Transcript H510: INTERNSHIP/ORGANIZATIONAL EXPERIENCE

CGH 306:
Supervised Field Training in Public
Health
Orientation
and
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
What is a field training experience?
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A integrative, practical experience in the CGU MPH
program
Worth 4 units of coursework
Timeframe of placement is 1 semester to as much as a
1 year term
Serves as the culminating experience for the degree
Taken after completion of all MPH core and
concentration courses
What is the purpose of field training
requirement?
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Provides a professional experience where knowledge
and existing skills from coursework are applied to a
real world experience
Students gain experience within the field of public
health and their specialization
Fosters professional networking for students
Addresses and reflects on MPH student competencies
Provides a guided, supportive transition from student
life to a professional career.
What is a preceptor?
 Another name for your site supervisor
 Appropriate mentorship preceptors must have public
health credentials or appropriate health related
experience
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Ideally, preceptor should have an MPH
If not, an advanced degree in a similar field is acceptable (MSW,
PhD)
We will consider those without an advanced degree if they have
significant public health experience
Program director will make the determination of preceptor
qualifications
Faculty advisors/mentors can serve as your preceptor
What kinds of agencies have students
found field experiences?
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Local, state and national health departments
Healthcare organizations
Non-profit organizations
Worksite health promotion programs
International contacts
Government agencies
Schools/Colleges/Universities
Research organizations
Community based organizations
Voluntary health organizations
What specific sites have students
found field experiences in the past?
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Azusa Neighborhood Wellness Center
City of Hope
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
Foothill AIDS Project
Planned Parenthood Orange County & San Bernardino
Veterans Benefits Administration-Honolulu Regional Office
Riverside, San Bernardino County Indian Health Inc.
World Health Organization
UCLA Division of Cancer Prevention and Control Research
Olive View-UCLA Medical Center
Randall Lewis Fellowship with placements in several city
governments
Are field experiences paid?
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Occasionally, stipends may be offered
Payment may be negotiated between student
and preceptor
University usually is not involved in
negotiating salary/wage arrangements
What is a waiver and who is eligible
to apply?
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Certain students may be eligible for a partial waiver of
the hour requirement. Requests for a waiver of 200 of
the 400 hour requirement are considered and
approved on an individual basis.
Students with previous public health employment may
be eligible for a partial waiver of hours. Applications
will only be considered if a student can verify three
years of continuous, paid, public health employment
prior to enrollment in the MPH program
How do I apply for a waiver?
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Recommended time frame for submitting a waiver is
the semester prior to start of internship
Students shall submit a signed waiver form along with
a 2-3 page (single-spaced) narrative describing
relevant public health work experience.
A review committee assesses the relevance of the
previous work experience. Students will be contacted
by the MPH Program Manager within 2-3 weeks with
a decision.
Decisions of the panel are final. A letter confirming a
waiver of hours will be sent to the student.
What are the prerequisites for
conducting field training?
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1. Complete MPH core and concentration coursework (or be in the final
semester of coursework)
2. Secure approval from the Program Director during academic
advisement
3. Attend an orientation session
4. Complete the Student Interest Form and schedule a meeting with the
MPH Program Manager to discuss:
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Interests and possible sites for field training experience
Agency Affiliation paperwork
Placement search strategy
What questions should I ask myself when
selecting a field training experience?
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What do I want to learn during this experience? Specifically, does the
agency have work opportunities related to my concentration?
What skills do I have and how can I contribute to the agency?
Is the agency located in a community with which I am already
somewhat familiar?
Is the agency located where I might be able to stay with friends or
family to reduce costs?
Is the environment of the site and travel to and from the site safe?
Does the experience represent the type of setting in which I would
eventually like to be employed?
Is the agency located in a community large enough to likely contain
significant employment options into which I might network?
Is the agency located in a area of the country where I would like to live?
What are some strategies & resources
to identify field experiences?
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Check announcements regarding internship opportunities circulated
through SCGH administration and on Canvas
Check the list of CGU-MPH affiliated sites
Consult MPH Program Manager or faculty
Contact agencies directly regarding openings
Go on informational interviews
Speak to students and alumni about their experiences
Connect with guest speakers in your classes, panelists from symposiums
Explore online resources from national public health associations (APHA,
ASPPH)
Apply to special fellowships (LA County Public Health, Randall Lewis
Fellowship
Do I pay tuition for field training
units?
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Yes, field training units count as part of the credit
hours necessary for graduation.
Students must be enrolled and pay all tuition & fees
and any additional expenses (i.e. cost of
transportation to the field training site, materials).
Students enroll in 4 units of CGH 306 during one of
their last semesters at CGU.
What are the steps involved in completing
the field training requirement?
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1. Attend an orientation session
2. Complete the student interest form and student legal form in preparation for a
meeting with the Program Manager to discuss possible sites and strategies
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3. Contact and interview with potential sites
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4. Acquire approval of the placement from the Program Manager
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5. Meet with the Program Director to go over the requirements for CGH 306
and determine the semester of registration
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6. Begin field training hours and keep track of hours with a time card
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7. Register for CGH 306 and begin completing course requirements
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8. Submit learning contract to the Program Manager for approval
What are the requirements for the
supervised field training course: CGH 306?
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1. Keep track of your hours with a timecard
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2. Submit reflective journals
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3. Submit mid-point responses and schedule an optional meeting
with Program Director to discuss your experience
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4. Develop and present a poster summarizing your experience
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5. Complete a student evaluation
What are the deadlines?
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Must submit the Learning Contract before attainment of 100 or 50 hours
of work depending upon your particular hour requirement
Register for CGH 306 in the semester you anticipate completing the
requirement
Submit Application for Poster Presentation Form to the Program
Manager at least 1 week prior to the event
To receive a final grade, you must submit all deliverables to the Program
Director before the end of the term, as outlined in the CGH 306 course
syllabus (if not, you will receive an grade of INCOMPLETE)
How is the grade for CGH 306
determined?
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Graded Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory
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Satisfactory performance:
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Completion of hour requirement [400 or 200 (with waiver)]
Demonstrated accomplishment of project objectives & student
competencies
Insights about experience & relevance of previous coursework
reflected in journals, mid-point review and student evaluation
Acceptable poster presentation delivered to peers, faculty, staff
and supervisor (if applicable)
Unsatisfactory performance
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Non-completion or unsatisfactory completion of items listed
above
Program Director will provide further guidance if performance is
unsatisfactory
What do I do if I am involved with human
subject data that might be used for my field
training experience?
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Develop proposal under supervision of faculty
advisor and/or preceptors
Gain approval of proposal from Program
Director
Submit to IRB for approval
Revise if necessary
Need Additional Information?
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For more information, please refer to the
MPH Supervised Field Training Handbook
and forms available at:
http://www.cgu.edu/pages/6152.asp and on
Canvas
Contact MPH Program Administration
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Ms. Kimberly Johnson: 909.607.7292
Dr. Darleen Peterson at 909.607.6729