MPH - Professional Practice Experience

Philosophy of the MPH Professional Practice Experience (PPE) SPH-X 696

The primary goal of the experience is to provide the student with practical experience, and in turn, an opportunity to develop a realistic understanding of public health/health promotion, from which a personal and professional philosophy of the discipline may evolve and mature. This goal is expected to be achieved by completing an internship in an agency that will provide the environment and experimental opportunities that sustain professional and philosophical maturity.

The PPE is a competency-based course where you will show attainment of 5 competencies (3 CEPH Foundational and 2 SPH-B MPH Concentration Specific) through projects/products/documents. (NOTE: Students pursuing more than 1 Concentration will choose 2 Concentration Specific competencies per concentration).

There are 2 separate courses that all MPH students will take during their MPH Degree Program related to the Professional Practice Experience.

The first course of SPH-X 695 is a 1 credit course that is taken the semester before doing the PPE at the public health agency with the site Preceptor. This course is designed to help students, and the PPE Instructor prepare for the PPE semester. By the end of the semester, the student will have finalized the Scope of Work Plan document that explains the student's plans for meeting the MPH Foundational and Concentration Specific Competencies through the Synthesis Project and deliverables.

The second course is SPH-X 696 is a 3-credit course and the student completes the PPE. Required prerequisites: Successful completion of all core and required MPH courses with a passing grade of C or higher, successful completion of the 1 credit SPH-X 696 Preparing for the PPE course with a passing grade of Satisfactory, a current graduate GPA of at least 3.0, and permission of the PPE Instructor. Public health skills are developed through professional experiences in public health settings facilitated by preceptors and supervised by faculty. Regular critiques will be held with supervisors, written progress reports and development of a major independent project are required. Graded on S/F basis only.

The internship is expected to provide the student with the opportunity to:

1. Participate in the daily functions of a public health agency, including administration and non- educational activities of the agency.
2. Create a public health projects incorporating Foundational and Concentration Specific public health competencies.
3. Demonstrate the ability to successfully work independently and with co-workers.
4. Apply knowledge and skills gained in the classroom to practical experiences in the field.

• American College Health Association
• American Public Health Association
• Area Health Education Centers
• Bloomington Go Red for Women
• Brown County Conference/Bloomington Meadows Hospital
• Campus-Community Partnerships for Health
• Chamber of Commerce Health & Wellness Conference
• Health Link
• Indiana Prescription Drug and Opioid Summit
• INARMS; Indiana Recovery/Mental Health
• IN Public Health Association
• Indiana Environmental Health Association
• Indiana Health and Wellness Summit
• Indiana Minority Health Coalition
• Indiana Public Health Association
• Indiana Rural Health Association
• Indiana Society for Public Health Education
• Indiana Youth Institute
• Mental Health Association of Indiana
• United Way

1. Students meet with their PPE Instructor during the first semester of the MPH program to help plan the PPE for the final semester of the program. The student's PPE Instructor is assigned to the student the first semester of their MPH program.
2. Internships are completed at a site that regularly provides public health services in a public, private, or community setting, and must be under the direct supervision of a professionally trained public health professional. The experience can be on-site, remote, or hybrid.
3. The typical PPE is usually a 20 hour per week experience in an approved agency with a public health professional for at least 12 weeks, preferably a complete 15-week semester. The PPE is an experience equivalent to student teaching in a school setting; therefore, it is recommended that the student experience the day-to-day operations of the agency to obtain a full understanding of what public health entails. Additionally, due to the intensity and time commitment of the PPE, it is highly suggested that the student does not take other classes during the PPE semester, although it is permissible for the student to take an elective course during the PPE. A minimum grade of C is required in all MPH degree courses. See the School of Public Health's policies related to Academic Policies and Procedures for Graduate Students.
4. The internship is completed during fall, spring or summer semester.

The PPE Instructor works closely with MPH students to prepare and implement the PPE experience. Students completing their PPE course during the spring semester will be assigned to a PPE Instructors early in the first fall semester of the MPH Program. Contact the Director of the PPE, Dr. Sherwood-Laughlin if you have any questions about this course.

• Dr. Catherine Sherwood-Laughlin, Clinical Professor, Department of Applied Health Science
  • Phone: 812-855-2673   Email: csherwoo@iu.edu
• Dr. Edlin Garcia, Assistant Professor, Department of Health & Wellness Design
  • Phone: 812-855-3102   Email: eggarcia@iu.edu
• Dr. Jeanne Johnston, Clinical Professor, Department of Kinesiology
  • Phone: 812-855-5073   Email:
• Dr. Ming Li, Associate Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
  • Phone: 812-856-4519   Email: li498@iu.edu
• Dr. Maria Parker Assistant Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
  • Phone: 812-856-5950   Email: map2@iu.edu
• Dr. William Ramos Associate Professor, Department of Health & Wellness Design
  • Phone: 812-856-7161   Email: wramos@iu.edu