University of Virginia Health System

Because practical knowledge and skills are considered an important component of a public health professional degree program, students need to apply the knowledge and skills acquired through their courses of study through a planned, supervised, and evaluated practical experience.  This experience is designated within the MPH program as the field placement. Field placements are permitted within a wide range of settings, including community organizations as well as state and federal public health agencies.

Preparation for the field placement begins in the fall semester with a 1-credit course, PHS 718 The Practice of Public Health, and continues through the spring semester. Students are expected to find their own field placement sites in consultation with their PHS advisor.  The PHS department will assist students in identifying appropriate field placement mentors and help students match their interests with the needs of the host sites.

When considering a field placement site, students should be aware that the field placement and accompanying culminating experience translate into a 200- 300-hour commitment, or approximately 6 - 8 weeks of full-time effort. Students may spread the time commitment over a 14-week semester or 11-week summer session. Continued work during academic recesses (reading holiday, spring break, etc.) is optional but not required.

      ♦ Once a site is chosen, the student must identify a field placement supervisor at the field placement site and meet with that person to cover project logistics, such as work hours and the exact nature and focus of the work to be performed.

       ♦The student must then meet with the MPH Program Director to review the scope of the project and a timeline for completion.

      ♦ After this meeting, the student must write a 2-page abstract describing the project and a description of the culminating experience product.

      ♦ The abstract and project description must be attached to the goldenrod form. The goldenrod is to be signed by the MPH Program Director, the Field Placement Supervisor, and the MPH Faculty Supervisor/Reviewer before being submitted to the Program Coordinator.

      ♦ The paperwork is due no later than May 1 (for summer placements) or August 1 (for fall placements).

Students may not enroll in the field placement/culminating experience without submitting the required paperwork.

The field placement and culminating experience together will provide MPH students with up to 6 credits toward the degree. Each MPH student must complete a final product as the culminating experience. The culminating experience requires students to synthesize and integrate knowledge acquired in the MPH course work and field placement in a way that approximates some aspect of professional practice. Different models are possible including a major research paper, the development of teaching or training materials for a targeted population, or a grant proposal.

A copy of the deliverable must be given to the program coordinator on presentation day along with a copy of the power point presentation for the required oral presentation before PHS faculty.

Additionally, the field placement supervisor must complete a Field Placement Evaluation Form (pink sheet) for the student. The form is due August 1 for summer placements, December 1 for fall placements, and May 1 for spring placements.