PRACTICE-BASED LEARNING

Colorado School of Public Health

Office of Student Affairs

Practice Based Learning Office

PRACTICE-BASED LEARNING (PBL) TEAM

• CU Anschutz (Olivia Jolly, MPH, Katie Brumfield, MA)

• CSU (Kendra Bigsby, MPH, Chrissy Chard, PhD)

• UNC (Teresa Sharp, PhD)

MPH PRACTICUM

• All MPH students are required to successfully complete a

practicum experience in which the student demonstrates

competencies and integrates public health knowledge.

PREREQUISITES FOR MPH PRACTICUM

• Successfully complete the Foundations of Public Health (CU)/ Public

Health Foundations (CSU) course;

• Successfully complete (B- or higher) 18 credits including a minimum of three

of the core courses;

• Gain approval of your academic advisor through submission of the Practicum

Proposal

GOALS OF PRACTICUM

• Apply classroom theory, knowledge, skills and techniques to a professional work setting

• Enhance and develop new skills needed to function as a professional in a public health setting

• Work on a specifically defined public health problem or issue that is of value to the preceptor site

• Participate in a setting that allows the student to explore future career decisions

GOALS OF PRACTICUM

• Engage in professional self-assessment and personal reflection

• Build a personal network of professional leaders in public health

• Connect with local and state public health agencies and other

community-based organizations, which serve the public health to

create support for the public health community and future recruitment

opportunities

MPH PRACTICUM OVERVIEW

• 120 hour minimum of public health field experience

• A pre-defined project (Learning Plan) that assists an organization in

addressing an unmet need while supporting student growth in developing

skills in public health practice

• Learning plan approval from academic advisor and host site preceptor

• Preceptor = the community mentor

PRACTICUM COMPETENCIES

• MPH competencies will vary depending on the student’s concentration and specific interests, and the interests of the organization the student is working with.

• MPH Competencies

PRACTICUM SEARCH TIMING

• Domestic (US) practicum – Semester prior starting the practicum

• International (Travel Abroad) – Two semesters prior to starting the

practicum

• Competitive Internships – Follow their stated deadlines

EXPLORE YOUR OPTIONS

• SETTING: hospital, state health department, local health agency, non-profit, school-based

• TOPICS: cancer prevention, nutrition, policy, autism

• SKILLS: evaluation, data analysis, program implementation

• POPULATION: K-12, Veterans, Refugee, Seniors, LGBTQ

• Global Opportunities

LOCATE A PRACTICUM PROJECT

• ColoradoSPH Connect

• One stop shop for career resources like resume/CV samples, interview

strategies, LinkedIn tips, Networking strategies, etc.

• Positions are posted daily from Career Services, Preceptors, and Employers

LOCATE A PRACTICUM PROJECT

• Practice Based Learning Office- to schedule an appointment email here

• LinkedIn connections/postings- Connect with our ColoradoSPH LinkedIn Group

• Advisor

• Classmate (s)

• Colleague

• Course Guest Lecture

• Community Meeting, Networking

• Online search

LOCATE A STATE/LOCAL PRACTICUM

Most state and local positions are posted on ColoradoSPH Connect below are

additional resources:

• Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment – CDPHE Internships

• Tri County- Human Resources Department

• Jefferson County-Jefferson County Internships

LOCATE OUT OF STATE/GLOBAL PRACTICUM

• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

• World Health Organization

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• National Institutes of Health

• Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities

• Occupational Health Internship Program

• The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education

• U.S. National Library of Medicine

• USAID

PREPARATION FOR PRACTICUM

• Consider you professional skills/strengths; where do you have gaps?

• Consider what you want to accomplish in your practicum

• Develop a resume and a cover letter describing yourself

and your goals

• Create a list of classes you have taken or have transcript

(not required but often requested from host site/preceptor)

• Meet with your academic advisor

• Create an account on ColoradoSPH Connect

• Schedule an appointment with the Career Services team

HOST SITE EXAMPLES

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE)

Local Public Health Agencies (rural and urban)

Children’s Hospital of Colorado

Kaiser Permanente of Colorado

Centura Health

Hands Up for Children (non-profit)

K-12 School Systems

LiveWell Colorado

Environmental Protection Agency

9 News Health Fair

Boys and Girls Club

Sprout City Farm

Susan G Komen (Denver Affiliate)

National Jewish Health

Project Cure

Poudre Valley Health System

Kempe Center

Jewish Family Service

FEMA

Engineers Without Borders

Denver Urban Gardens

Denver Mayor’s Office

USGS

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE

• Students can complete the practicum and/or capstone project anywhere in the world

• Additional approval is required if traveling to another country for practicum or capstone

GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES

Guatemala

Kenya

Ghana

Korea

Canada

Mexico

Germany

Ecuador

Nepal

Uganda

Rwanda

Switzerland

Brazil

Peru

Tanzania

Thailand

Rwanda

Saipan

INTERNATIONAL PRACTICUM REQUIREMENTS

For MPH (CU Anschutz) students planning to complete an

international (out of the US) practicum you will need to

complete the following to be eligible:

• Complete EHOH 6633 requirement

• If prior global public health experience, email

coloradosph.practicum@ucdenver.edu to obtain waiver

• Complete Office of Global Education Application

• Catherine Bogle is the Global Education Associate for

CU Anschutz, email Catherine.bogle@ucdenver.edu for

any questions

*Scholarships available through Center for Global Health,

check their website HERE

CONTACTING PRECEPTOR/HOST SITE

• Contact information listed on ColoradoSPHConnect postings

• Send an initial email inquiry

• Include a brief description of your interests; what you’re looking for, attach

your most recent resume

• Call a contact or office

• If a general office line, ask to speak with someone about internship

opportunities

• Arrange a time to speak about the practicum in more detail

• Bring a printed copy of your resume

• Dress professionally

• Connect with the preceptor on LinkedIn

PRACTICUM PROPOSAL

• Practicum Guidelines and Proposal Packet

• Practicum Check List

• Preparation/Skill Set Assessment (this is an optional document to help prepare)

