Course Overview Transcript

Hello and welcome to PM596. Most of you probably know me now, but I am Shubha Kumar. As director of the MPH Online Program and faculty in this program, I am thrilled to welcome you to the final course of your program.

First off, I want to congratulate you on reaching this point. If you have enrolled in this course, it means you have completed all of your foundational coursework as well as your track courses in public health and you are ready to begin what will probably be one of the most rewarding experiences of your Master's program, if not the most, before you graduate. The practicum is an opportunity for you to synthesize what you have been learning in your course week and apply it in the "real world."

More than just a requirement for you to graduate set by the Council on Education for Public Health, the practicum is a bridge between your Master's coursework and the beginning or continuation of your journey as a public health professional. The goal of the practicum is to enrich your educational training in public health by providing an opportunity to apply hands-on the theory and skills acquired from your general and concentration courses to the practice of public health. You can choose to work in community-based organizations and NGOs, clinical and research-based settings, local or federal government, and even international public health agencies organizations.

We are partnered with hundreds of sites where you can do your practicum from local health departments to the World Health Organization. If you don't see an agency on the list of approved practicum sites, you are welcome to propose a new one. Wherever you are, you will be expected to contribute to the agency's resources and the identification and solution to public health problems while developing your competencies and leadership as a public health professional.

Types of projects you might pursue include conducting a needs assessment; developing, implementing or evaluating a health promotion program; conducting in-depth research or policy analysis; and more. Some of you might decide to travel halfway across the globe to work in a country you have always wanted to work in while others of you might just decide there is something new your company should be doing in this arena and you would like to lead that effort.

I would strongly encourage you to take this opportunity to work on what it is that drove you to public health in the first place or what you want to do after this degree, whether it is working with a particular country, vulnerable populations, or a specific disease or public health concern. Many students use this present opportunity to get their foot in the door at a particular organization they would like to work for or a new direction in their work area and responsibilities at the current place of work. The choice is really yours as long as it meets the requirements, which you can find in the course base and by talking with the practicum coordinator.

In terms of the PM596 course, it has been designed in a unique way and that you will be spending most of your time outside of the course (300 hours, in fact) working in a public health setting with periodic assignments and check-ins to reflect on what you are doing, what you are learning, and how it contributes to the bigger picture. There will be no lectures in this course, but you will be expected to turn in a scope of work, sample work or deliverables, and a practicum portfolio and final presentation showcasing your work. You will also be expected to participate in live sessions to share your experiences and challenges with your classmates and keep in touch with the faculty and practicum coordinator throughout the semester. You will need to complete all assignments successfully to receive credit for the course and be sure to check in with your supervisor and practicum coordinator if you have questions as you go along. Just in case you need some help with time management, we have built in some optional lectures and resources in this class. As someone who is working full time, enrolled in a full-time Master's degree, and working on a practicum, not to mention caring for family and maintaining a personal life, I know firsthand how challenging it can be to balance all of this, so feel free to consult these resources and seek further help if you need it. Obviously, time management is a skill that will serve you well not only in your practicum but at any point during your professional and educational career. I hope you take advantage of the resources at your disposal. In closing, please pay close attention to the syllabus, orientation, and key documents in the course base to help you navigate your practicum. I trust you will get out of this what you put into this experience. I look forward to seeing you in live sessions throughout the semester and hearing about the wonderful work you are doing and hopefully to see you at graduation very soon.