CUNY Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy
CUNY Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy
CUNY Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy
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Host a Master’s Student

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Become a Preceptor

Thank you for partnering with the Office of Experiential Learning (OEL). Preceptors play a vital role in mentoring MPH and MS students and shaping the next generation of public health professionals. In return, you gain valuable support from highly skilled students trained in data analysis, program planning, evaluation, health communications, policy research, and more.

What is fieldwork?

Fieldwork is a 180-hour applied learning experience completed over one academic term (Fall, Spring, or Summer). It is a required, for-credit component of the following programs:

  • MS in Population Health Informatics (PopHI)
  • MPH in Health Policy & Management (HPAM)
  • MPH in Epidemiology & Biostatistics (EpiBios)
  • MPH in Public Health Nutrition (PHN)
  • MPH in Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences (EOHS)

Students complete fieldwork at an approved host organization under the supervision of a preceptor. Projects can take place in-person, remotely, or in a hybrid format, and must result in at least two concrete deliverables. This experience allows students to apply classroom learning in real-world settings—developing, managing, evaluating, or leading evidence-based public health projects while earning 3 academic credits.

Who can host a student?

Approved fieldwork sites include organizations that research, provide, plan, coordinate, fund, or regulate public health services. These may include:

  • Government agencies

  • Hospitals or clinics

  • Community-based organizations

  • Policy think tanks or consulting firms

  • Research institutions

  • Advocacy groups

  • Global health organizations

  • For-profit institutions with a public health mission

What types of projects are appropriate?

Fieldwork projects must offer students the opportunity to contribute to real, meaningful public health work. Projects may focus on program planning, implementation, applied research, community health education, advocacy, or other appropriate public health-related efforts. They may be completed in-person, remotely, or in a hybrid format.

All projects should be structured, skills-based, and aligned with the competencies of the student’s degree program. To ensure a strong learning experience, projects should:

  • Address a clear public health issue or goal
  • Be achievable within the 180-hour timeframe
  • Include clearly defined goals, activities, and deliverables
  • Support the student’s academic and professional development

By the end of the fieldwork experience, students are expected to complete at least two substantive deliverables for the host site.

You can view examples of past fieldwork projects here.

Example Project Titles

  • Interim Evaluation of Albany Medical Health System’s Childhood Food Insecurity Program
  • Understanding New York City’s Workforce at Risk During Public Health Emergencies: Preparedness and Future Response Strategies
  • Exploring the Social Determinants of Nutrition-Induced Caries in Oral Health Among Lower and Higher-Income Patients at a Dental Clinic in New York City
  • Machine Learning Analysis to Risk Factors Associated with SSoD among PLWH and Childhood Health Conditions
  • The Impact of Climate Change on Lyme Disease Diagnosis in the US: Dashboard Development and Descriptive Analysis
  • Quality Improvement Analysis of Symptom Data within the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s Tuberculosis Surveillance System
  • HIPAA and Privacy Regulations in Correctional Facilities: An Assessment on Inmates Safety and Healthcare

Example Deliverables

  • Literature reviews or systematic reviews
  • Needs assessments and asset mapping
  • Survey design, implementation, analysis, and reporting
  • Key informant interviews and recruitment protocols
  • Environmental scans and stakeholder analyses
  • Dashboard or data visualization development (e.g., Tableau, Power BI)
  • Database creation, cleaning, or optimization
  • GIS mapping or spatial risk assessment
  • Workflow analysis and process improvement diagrams
  • Policy briefs, memos, or legislative tracking
  • Social media toolkits, infographics, or community-facing health education materials
  • Program logic models and evaluation frameworks
  • Statistical analysis using R, SPSS, SAS, Python, or Excel
  • Monitoring and evaluation reports
  • Grant proposals or budget/resource planning tools
  • Health risk assessments related to environmental or occupational exposures
  • Strategic planning documents or implementation roadmaps
  • Advocacy strategies, stakeholder maps, or testimony drafts
  • Training guides, onboarding materials, or facilitator handbooks
  • Comparative health system or program analyses
  • Population health information system mockups or usability feedback summaries
  • Ethics, confidentiality, and data security plans for informatics or research projects

Fieldwork Timeline

Frequently Asked Questions

You can submit a project description at any time during the academic year by emailing OEL@sph.cuny.edu, but earlier is better. Projects are promoted the semester before they begin—for example, Fall fieldwork is promoted in Summer, Spring in Fall, and Summer in Spring. Submitting your project before the promotion period starts gives it the best chance of reaching a strong pool of students.

Yes. OEL provides a Fieldwork Project Info Form to help structure your project. You can request it by emailing OEL@sph.cuny.edu.

Yes. Projects can be in-person, hybrid, or fully remote. Make sure to clearly state the format in your description.

Once your project description is submitted and approved, it will be posted on Handshake, CUNY SPH’s career services platform. OEL applies a customized label to identify it as a fieldwork opportunity, making it easier for students to find. Projects are also featured in Field Notes, our weekly email newsletter sent to all currently enrolled students.

Students apply on a rolling basis, and OEL shares applications with preceptors as they are received.

You should begin interviews as soon as you receive applications to secure candidates before they accept other offers. OEL sends applications on a rolling basis.

If your organization doesn’t have an agreement on file, OEL will coordinate the necessary paperwork with you. In most cases, this involves a non-business (affiliation) agreement. Once in place, the agreement is self-renewing and allows you to host students for future fieldwork projects without repeating the process.

Preceptors are responsible for:

  1. Guiding students in completing their Learning Agreement (outlining objectives, deliverables, and competencies).
  2. Meeting with the student regularly (weekly meetings preferred).
  3. Completing midpoint and final evaluations to assess student progress.
  4. Ensuring a non-business agreement is in place (if applicable).
  5. Communicating with OEL as needed to resolve issues.

Students are expected to:

  1. Complete and submit the Learning Agreement before registering for fieldwork.
  2. Complete 180 hours of fieldwork within the semester.
  3. Submit at least two deliverables demonstrating competency attainment.
  4. Communicate regularly with their preceptor and OEL regarding progress or any challenges.
  5. Follow site-specific requirements, including onboarding and workplace policies.

You can contact the Office of Experiential Learning at OEL@sph.cuny.edu. We’re here to support you.

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