Graduate Study

MPH Practicum

Master of Public Health (MPH) – Public Health Nutrition students in the Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health Program (FSNH) are required to complete a 6-credit (240 hour) practicum project as part of the degree program. The practicum is a planned, supervised, and evaluated field-based experience under the guidance of a site supervisor within a public health organization, and provides students an opportunity to see how nutrition concepts are applied in a public health setting and/or via public health policy. Visit the FSNH Student Projects page to view past practicum projects.

Timeline

  • Autumn quarter, year one: MPH – Public Health Nutrition students (“students”) attend the annual FSNH Practicum Session; they do not need to attend the SPH Practicum Orientation held by the School of Public Health (SPH).
  • Following spring quarter, year one: Students may begin the practicum after completing the first year of coursework. The practicum may be completed during a single quarter or spread over multiple quarters; GCPD students complete the practicum during the practice experience (year two internship).
  • The FSNH MPH practicum faculty adviser (“practicum adviser”) will meet with each student to identify potential practicum sites the quarter before they plan to begin the practicum.
    • Students planning to begin the practicum during the summer between years 1 and 2 should arrange this meeting during spring quarter, year one.
    • MPH + GCPD student practicum meetings will be held in autumn quarter, year two.
  • Prior to beginning the practicum: Students must submit a signed Practicum Learning Contract and ensure an educational Affiliation Agreement is in place between SPH and their assigned site.
  • About halfway through the project: Students ask their site supervisor to complete and sign the Midpoint Review and then upload the document to the SPH – MPH Practicum Dropbox. If the scope or timeline of the project has changed, the student should modify and upload a revised version of the Learning Contract.
  • After completing the project (including written and visual assignments and at least two site deliverables), students ask their site supervisor to complete and sign the Final Evaluation. Students upload their deliverables, written and visual assignments, and final evaluation to the SPH – MPH Practicum Dropbox. GCPD students also submit those materials to their cohort’s Canvas site.
  • Autumn quarter, year two: Students who have already completed the practicum present their projects at the FSNH Practicum Session.
  • Spring quarter, year two: Students are encouraged, but not required, to participate in the annual SPH MPH Practicum Symposium.

Project Guidelines and Requirements

  • The practicum adviser assists students in identifying potential practicum sites. To streamline conversations with community partners, students are asked not to contact sites before meeting with the practicum adviser.
  • Students are encouraged to select an assessment, policy development, or assurance project (10 Essential Public Health Services or EPHS). Appropriate projects aim to affect the outer rings of the social ecological model. Direct patient care is not allowed.
  • Per accreditation requirements, a practicum project must be designed to meet five of the 22 CEPH foundational competencies.
  • Students must outline their project and deliverables on the Practicum Learning Contract, which will be reviewed by their site supervisor and practicum adviser prior to collecting signatures.
  • SPH has additional practicum resources and documentation requirements, including the Practicum Prerequisite Form, Midpoint Review, and Final Site Supervisor Evaluation.
  • FSNH students must submit a written assignment (practicum report), a visual assignment (poster), and at least two student-generated products for their site (e.g., report, dataset, executive summary, etc.).
  • All practicum materials must be submitted to the SPH – MPH Practicum Dropbox.

MPH – Public Health Nutrition Students (Degree-Only)

  • Degree-only students may begin the practicum at any point after completing their first year of coursework.
  • Students may complete the practicum during a single quarter or over multiple quarters.
  • Students register for practicum credits via NUTR 595.
  • Students submit materials to the SPH – MPH Practicum Dropbox.
  • MPH – Public Health Nutrition + GCPD Students

MPH – Public Health Nutrition + GCPD Students

  • Students also in the GCPD complete the practicum during their 8-month practice experience (year two internship). The practicum rotation meets the requirements of the GCPD Public Health concentration.
  • GCPD students complete the practicum via registering for NUTR 561 (not NUTR 595).
  • GCPD students submit materials to both the SPH – MPH Practicum Dropbox and the GCPD Canvas site.
  • GCPD students completing winter quarter practicum projects will submit their practicum posters for inclusion at the annual WSAND (Washington State Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics) conference.

International Students

  • Before beginning the practicum, students with an F-1 visa must work with UW International Student Services (ISS) to apply for Curricular Practical Training (CPT), which serves as authorization for practical academic training related to the program of study.
  • Students with a J-1 or J-2 visa must meet with their program sponsor prior to beginning practical academic training.

Contacts

FSNH MPH Practicum Faculty Adviser

Anne Lund, MPH, RDN, FAND
FSNH MPH Program Director
Director, Graduate Coordinated Program in Dietetics

FSNH Student and Academic Services

305 Raitt Hall
gradnutr@uw.edu

School of Public Health MPH Practicum Program

Janice North
Manager of Experiential Learning
jlnorth@uw.edu
sphpractice@uw.edu
206-685-9975