| The MPH Program expects students to obtain a significant practicum experience in population-based health prior to graduation. A practicum experience involves hands-on experience working and interacting with public health professionals. Some students will have had significant experiences prior to matriculation as an MPH student. However, other students without such prior experience are expected to do so during their course of study. For example, students with no hands-on experience in population-based health, other than completing all or part of a medical, law, or other doctoral program curriculum prior to matriculating into the MPH Program are expected to complete a practicum during their course of study. While all students are encouraged to obtain a practicum experience, the MPH Program will notify those students without adequate prior experience who will need to complete a practicum during the academic year. The goal of the MPH mentored practicum is to have a practical public health experience that provides mentoring, contact with public health professionals, and the opportunity to participate in a meaningful way. Students may complete a practicum during any academic term or during the January intersession period. Although the duration and intensity of commitment is variable and flexible depending on the practicum situation, it is expected that students should earn at least 2 units of special studies academic credit under the mentorship of a Bloomberg School of Public Health faculty. Opportunities for Practicum Experiences in the MPH Program
There are numerous opportunities to obtain a practicum experience. If interested in any of these specific opportunities, please follow-up with the contacts and websites listed below. Enrollment in various programs may be limited by the number of available internships or practicums. Ms. Tara Glickman, in the MPH Program office, can also help answer your questions. - Mentored Practicums with the Maryland Department of Health & Mental Hygiene and Local Health Departments
This program known as "PHASE" is a structured internship running 2nd-4th terms. Selection of students occur in the 1st term. Students sign up for academic credit in 2nd term (1 unit) and 3rd term (2-4 units) and 4th term (2-4 units). Click here for additional information about the Public Health Applications for Student Experience. - Mentored Practicums with Community-based Organizations in Baltimore
This program in collaboration with the Student Outreach Resource Center, otherwise known as SOURCE, and the Applied Public Health Program provides opportunities for students to work with various Baltimore-based community organizations and local health departments in our region. Students enroll 2nd and 3rd terms for between 1-4 units each term. Click here for additional information about the Baltimore Community Practicum course. - Mentored Practicum in Health Care Epidemiology and Outbreak Investigation
A limited number of internships are available in infection control and outbreak investigation at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. Students enroll for at least 2 units of academic credit. - International or Domestic Public Health Practice Trips
In collaboration with the J.B. Grant International Health Society and the Anna Baetjer Society for Public Health Practice, students have organized public health practice trips to work with various government and non-government organizations. In the past these trips have occurred in January. There may be competitive grants to help partially defray costs of these trips (see MPH Field Experience Fund Award below.) Students sign up for special studies with faculty mentors for academic credit. - Courses with Significant Practicum Component
Completion of any of the courses below (taken for a letter grade) could satisfy the practicum
-Health and Homelessness (410.610)
-Ethnographic Fieldwork (410.690)
-Applications in Program Monitoring and Evaluation (380.612)
-Occupational Health (188.681)
-Health Survey Research Methods (340.717) - Population, Family, and Reproductive Health Internship Resource List
The Department of Population, Family, and Reproductive Health maintains a list of local, national, and international internship opportunities related to population and family health. - Customized Opportunities
Students may develop their own practicum opportunity in collaboration with Bloomberg School of Public Health faculty. Partial funding may be available to help defray travel costs (see MPH Field Experience Fund Award below.) Students are expected to sign up for at least 2 units of special studies with faculty to mentor their experience.
MPH Field Experience Fund Award
The MPH Program sponsors awards which can be used to obtain hands-on international or domestic experiences in population health. In the past, students have applied for these awards to support travel and other expenses to work with various health organizations typically during the month of January. The awards can be used to develop an MPH capstone project. For more information, click here.
The awards can be used for individual field experiences ($1,000 or $2,000 awards) or group field experiences involving multiple students ($5,000 maximum per group project). The winners are chosen by a faculty committee through an application process. Click here for highlights of some of the field experiences that students have participated in this year. Logistics for Signing Up for the MPH Practicum Special Studies The MPH Practicum special studies course numbers are xxx.895. The 3-digit prefix number is determined by the primary department of your faculty practicum supervisor (check with the course catalog and your advisor). You can determine the department affiliation of any faculty in the School by clicking here. If your practicum supervisor does not have a primary appointment in the School of Public Health, but has a joint appointment in a SPH department, then use the department affiliation. If no joint appointment or outside JHU, then use your advisor's department. If you are still uncertain, check with the MPH Program office. |
