Applied Practice Experience (Practicum) for MPH Students
The Applied Practice Experience is a requirement for all MPH students to comply with the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) accreditation requirements.
The Applied Practice Experience (APE) is a requirement for the Master of Public Health (MPH) degree at The Ohio State University College of Public Health. As in all accrediated colleges and schools of public health, MPH students are required to complete an approved, planned, and supervised Applied Practice Experience. For students choosing to complete a practicum to fulfill the APE, this website contains detailed information about the process. The APE is integral component of professional training in public health, enabling students to observe and learn from professionals in the field as well as complement the student's interest and career goals. The APE provides students a significant opportunity to apply theoretical learning toward the achievement of practical goals and skills while under the supervision of a preceptor and faculty advisor.
APE Objectives:
- Apply knowledge, techniques, and skills acquired in the classroom;
- Demonstrate competency attainment through an applied practice experience practicum and the creation of two work-products that benefit and is of use to the organization
- Provide students with a practical experience in an applied public health and/or community health setting;
- Develop skills in the field of study;
- Provide students with an opportunity to learn how one particular organization functions.
- Allow students an opportunity to test drive and explore a career choice in public health
- APE may involve governmental, non-governmental, non-profit, industrial and for-profit settings or appropriate university-affiliated settings.
- To be appropriate for applied practice experience activities, university-affiliated settings must be primarily focused on community engagement, typically with external partners. University health promotion wellness centers may also be appropriate. The school or program identifies sites in a manner that is sensitive to the needs of the agencies or organizations involved.
- Activities meeting APE should be mutually beneficial to both the site and the student. The APE allow each student to demonstrate attainment of at least five competencies, of which at least three must be foundational competencies (as defined in Criterion D.2.)
- The school or program assesses each student's competency attainment in practical and applied settings through a portfolio approach. Students are required to create or assist in the creation of two work-products that are produced for the site's use and benefit. Review of the student's performance in the APE must be based on the two non-academic work-products. Students and faculty should ensure that the work-products created demonstrate attainment of five competencies with three being foundational and two concentration or specialization competencies.
Examples of Work-Products Include:
Depending on each student's APE, the possibilities for work products are endless. What's important is that the products selected satify the requirements of the applied practice experience. These products need to be used to assess student attainment of the five competencies they selected and can be decided on with the advisement of their faculty and preceptor.
- Advocacy Tool
- Business plan
- Communication and Outreach plan
- Community Assessment Report
- Data analysis results or output
- Literature Review
- Project Plans
- Grant Proposals
- Training manuals or lesson plans
- Surveys
- Memos
- Videos
- Podcasts
- Presentations
- Research Study Proposal
- Spreadsheets
- Websites
- Manuscript
- Photos (with accompanying explanatory text)
- Other artifacts of learning
