Graduate Study

MPH Practicum

MPH-Public Health Nutrition students complete a 6-credit (240 hour) practicum project. The practicum is a planned, supervised, and evaluated field-based experience under the guidance of a site supervisor within a public health organization. View past MPH-Public Health Nutrition practicum project posters.

Timeline

MPH-Public Health Nutrition students attend the MPH-Nutrition Practicum Session annually during autumn quarter; MPH-Public Health Nutrition students do not need to attend the SPH practicum orientation held by Janice North.
Students may begin the practicum after completing the first year of coursework.
A practicum can be completed during a single quarter or spread over multiple quarters; GCPD students complete the practicum during the practice experience (year 2 internship).
NSP practicum advisers will meet with each MPH-Public Health Nutrition student to identify potential practicum sites the quarter before they plan to begin the practicum.
- Students planning to start their practicum during the summer between years 1 & 2 should arrange this meeting during spring quarter.
- MPH GCPD student meetings will be early autumn quarter of year 2.
Students must submit a signed MPH Practicum Contract and ensure an educational Affiliation Agreement is in place between the SPH and the site before starting the practicum.
Students who completed practicum rotations during the previous academic year will present at the MPH Practicum Session during autumn quarter.
NSP students are encouraged but not required to participate in the Spring SPH MPH Practicum Symposium and Reception.

Project Requirements

The NSP practicum advisers will assist MPH-Public Health Nutrition students in identifying potential practicum sites.
To streamline conversations with community partners, students are asked not to contact sites before meeting with practicum advisers.
The practicum provides students an opportunity to see how nutrition concepts are applied in a public health setting and/or via public health policy.
Students are encouraged to select an assessment, policy development or assurance project (10 essential public health services). Appropriate projects aim to affect the outer rings of the social ecological model. Direct patient care is not allowed.
Per accreditation requirements, a practicum project must be designed to meet five of the 22 MPH foundational competencies.
Students will outline their project and deliverables on the MPH Practicum Contract which will be signed by their site supervisor and their NSP practicum adviser.
The School of Public Health has additional practicum resources and documentation requirements including the Prerequisite Form, MPH Practicum Contract, Midpoint Review, Site Supervisor Evaluation.
Students must submit a written assignment (practicum report), a visual assignment (poster), and at least two student-generated products for the site (report, dataset, executive summary, etc.).
Practicum paperwork and deliverables must be submitted to the SPH – MPH Practicum Dropbox.

MPH Degree-Only Students

MPH degree-only students can begin the practicum at any point after completing the first year of coursework.
A practicum can be completed during a single quarter or spread over multiple quarters.
MPH degree-only students register for practicum credits via NUTR 595.
MPH degree-only students will submit their deliverables to the SPH – MPH Practicum Dropbox.

MPH+GCPD Students

GCPD students complete the practicum during the 9-month practice experience/internship (winter-summer quarter of year 2).
The practicum rotation meets the requirements of the Public Health Concentration rotation (MPH practicum = PH Concentration).
GCPD students complete practicum credits by way of their NUTR 561 registration, not NUTR 595.
GCPD students will submit their deliverables via the GCPD Canvas site in addition to via the SPH – MPH Practicum Dropbox.
GCPD students completing winter quarter practicum projects will submit their practicum posters for display at the state dietetic conference (WSAND).

International Students

Students with an F-1 visa must work with the University’s International Student Services (ISS) office to apply for Curricular Practical Training (CPT), which serves as authorization for activities related to their program of study, before starting the practicum.
Students with a J-1 or J-2 visa must meet with their program sponsor before starting academic training.

Contacts

Nutritional Sciences Program MPH Practicum Faculty Advisers

Cristen Harris, PhD, RDN, FAND
Director, Master of Public Health Program
Dr. Harris primarily works with students not completing the GCPD

Anne Lund, MPH, RDN, FAND
Director, Graduate Coordinated Program in Dietetics
Anne Lund primarily works with student completing the GCPD

Nutritional Sciences Student and Academic Services

305 Raitt Hall
gradnutr@uw.edu

School of Public Health MPH Practicum Program

Janice North
Manager of Experiential Learning
206-685-9975
jlnorth@uw.edu
sphpractice@uw.edu