What is fieldwork?
Fieldwork is a required applied learning experience for MS Population Health Informatics students and MPH students in the Health Policy & Management, Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Public Health Nutrition, and Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences degree programs. Students complete 180 hours of applied learning in an approved setting, under the supervision of a preceptor at a host organization. Through fieldwork, students apply their public health skills in areas such as data analysis, program planning, evaluation, policy research, health communications, and more, contributing meaningfully to the host site’s work.
Fieldwork experiences give students the opportunity to develop, manage, evaluate, or lead evidence-based public health projects. Each experience is tailored to the student’s degree program, professional development goals, and the needs of the host site.
Students are responsible for identifying and securing a fieldwork site and project. Because this process can be time-intensive, it’s recommended that students begin their search at least three to four months before the semester they plan to enroll.
Interested in hosting a student? Visit our Preceptors page to learn more about our students, appropriate project types and deliverables, and key deadlines for submitting project descriptions to the Office of Experiential Learning.
What is the purpose of fieldwork?
The purpose of fieldwork is for students to integrate and apply public health knowledge and skills gained in the classroom to a real-world public health problem. Master’s students produce at least two deliverables during fieldwork that act as stepping stones to their capstone papers. When developing a fieldwork project, students must strongly consider how they will produce data or information that can be used for the capstone paper. Learn more about Capstone here.
Who supports students through the fieldwork process?
The Office of Experiential Learning (OEL) grants enrollment for the fieldwork course, supports the fieldwork process, and responds to the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) requirements for applied and experiential learning. OEL works with students and organizations to establish fieldwork opportunities that meet CEPH criteria. SPH faculty advisors and site preceptors are essential to this process.
The SPH HRPP Office supports students in determining if their fieldwork projects are considered Human Subjects Research. All students must complete the Fieldwork HSR Decision Tool before they can enroll in the course or begin any work. Read about HSR requirements for fieldwork here.
Who is required to do fieldwork?
Fieldwork is required for MS Population Health Informatics students and MPH students in the Health Policy & Management, Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Public Health Nutrition, and Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences degree programs. See our Program of Study Worksheets for fieldwork requirements.
MPH in Community Health students take the required Community Health Practice Collaborative I (CHSS 696) and Community Health Practice Collaborative II (CHSS 698) to fulfill fieldwork and capstone requirements. These students do NOT need to secure their own fieldwork placement—they will be matched with a placement shortly after CHSS 696 begins. More information on these courses can be found here.
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