Public Health is a practical field, and we strive to give Tulane students crucial practical skills and experience. All MPH students in Community Health Sciences complete a "Capstone" field experience before they graduate. There are two types of capstones: a 300-hour Practicum and a Special Project. The large majority of students do the Practicum; experienced public health professionals and MD/MPH students have the option of doing a Special Project.
Students doing the Practicum usually work in nearby public health organizations. Our close relationship with these organizations is one of our greatest strengths. Many students work with the Louisiana Office of Public Health, which is headquartered three blocks from the school, and with which we share a liaison faculty member to arrange these capstones. Other students work in other local government agencies, local nonprofit organizations, or nearby hospitals. Some students work in other cities or overseas. You can work in just about any public health-related organization you can imagine, as long as you plan the capstone with your advisor so that he/she is satisfied that it will be a good learning experience for you. You can complete the 300 hours by working a few hours a week over several months while you are taking classes or by working more intensely for a few weeks during the summer or other times when you are not taking classes. Check out some Examples of Practicums.
The Special Project is designed with the overall supervision, guidance, and approval of the academic advisor. It may involve a research project, data collection, an assessment process, curriculum development, or a specific intervention. The Special Project will include an agreed-upon number of field experience hours, as deemed by the advisor to be necessary to carry out the project.
Besides giving you real-world experience, a practicum can lead to innovative contributions, new health promotion ideas, publishable scientific papers, or leads on future jobs.
View the Practicum manual
View Practicum Forms
Form A:Getting Started
Form B: Placement Agreement
Form C: Practicum Progress Report
Form D: Student Performance Evaluation
Form E: Practicum Completion Form
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The practicum forms above are applicable to students who entered the MPH program beginning in/after Spring 2007. Students who entered before Spring 2007 should use the Capstone Manual and Forms below.
View the Capstone Manual
View the Capstone Forms
Form A: Getting Started
Form B: Placement Agreement
Form C: Capstone Progress
Form D: Student Performance Evaluation
Form E: Capstone Completion Form
