Applied Practice Experience (APE)
The MPH Applied Practice Experience (APE) provides an opportunity for students to work in a public health setting. APE encompasses an internship. Students in internship work with preceptor supervision to apply public health concepts and theories and competencies acquired in the classroom to public health practice through experiential activities. The student is required to complete 100 practicum hours with a minimum of 80 hours of on-site time.
Every MPH student must complete a practicum experience as a requirement for degree completion. The APE is an essential part of the Master of Public Health curriculum and is intended to provide hands-on experience in the field of public health. The APE must be conducted in partnership with an agency or organization, which functions to provide a public health service. The APE is overseen by the course faculty, who ensures that all requirements of the APE are met. The student is expected to produce standard practicum deliverables.
The APE can be done either domestically or internationally. A student’s previous/usual professional activities do not suffice to fulfill the APE requirement. Activities completed before matriculation to the MPH program do not count towards the practicum.
Relation to MPH Program Outcomes: CEPH 2021 Accreditation Criteria – D5. MPH Applied Practice Experiences. “MPH students demonstrate competency attainment through applied practice experiences.” Competency attainment is assessed, in part, through a portfolio approach, in which the student develops at least two practical, non-academic work products that were produced for the site’s use and benefit.
A review of the work products must validate that the work products demonstrate the student’s attainment of the designated competencies.
Ensign Global College’s MPH degree program places significant emphasis on field practice experience as a vital component of professional development. We prioritize experiential learning, personalized and collaborative goal-setting, and the cultivation of effective leadership skills. Through our culminating experience requirement, students integrate field practice, coursework, and other learning opportunities to reflect on their professional growth and master essential competencies. This comprehensive education prepares our students for success in their chosen fields by integrating experiential learning, individualized goal setting, and leadership development.
From Classroom to Community: Student Perspectives on Public Health Practice
Patience Agbate
This project improved my skills in addressing site needs, collaborating with my preceptor, problem-solving, consulting IRBs, and seeking guidance.
Desmond Opare-Agyekum
This collaborative study analyzed dermatologic conditions and health-seeking behaviors of individuals with albinism in Ghana.
Dr. Frank Obeng
I discovered non-adherence to TB treatment and low COVID-19 vaccine uptake, and personally organized interventions to address them.