• Resume

• Learning Plan to be completed with Preceptor

• Placement Agreement

• HIPAA and Human Subjects online course instructions

• Signatures Required (Preceptor, Academic Advisor, Student)

• After you have completed the Practicum Proposal, you must submit via email to

ColoradoSPH.practicum@ucdenver.edu

• You will receive a code to register for the PUBH 6606 course

LEARNING PLAN

• SUMMARY of Practicum (pages 6-7 of

your packet)

• Activities (at least 3)

• Learning Objectives for each Activity

• MPH Competencies student will address

• Evaluation/Monitoring of Activities

PRACTICUM LEARNING PLAN

PLACEMENT AGREEMENT

• Contract between student and preceptor (pages 8-9 of

your packet)

• Helpful information for student

• Preceptor meeting schedule

• Work space/tools available to student

• Start and end dates

STUDENT’S RESPONSIBILITIES

• Monitor the activities through development, planning, implementation and completion

• Communicate your goals, timelines and any necessary details with your preceptor and your program administration

• Meet all deadlines and plan accordingly

PRECEPTOR’S RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide mentoring and guidance throughout the project

• Work with you to provide support needed to complete the activities—access to data, introductions to other leaders, facilitate discussions, provide direction

• Provide feedback throughout practicum and at the midpoint and final review

PRACTICUM COURSE

• MPH Practicum course at CU Anschutz is PUBH 6606

• 2 credit – Pass/Fail Course

• Practicum Timeframe : 120 hour minimum - may take as short as 3 weeks or as long as two

semesters

• Online Component: There is an online Canvas course. Assignments include log book, reflection

questions, mid point and final review and final presentation.

• Minimum Hours: It is recognized that some projects may take more than 120 hours to complete,

thus 120 is the minimum hours for a practicum

THE NEXT LEVEL

• Highlight on your resume and LinkedIn

• Connect on LinkedIn

• Present for your host site/at a conference

• Student Panel participation

PRACTICUM VS CAPSTONE?

Practicum

• Internship

• Broad learning opportunity

• Assist an organization with multiple activities

Capstone

• Final culminating project

• Focused project with

defined end

product/deliverable

• Independent work with

support of a preceptor

*Practicum &

capstone can be

related, but this is

not required

*Practicum is

completed first, or

at the same time as

capstone

MPH CAPSTONE

• Also referred to as the Masters Project or Culminating Experience

• In many cases the completion of the project will be linked with the MPH Practicum

• Activity begun in the practicum will develop into a significant project that contributes to the goals of the

agency and includes a deliverable product

• This project requires a minimum of 60 hours (in addition to the practicum)

• The student is expected to have an independent role in the development and completion of the project, in

collaboration with others in the agency

ADVICE FROM STUDENTS

• Do not be afraid to stretch yourself.

• I did a lot of preparation for this project because I had deficits in knowledge and

skills. It has been extremely energizing to know all that I have gained from this

experience.

• Remember that this is a learning experience for you, so it does not have to be perfect.

However, try your best; this could be the start of something you do once you graduate

so do it well.

ADVICE FROM STUDENTS

• Strongly consider finding a practicum that can be turned into a capstone.

• That is what I will be doing, and it has allowed me to dig deeper into the experience

and put more thought into what my deliverables will be for Capstone.

• Since I have had an extended period of time to turn over ideas in my own head and

with staff at XYZ Agency, I feel confident that the materials I produce will be used by

the department after I leave.

ADVICE FROM STUDENTS

• The importance of picking a good mentor:

• I was so lucky to find Dr. XYZ and have been so pleased with our relationship. I also

appreciate how much work she has put into mentoring me, and I hope that I can return the

favor one day.

• Moving forward in my career, I will continue to be intentional when choosing a mentor and

when I eventually become a mentor myself.

ADVICE FROM STUDENTS

• Find a personal purpose for your work that makes you passionate to do it.

• On my hard days I would look at Instagram accounts that had tagged XYZ

Agency. It is filled with kids battling illnesses that need the hospital to get better. I

was working to impact the staff who cared for these kids. I needed that reminder

a lot. I recommend finding that for yourself within your organization for the harder

days.

ADVICE FROM STUDENTS

• Do not be afraid to be a leader, speak up, and take charge

of the work you are involved in.

• Your organization is so happy to have the additional help, do

not be timid. Also, you bring an outside viewpoint and

contribute and invaluable lens to the organization.

ADVICE FROM STUDENTS

• Treat the practicum like an extended job interview.

• Everyone in the public health field, whether on a state, local or

federal level, knows one another. Even if you are not interested in

possible future job opportunities with your host agency, they will

most likely be connected to other opportunities and their

reference will be a great addition to your resume.

PRACTICE BASED LEARNING EVENTS

• Public Health Forum and DrPH Practicum

Showcase

• Details will follow via email and ColoradoSPH

website

CONTACT THE PBL TEAM LEADERS

Olivia Jolly, MPH (CU)

Olivia.jolly@ucdenver.edu

Office: 303.724.5634

Katie Brumfield, MA (CU)

u Katherine.Brumfield@ucdenver.edu

O office: 303.724.5585

Kendra Bigsby, MPH (CSU)

Kendra.bigsby@colostate.edu

Teresa Sharp, PhD (UNC)

Teresa.sharp@unco.edu