Become a Preceptor

As a preceptor, you will benefit from MPH/MS student support from the top public school of public health in New York State. Our preceptors help prepare future graduates for public health practice.

Students apply their public health skills in data analysis, program planning, evaluation, policy research, health communications, and more to help organizations advance their work.

What is fieldwork?

Fieldwork is an applied learning experience required for MS Population Health Informatics students and MPH students in the Health Policy & Management, Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Public Health Nutrition, and Environmental Occupational Health Sciences degree programs. Students complete 180 hours of applied learning in an approved setting, overseen by a preceptor at a host organization. Students receive 3 credits toward their degree for this work, and can complete fieldwork in the fall, summer, or spring academic terms. 

Fieldwork experiences allow students to develop, manage, evaluate, or lead evidence-based public health projects.

What kinds of organizations can be a fieldwork host site?

Organizations that research, provide, plan for, coordinate, organize, pay for, or regulate public health services are usually approved as Fieldwork sites.

This can include government agencies, hospitals/clinics, community organizations, policy think tanks, consulting firms, research institutions, advocacy organizations, global health organizations, or for-profit institutions.

What types of projects are appropriate for students?

Projects can be completed in-person, virtually, or hybrid and may involve program planning, implementation or operation, applied public health research, community health education and outreach, health advocacy, or other appropriate public health-related work.

Projects should align with degree program competencies and have clear goals, activities, and associated deliverables. By the end of the fieldwork experience, students will have completed at least two robust deliverables for the use and benefit of their host site. Examples of past fieldwork projects from our partners can be found here.

Example Project Titles

• How Wellness Programs Help Health Employees in a Hospital Setting
• Machine Learning Analysis to Risk Factors Associated with SSoD among PLWH and Childhood Health Conditions
• Junk Food Digital Marketing in NYC
• Data Visualization and Dashboard Development for the AMETHST Cohort
• Interim Evaluation of Albany Medical Health System’s Childhood Food Insecurity Program
• Quality Improvement Analysis of Symptom Data within the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s Tuberculosis Surveillance System
• An Advocacy and Communications Plan for Increasing Gender-Affirming Care Education and Awareness
• HIPAA and Privacy Regulations in Correctional Facilities: An Assessment on Inmates Safety and Healthcare

Example Deliverables

• Comparison of current review processes; recommendations for new review processes
• Conduct key informant interviews
• Conduct needs assessments
• Dashboard development
• Database development
• Developing interview protocols
• Environmental scan and analysis
• GIS mapping
• Literature reviews
• Monitor particle size distribution
• Policy analysis and briefs
• Program planning, implementation, or evaluation
• Quantitative and qualitative data gathering, analysis, and reporting
• Site and partnership mapping
• Survey development, analysis, reporting
• Systematic reviews
• Workflow analysis diagramming

What are my commitments as a preceptor?

Preceptors are involved with the fieldwork process in the following ways:

• Support students as they complete their Learning Agreement (the document that outlines their objectives, deliverables, and competencies).
• Meet regularly with the student throughout the semester to support the successful advancement of their work. Meetings usually take place weekly.
• Complete a midpoint and final evaluation of the student.
• Coordinate with OEL Director and relevant members of your team to establish a non-business agreement if one does not yet exist between CUNY and the fieldwork site.

How will my project be promoted?

The Office of Experiential Learning promotes fieldwork projects on Handshake – CUNY SPH’s career services and job board platform. Once we receive your project description, we will use a customized Handshake label to designate the project as a fieldwork opportunity. Students are directed to explore the available projects through our weekly Field Notes student newsletter.

When should I submit my project description to OEL to advertise to students?

Spring Term

Spring term projects are usually promoted between August and January. You can submit your project description at any point in that window; projects submitted earlier will give more students the opportunity to apply. The spring academic term begins at the end of January and concludes in mid-May.

Summer Term

OEL promotes summer term fieldwork projects from January to May. The summer academic term runs for 11 weeks, beginning in late May and concluding in mid-August.

Fall Term

OEL promotes fall term projects from March to August. The fall academic term begins at the end of August and concludes in mid-December.

I’m interested in promoting a project. What are the next steps?

We are so excited that you are interested in working with our students! If you already have a project description ready to promote, please send the description to OEL@sph.cuny.edu for review, or contact OEL with any questions.