Host a Master’s Student

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.

Who are the students who complete Fieldwork?

CUNY MPH/MS students are required to 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. Projects can be completed in-person, virtually, or hybrid.

Students in the following MPH/MS concentrations complete Fieldwork: Health Policy and Management (HPAM), Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Epi/Bio), Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences (EOHS), Public Health Nutrition, and Population Health Informatics (PopHI).

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.

Note: Fieldwork sites, as places of employment, are expected to work with students with disabilities to provide reasonable accommodations. Site supervisors cannot ask disability-related questions as part of site placement.

What types of projects are appropriate for students?

Projects 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 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.

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?

Prior to the Fieldwork experience, preceptors advise students as they prepare their Learning Agreement, which outlines the details of their project. A meeting plan should be established; we recommend meeting weekly with students at minimum.

During the term, preceptors will be sent a midpoint and final evaluation form to be completed about the student.

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.

Summer terms run for 12 weeks, beginning in late May/early June 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.

How can I advertise a project or learn more about Fieldwork?

Contact the Office of Experiential Learning (OEL) at oel@sph.cuny.edu. OEL updates and promotes our Fieldwork Opportunities page weekly to students.

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