Epidemiology

Master’s students in the Department of Epidemiology are required to complete an epidemiologically-relevant practicum in a public health setting that provides the opportunity to develop epidemiology core competencies and extend skills acquired through their course work.

The practicum should afford exposure to one or more of the ASPH epidemiology core competencies (cited below) thereby strengthening the student’s ability to:

1. Recognize the importance of epidemiology for informing scientific, ethical, economic and political discussion of health issues;
2. Describe a public health problem in terms of magnitude , person, time and place;
3. Utilize the basic terminology and definitions of epidemiology; 
4. Identify key sources of data for epidemiologic purposes;
5. Calculate basic epidemiology measures;  
6. Evaluate the strengths and limitations of epidemiologic reports;
7. Draw appropriate inferences from epidemiologic data;
8. Communicate epidemiologic information to lay and professional audiences;
9. Comprehend basic ethical and legal principles pertaining to the collection, maintenance, use and dissemination of epidemiologic data;
10. Recognize the principles and limitations of public health screening programs.

Traditional (non-global) students complete a practicum of at least 280 hours (2 months) in a domestic or international setting, which can be accomplished through part-time work during the school year or full-time during the summer months. Global students undertake their practicum for six months in an international setting. There are several processes in place to help students identify a practicum.

Students not in the global health track will attend the practicum seminar series in the fall led by faculty member and Practicum Director Dr. Joyce Pressley. The seminar series introduces students to the practicum process, practicum advising, and resources for locating and completing a successful practicum.

For information about travel, training requirements, and practicum forms, please visit the useful practicum resources page. To keep track of practicum deadlines, visit the practicum checklist.

Faculty Director

Joyce C. Pressley, PhD, MPH, is the Director of the Department of Epidemiology Practicum Program and an Associate Professor of Clinical Epidemiology and Clinical Health Policy and Management.

She oversees the Department of Epidemiology practicum process including student practicum advisement, practicum placements, recruitment of new mentors and practicum sites, the mentoring award, and website content. 

Students who have questions about the practicum should contact epipracticum@columbia.edu. Mentors who have questions should contact Dr. Pressley at jp376@columbia.edu