Where you can practise
- Any agency or organization that provides a public health service
- Domestic or international placements
- Past or current jobs, and work before joining the MPH, do not count
Applied Practice Experience
Learning in real public health settings
Every MPH student completes a supervised practicum, applying classroom learning with a public health organization.
100practicum hoursRequired for the MPH degree
80on-site hoursMinimum, working directly with your site
2+work productsMade for your site organization
5competenciesDemonstrated through your portfolio
Your practicum in four steps
Plan early
Meet your faculty advisor to align your interests, goals and possible sites.
Secure a site
Find an agency or organization that provides a public health service — in Ghana or abroad.
Confirm your preceptor
Choose an eligible site-based preceptor to guide and evaluate your work.
Deliver & present
Complete your hours, submit your work products, and share what you learned.
Registration is online. You’ll be emailed when applications open. Review carefully before submitting — changes can’t be made afterwards.
The essentials
Your preceptor
- An employee of your site organization
- Experienced in your learning objectives
- Not a relative, not a current Ensign MPH student, and free of conflicts of interest
Your deliverables
- At least two work products for your site, showing five MPH competencies
- A Work Product Proposal Form, signed by your faculty advisor
- Examples: tools or resources, a poster or abstract, a presentation, a publishable paper, or a report
What your preceptor does
Preceptors guide the student’s day-to-day work — and may be recognized by Ensign with a letter of appreciation, a keepsake and an orientation program.
- Scope & scheduleAgree a practical project scope and a clear work schedule.
- OrientationIntroduce the student to the organization and colleagues.
- SupervisionMeet regularly and give constructive feedback.
- ResourcesProvide workspace, computers, support and data access.
- EvaluationComplete the mid-point and final evaluation forms.
- GrowthOpen doors through introductions and informational interviews.
Share your experience
Photos & writing
Your photos and reflections may feature in newsletters, events and presentations for future host organizations.
Posters
Many students present a poster that reflects on, analyzes and communicates their most significant discoveries.