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College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Public Health

Bachelor of Science in Public Health practicum course

All declared majors in the undergraduate Department of Public Health are required to complete an experiential learning course called a practicum. Ideally, the practicum provides an opportunity for students to synthesize, integrate and apply practical skills, knowledge and training learned through courses, gain professional experience in a public health work environment and work on public health practice projects that are of particular interest to them.

Eligibility

Students who have completed PH 2100, PH 3000*, PH 3200, PH 3300 and PH 3500** are eligible to enroll in the practicum course, which is PH 5150. PH 4400 may be taken simultaneously with the practicum course. Students minoring in public health are not required or eligible to complete the practicum. *Students who declared the public health major before Fall 2024 are not required to complete PH 3000. **Students who declared the public health major before fall 2019 are not required to complete PH 3000 or PH 3500. 

Important: Given the course structure and the practicum placement process, PH 5150 has a maximum student enrollment for each semester. Meeting the listed prerequisite and eligibility requirements does not guarantee enrollment in the practicum courses for any given semester.

To register for PH 5150, you must abide by the following enrollment steps:

1. Complete the foundation courses (PH 2100, PH 3000*, PH 3100, PH 3200, PH 3300 and PH 3500**) with a grade of C– or better.

2. Express the intent to register by completing a brief survey. Every student planning to register for the practicum courses during the subsequent semester must indicate that in their survey response. Without completion of the survey, the practicum team will not be able to evaluate a student's eligibility for the practicum courses. This survey will be sent via email to students of senior standing who have completed or are currently registered for the prerequisite courses and will be shared on the B.S.P.H. Canvas page.

3. Receive registration approval. Based on the responses to the registration intent survey, students are notified regarding their eligibility to register for PH 5150. Eligibility is based on the successful completion of prerequisite courses, current class standing and anticipated graduation date. Approved students will receive an electronic override which will permit them to register for the courses. PH 5150 is an upper-level course restricted to students with senior standing. The course will be closed and registration by permission only.

4. Complete the practicum placement process. Students who receive permission to enroll in the practicum courses for the following semester will begin the practicum placement process before the start of classes. All registered students will be added to a Pre-Practicum Canvas page which will outline the process for matching with your site. This process will include the submission of a practicum intake survey, current résumé, reviewing the practicum guide and reaching out to your new site. Students are required to confirm their practicum placement by scheduling an informational interview with the practicum site and establishing a start date.

Requirements

All students enrolled in PH 5150 will be required to complete 120 hours of (honors students complete 135 hours) practicum work. Students who have declared public health honors will be required to complete additional assignments in PH 5150. These hours must be unpaid to count towards the practicum requirement. PH 5150 hours should be completed within the timeframe of the semester, 15 weeks for the fall and winter semesters and 13 weeks for the spring/summer semester.

Working towards completing practicum hours is a large commitment for students, as many are also balancing paid work, other college courses, family and social activities. However, it is important to remember that the PH 5150 practicum experience is a core course for public health majors and it must be given time like other college courses. Students must be ready to dedicate 120 or 135 hours over the course of the semester to this class. Completing less than the required hours will affect your final PH 5150 grade.

FAQs

  • How does the practicum team determine if a student is eligible to register for PH 5150?

    After a student completes the registration intent survey, the practicum team reviews their response to determine if they are eligible for the practicum courses. The following is considered:

    • Completion of prerequisite courses
    • Current class standing
    • Anticipated graduation date

    PH 5150 is an upper-level course restricted to students with senior standing. The course will be closed and registration by permission only.

  • How may I propose a practicum site and preceptor?

    For students interested in proposing their own practicum site, this must be indicated in the Intake form during the Pre-Practicum Checklist process along with detailed information about the site and a potential preceptor who has agreed to host them.  

    • Contact information for the preceptor is required to allow the practicum team to verify the arrangement.  
    • Students proposing their own site must submit SMART objectives before the practicum start date to ensure their projects align with program requirements. The practicum team will contact you requesting this information once you have indicated an interest in proposing your own site. 
    • Proposals are reviewed and approval decisions are communicated by the first week of class.  

    Note: Sites where students are employed can only be approved if the practicum involves projects or work beyond their current job responsibilities.

  • I need assistance developing or editing my résumé before sending it to the practicum team, what should I do?

    If you need assistance developing your résumé, the following link provides resources and tips: Résumé 101 Tips and Advice. If you would like your résumé reviewed before submission, you can meet with the WSU Career Services team.

    Career Services is located at 1001 Faculty/Administration Building (FAB). Career Services provides extensive career-related resources to students and alumni from all academic disciplines. Please call Career Services at 313-577-3390 to schedule a virtual or in-person appointment for a résumé review. 

  • What is a practicum?

    The practicum provides an opportunity for students to apply what is learned in the classroom and their acquired skills into a real-world setting. Students work hands-on towards addressing the needs of the community. During this experience, students are provided with a unique learning opportunity to engage with and be evaluated by professional public health practitioners.

  • What will students be doing during their PH 5150 practicum hours?

    As part of the practicum experience, students are required to help a site with a project (defined by the site, depending on their needs). Projects may include one or more of the following:

    • Data collection and analysis
    • Program planning or development
    • Program implementation or ongoing program support
    • Health communications or education campaigns, or other health outreach of some sort
    • Other work that would benefit the site

    Students will work with the site preceptor to define the project at the beginning of the placement so that both the student and the site preceptor are clear about what the outcomes of the practicum hours should be.

  • When will the registration process for PH 5150 begin?

    Announcements regarding PH 5150 registration will be shared via email and on the BSPH Canvas page announcements about two weeks before registration for the following semester. Students are responsible for checking their inbox or the Canvas announcement(s) to get the information and follow the registration instructions.

  • Where can my practicum work take place?

    Public health encompasses many fields of study, including infectious and chronic disease, nutrition, environmental hazards, public policy, global health issues and more. Because of its broad reach, there are a variety of ways and places for students to be actively engaged in addressing critical societal issues. Some examples of where students can complete practicum work include:

    • Government agencies
    • Academic institutions
    • Healthcare facilities
    • Non-profit or for-profit organizations
    • Research institutes

    The assigned site will determine whether work will be completed on-site, remotely, or in a hybrid format. 

  • Who places a student at a practicum site?

    The practicum team, comprised of the practicum director and practicum and community coordinator, is responsible for placing each student at an approved practicum site to do work under the supervision of an approved site preceptor. When making placements, the practicum team considers each student's résumé and responses to the practicum intake survey. Students do not select where they will complete their practicum work, however, they may propose a practicum site for consideration by the team.

  • Whom should I contact if I have questions or concerns about the practicum?

    Monique Green Jones, M.P.H.
    Practicum director
    phpracticum@wayne.edu