive experience in public health, health care or a related discipline;
• Engaged in work that fulfills the requirements of the practicum;
• Experience as a mentor or supervisor;
• Ability to spend the required time with the student and provide periodic feedback and guidance to the students through formal evaluations, regularly scheduled meetings and other means as described in the practicum plan.

An individualized practicum plan will be developed for each placement and documented on the prescribed forms. The parties will work together to fulfill the expectations set forth in the practicum plan, which will identify joint responsibilities of the practicum project: tangible, measurable practicum learning objectives and available technical and programmatic support to achieve the objectives.

Student

In collaboration with the practicum coordinator, the adviser, and appropriate specialty track faculty, students are responsible for the following:

• Identify potential practicum sites based on the practicum, area of specialization, previous experience, career interests, and career goals. The MPH program will provide a list of approved practicum sites that offer diverse and effective placement opportunities. In some instances students may propose a placement organization. However, it is the student’s responsibility to establish contact with that organization, identify a prospective preceptor and propose the site and specific practicum plan to the program coordinator for review. The practicum site can only be approved by the MPH program after a formal agreement has been signed between the MPH program and the placement site.
• Develop a practicum/project plan – including learning objectives, a timeline, milestones and final deliverables and secure approval of the plan by the preceptor, the practicum coordinator. Where indicated the student’s faculty advisor or a faculty member in the student’s specialty track may be involved.
• Purchase professional liability insurance. Students who already have coverage must provide documentation; otherwise, students may purchase through the Georgia State web store for a one-time fee of $13.
• Provide written progress reports to the preceptor and practicum coordinator.
• Participate in seminar series and student presentations
• Participate in a final practicum poster presentation describing the project, activities undertaken, results, findings and recommendations.
• Conduct a midterm and final evaluation of the practicum experience.

Practicum Coordinator

The practicum coordinator provides overall management of the MPH practicum program. In this role, the coordinator, in collaboration with other faculty, is engaged in the following activities:

• Identifies prospective sites in collaboration with MPH faculty
• Facilitates the development of formal agreements between the MPH program and the practicum organization
• Serves as the liaison to the program, the student and the organizations formally approved as practicum placement sites
• Provides advice to students about site selection and the development of the specific practicum plan, and reviews overall progress of the student during the practicum process
• Facilitates any in-class component that accompanies the fieldwork

Practicum Sites

Following the development of a formal agreement, practicum sites are expected to accomplish the following actions:

• Identify prospective preceptor(s) who have expertise in the proposed practicum topic and will serve as the organization’s representative and mentor for the student
• Allow the preceptor adequate time to serve as a mentor and supervisor
• Provide workspace and other workplace attributes to foster successful student performance
• Provide periodic feedback to the MPH program through formal evaluations, organized meetings etc.

Preceptor

Once selected to serve as preceptor, the preceptor’s responsibility includes the following:

• Provide technical and administrative oversight to the student throughout the practicum period
• Provide periodic feedback and guidance to the student in writing and through meetings
• Review the student’s progress through formal mid-term and final evaluations
• Collaborate with the practicum coordinator to address overall project issues

Evaluation of the MPH practicum will involve all parties and occur in a formal and informal fashion. Information will be gleaned from the periodic progress review meetings that take place at the placement site between the student and the preceptor, and discussions with the practicum coordinator.

Formal evaluation will be conducted in a standardized fashion and is designed to be processed and outcome related, involving students, preceptors and the MPH program. Students and preceptors will provide midterm and final evaluations by completing designated forms. Evaluation at the program level will occur through feedback from the MPH program faculty and administrators as well as representatives from placement organizations.

• Student-Preceptor Midterm Evaluation
• Student Final Evaluation
• Preceptor Final Evaluation

For MPH students who are admitted to the School of Public Health possessing extensive public health experience, the fieldwork experience may be waived without credit. Qualified students will be required to complete an approved elective or core-specific coursework in place of the practicum credit hours.

Students admitted to the MPH prior to Fall 2014 must complete a 3-credit hour replacement; students admitted Fall 2014 or later must complete a 2-credit hour replacement.

• Practicum Waiver Guidelines_Students Entering Fall 2014
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• Practicum waiver application_Environmental Health
• Practicum-waiver-application_Epidemiology
• Practicum waiver application_Health-Management-and-Policy
• Practicum waiver application_Health Promotion and Behavior
• Practicum waiver application_JD/MPH