Population & Family Health

Students in the Department complete a field placement, or practicum, based on their professional interests.

Practica permit students to:

• Synthesize and integrate one’s area of substantive expertise with competencies in program design, implementation, management, and evaluation; conduct research data collection, analysis, and reporting; and engage in policy analysis and advocacy;
• Apply this learning to distinct, coherent practicum projects focusing on the health of the population in their track's area of study;
• Provide host sites with valuable materials, services, analyses, and/or research that relates directly to the ongoing activities and mission of the site, and that meets the defined health care needs of the site’s surrounding community.

All students adhere to the scope of work developed by the student and the practicum site supervisor, as approved by the Department. Students must produce the deliverables specified by their scope of work by the end of the project period. Most students choose to complete their practica during the summer between their first and second year of school, and begin the planning process for their placement at the beginning of their second semester of the first year.

Currently, the Department has established practica sites in the Dominican Republic, Uganda, Ghana, South Africa, and locations throughout New York City. Forced Migration and Global Health Track students pursue their practica at various sites abroad.

The various options through which students pursue their practica can be reviewed by visiting the following pages:

• Forced Migration
• Global Health
• Reproductive and Family Health
• Sexuality and Health

For examples of Summer 2009 student practica, click here.