Sociomedical Sciences

All MPH students in accredited schools of public health in the United States must complete “a planned, supervised and evaluated practice experience (as part of their) public health professional degree program.” For the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, the length of time for this practice experience, or practicum, is required to be equivalent to one full term semester. Within the Department of Sociomedical Sciences (SMS), this means an MPH student must devote a minimum of 280 hours to her/his practicum.  For students who are working full-time in the field of public health, in an area related to their program track, the practicum time requirement is decreased to 140 hours. 

The practicum should provide the opportunity to apply the concepts and methods of social science and public health learned in the classroom to actual public health problems.  During the practicum, a student works under the guidance of a supervisor (Practicum Preceptor) who agrees to orient, supervise, and evaluate the work of the student.  Stipends or other pay for work done during the student practicum are unusual.  However, the Department of SMS encourages students to seek sources of funding through work-study, grants, and other venues.

The settings of student practica vary by track.  The content of the practica within each track is flexible to meet each student's interests, educational needs, professional objectives, and career goals. However, in all cases the practicum experience must be consistent with the academic goals and objectives of the Department of SMS in general and the academic program for each track in particular.  Lourdes Hernández-Cordero, DrPH is the Practicum Director and Sara Shoener is the Practicum Coordinator.

Practica-Related Forms & Resources

• Past Practica Sites: Sample List (XLS)
• Practicum Agreement Form
• Practicum Steps and Tips
• Practicum Procedure
• Sample Practicum Agreement
• Practicum Summary Report
• Core Competencies