Applied Practice Experience

One of the ways in which students engage in public health practice is through completion of the applied practice experience. The experience is an integral part of your education, providing an opportunity for you to demonstrate the application of theory into practice within a public health setting. All students are required to complete a minimum of 150 hours under the guidance of a qualified preceptor.

We offer advisement and support to students to ensure successful completion of the applied practice experience, including help with:

• Navigating the applied practice experience requirement.
• Identifying experiences aligned with your interests and career goals.
• Planning and strategizing your search.
• Determining eligibility.
• Assessing appropriateness of the site.
• Developing project proposals.
• Preparing for your professional experience.

Most students will complete their applied practice experience at the local health department, public health agencies, community-based organizations, or non-governmental organizations. Evaluations will be based on application and achievement of selected Public Health Competencies and often times, the experience will provide a framework for your final MPH culminating experience.

For more information on the requirements, please refer to the Applied Practice Experience Guide.

Where Can I Conduct My Applied Practice Experience?

To fulfill the requirement, students have worked at the community level, for example, in East Harlem; at the city level, working with the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene; and at the international level, working on a disaster relief project in a foreign setting. Whatever your choice, the focus is on immersion into the setting selected.

Examples of selected sites include:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Drug Policy Alliance
• Gay Men’s Health Crisis
• Harlem Health Promotion Center
• Mount Sinai Health System
• National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS
• New York Academy of Medicine
• Northern Plains Tribal Epidemiology Center
• Pfizer, Inc.
• United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund