Capstone experience
The capstone experience is an internship, research or education abroad experience allowing students to demonstrate program competencies in the Bachelor of Science in Public Health.
All students in the Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) program are required to complete a capstone experience. This experience varies depending upon the student's interest area and is usually completed near the final year of the program. While students are encouraged to participate in other work, internships, research or field experience opportunities as sophomores or first-semester juniors, earning credit for the capstone requirement is limited to the student's last three semesters before completing their degree requirements. This allows the student to integrate more classroom learning during the capstone.
What to expect
In the semester before your capstone, you will take a required Capstone Preparation course (either Public Health 3180 or, for honors students, Public Health 3180E). During this course, you'll actively explore and secure your capstone project, with a plan confirmed by the end of the semester. You must complete your capstone in one of the last three semesters before you graduate.
Your capstone options
You’ll choose from a variety of options to complete your 120 hours of required capstone work, which must meet BSPH program competencies. Options include:
- Internship: Gain professional experience by working with an organization in a public health role.
- Global Field Experience: Immerse yourself in a public health issue by studying abroad in a pre-approved program.
- Research Experience: Participate in a research project, with the option to write an undergraduate thesis.
Honors students must complete an honors capstone project and are required to complete an honors capstone project application before beginning their capstone work. Specific requirements are described in Section 10.0 in the Undergraduate Student Handbook.
Internship
- Internships can take on many forms and occur in many different types of organizations including nonprofit, for-profit, hospitals, government agencies, etc.
- The internship's purpose is to allow students to apply foundation and specialization competencies learned in the classroom to a real-world setting.
- Internships provide students an opportunity to develop or enhance skills and explore different areas in the field of public health.
Research
Students have two options when completing a research capstone: a research thesis or a research experience. In the research experience, a student engages in research under the direction of a faculty member but does not write a thesis. Example activities that could be part of a research experience (non-thesis) under the direction of a faculty mentor include:
- Completing CITI training and other trainings
- Reading and reviewing study protocols
- Conducting laboratory-based procedures
- Conducting literature searches, creating annotated bibliographies, writing a summary of findings
- Assisting with recruitment of study participants, gathering research data, data input, data cleaning and conducting quality assurance procedures
- Creating data tables, figures or posters
Education abroad
Education abroad courses expose students to public health settings in other countries. This may include universities, health departments, clinics, hospitals or health centers. Students will have an opportunity to put into practice what they have learned from major courses they have taken.
Not all education abroad experiences can be used as the capstone experience. There are currently two pre-approved programs (PUBHLTH 3189.05 – Costa Rica, EARTHSCI 5797.20 - Japan). Other education abroad experiences may be approved for the capstone if they have a strong public health component; students must consult with their academic advisor at least a semester in advance (in the semester before the planned travel) to discuss this option.
Students must be enrolled in a course while completing their capstone. Students should consult with their academic advisor to ensure they are enrolling in the correct course. They will also be required to complete a capstone agreement before starting the capstone experience.
1. Complete the capstone agreement form.
2. Talk to your preceptor/supervisor to set start dates and establish goals.
After completing a capstone internship, students should be able to:
- Describe newly acquired knowledge in one or more specific public health areas.
- Integrate classroom knowledge into a work environment.
- Refine BSPH competencies through skills obtained during the internship.
- Describe the five steps of effective career planning and development and demonstrate examples of activities accomplished for each of the first four steps.
Capstone FAQs
Question:
When can I complete the capstone experience?
Students that have completed the majority of the core public health undergraduate courses and are entering their senior year are eligible to complete the capstone internship experience.
Question:
How do I find an internship?
- Meet with a staff member at Buckeye Careers in the Office of Student Life to ensure your resume and cover letter are up to date.
- Utilize Handshake, a comprehensive, web-based career services management platform for sourcing, engaging and hiring College of Public Health students for jobs, internships and practicum opportunities.
- BSPH Undergraduate Career Services Carmen page. All undergraduate students in CPH will have access to this platform to search for posted opportunities.
- Read the college student newsletter weekly.
- Public health organization websites may list internships in their careers section.
Question:
Can education abroad count for a capstone?
Students may participate in pre-approved education abroad experiences for their capstone. They should meet with an advisor well in advance to discuss which programs are pre-approved and work with the senior career counselor in the college to ensure they are meeting capstone requirements during their time abroad.