| | | Background/rationale: | | | The purpose of the practicum in the master’s degree programs is to provide practical training to supplement didactic study for the development of public health professionals. The practicum is a valuable and essential component of training for students who have not worked or have minimally worked in a public health field, or for those making a career change to a new field. Mid-career students are traditionally practicing professionals who already have practical experience in their field gained on the job and have returned to graduate school to obtain the theory and academic credentials for advancement in their profession. Therefore, for those with documented actual practice experience in a field of public health, a waiver of the practicum requirement should be considered. | | | Criteria for granting a waiver of the practicum: | | The practicum requirement will be waived for students who meet all four of the criteria below: - At least 3 years of documented prior work experience in a field that is closely related to the academic objectives of the student’s degree program
- Employment that results in possessing the set of skills commensurate with those intended to be achieved through the practicum
- Documentation that the student possesses those skills
- Approval of the waiver request by the faculty advisor and department chair
| | | Documentation of practice experience: | | The following are required: - Resume or documentation of 3 years full time work experience in the field of study directly related to the degree program being pursued with a description for each position, the relevant public health activities, and degree of responsibility OR
- A job description that covers practice experience related to the field of study and describes the areas of practice and type and length of experience. AND
- One of the applicant’s letters of recommendation must be from a supervisor describing and documenting the applicant’s relevant practice experience.
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