Practicum

Arnold School students who take part in a practicum must:

• Take initiative and responsibility to:
  • Explicitly address proposal or work agreements.
  • Develop practicum objectives/outcomes that match your academic program competencies.
  • Arrange or select an appropriate setting for a practice activity.
  • Develop clear work and learning objectives.
  • Complete work, learning tasks, and evaluations by the dates agreed upon.
  • Arrange appropriate meetings with the faculty advisor and preceptor, including the final oral presentation.
• Discuss practicum-related issues and departmental practicum requirements with the practicum advisor and preceptor.
• Register for the practicum in the semester in which the practicum begins.
• Function as a professional at all times.
• Submit all required reports and products to the department.
• Work with your practicum/residency preceptor to create a MySPH Opportunity Manager account and enter his/her organization in MySPH. Having an account will allow the preceptor to review and sign the practicum agreement and complete the practicum/residency evaluation electronically.
• Complete or manually enter your practicum agreement into the MySPH Opportunity Manager. Contact Office of Practice and Community Engagement Team Leader Xavery Hopkins at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you have any questions.

Refer to the Student Practicum Checklist for a list of tasks to complete before, during, and after the practicum for the Arnold School.

The practicum advisor is a faculty member in the student's specific department that guides the student through the practicum process by assisting with the following activities:

• Advise students in developing practicum competencies
• Advise students regarding an Ethics Review required of the practice project
• Communicate with the student and preceptor throughout the practicum
• Provide ongoing expert advice and guidance as needed or required
• Assess learning outcomes and assign pass/fail grade at appropriate times
• Attend final oral presentation by the student
• Ensure you have updated your MySPH Opportunity Manager account. This will allow you to review and sign the practicum/residency agreement and complete the practicum evaluation electronically.
• Ensure the practicum/residency student completes or manually enters his/her practicum agreement into the MySPH Opportunity Manager. Once the practicum/residency agreement is entered into the Opportunity Manager, you will receive an email notifying you to review for approval. An electronic signature will be needed from the practicum advisor and preceptor to complete the application process in the Opportunity Manager. Contact Office of Practice and Community Engagement Team Leader Xavery Hopkins at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you have any questions.

The preceptor is a professional who has at least a Bachelor's degree and two years of experience at an approved practicum site. All preceptors must submit an application through the MySPH Opportunity Manager. The preceptor is also expected to do the following:

• Assist Arnold School faculty (i.e., practicum advisors) and students to define short-term tasks of potential use to his or her organization
• Review the student's practicum "proposal" for usefulness to the organization, determine limits of preceptor's role with student, and provide on-site direction to the work component of the practicum
• Provide student logistical support (e.g., arranging space, equipment, use of phones, use of computer and/or computer software, secretarial help, making introductions, providing data or helping gain access to it, general advice, etc.) within the organization
• Assist with assessment of student's work and growth in competence during the practice
• Attend the student's required final oral presentation if possible
• Ensure the practicum/residency agreement accurately communicates the public health practice experience, deliverables, and start and end dates. The objectives must reflect the work the student will undertake while working under your guidance. The student is responsible for completing or manually entering his/her practicum agreement into the MySPH Opportunity Manager. Once the practicum/residency agreement is entered into the Opportunity Manager, you will receive an email notifying you to review for approval. An electronic signature will be needed from the practicum advisor and preceptor to complete the application process in the Opportunity Manager. Contact Office of Practice and Community Engagement Team Leader Xavery Hopkins at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you have any questions.