Practicum

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What is a practicum?
The Rollins School of Public Health (RSPH) requires all students to participate in a practicum experience, as required by the Council on Education for Public Health. A practicum is a unique opportunity for graduate students to integrate and apply skills and knowledge gained through coursework and prior experiences in a professional public health work environment. Public health work environments include not-for-profit organizations, hospitals, local health departments, and for-profit firms. A typical practicum experience requires students to work a minimum of 200-400 hours under the supervision of an experienced site administrator and under the guidance of the student's department, the Office of Applied Health, and Career Services.

Practicum Criteria

• Project-oriented work in a public health site

• Application of graduate level skills in a public health context

• Opportunities to engage in activities that will advance a student's career potential

Developing Practicum Objectives
The supervisor and the student should meet, construct and discuss objectives at the beginning of the practicum. It is recommended to use the 'SMART' guidelines in order to assure that each objective is:

• Specific - A specific objective has a much greater chance of being accomplished than a general one. To make an objective specific, make sure to include the Who, What, When, Where and Why (e.g. A general objective would be "Get in shape." A specific objective would be "I will join and attend a health club at least three times per week for three months in order to lose 15 pounds.")

• Measurable - Establish concrete criteria for measuring progress toward the attainment of each objective. Ask yourself "How much? How many? How will I know when it is accomplished?". In the objective above, the 15 pounds is what makes it measurable.

• Attainable -Objectives should be achievable given the resources and time available.

• Realistic - Objectives are realistic when the skills needed to reach the objective are available and the goal fits with the overall strategy and goals of the organization.

• Timely - When setting objectives, you should ensure that there is an understanding of a begin date, end date, and how much time it will take to reach the objective within the timeframe. In the objective above, the 3 months is the time frame for achieving the goal.

The objectives should aim to shape and encourage the professional development of the student and provide an opportunity for applied practice in the particular area of public health.

Click here for a examples of objectives and strategies from recent graduates.

Click here to download the full copy of the Practicum Guide for Students.

How to Find a Practicum
Students may seek potential opportunities by contacting organizations of interest, networking, and applying to openings posted on Symplicity and through the Career Services Listserv. A list of practicum sites from previous years is available for you to review. In addition, you can view a sample list of internships on our website.

During the school year, students may also find work study or part time positions that may develop into a practicum experience. Additionally, in conjunction with the six academic departments, the Associate Dean of Applied Public Health, and Career Services, opportunities are continually being developed for students to enrich their learning through structured professional experiences.

Contact List

Should you have any questions or comments regarding a current or potential Practicum opportunity for our students, please contact the Office of Career Services.

Claudia P. Ellett, MPH
Director of Career Services
Emory University, Rollins School of Public Health
1518 Clifton Road NE, Room 158
Atlanta, GA 30322
404-727-9957
cpaezel@sph.emory.edu

The following list offers contact information for specific departments and offices within the Rollins School of Public Health. Please feel free to contact a department directly if you have an interest in students from a specific department.

FAQs

Click here to read our Practicum FAQs for Students.

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Practicum Downloads

• Practicum Guide for Students
• Practicum FAQ for Students