Guide to Graduate Practicum

Prepare for Enrollment

Before you start, please make sure that you can arrange your schedule to commit to completing 180 hours at your site. You should begin your hours on the first day of instruction, since hours worked prior to this day will not count.

About the Course

Public Health Practicum (PubHlth295) is an 8-unit required course for those majoring in the UC Irvine Master of Public Health (M.P.H.). The course provides opportunities for hands-on experience for graduate students at agencies or organizations engaged in public health practice. Students are matched with placement sites based on emphasis, academic preparation and career goals. Practicum requires that each student interview and select a site through the online catalog of approved Public Health sites, by working with their mentor, and/or by networking within their own communities. The catalog includes sites that have agreed to accept and supervise MPH students as they complete a practicum project(s) within the scope of the ongoing activities of the organization. During their practicum experience students will work on producing a minimum of two work products, a product report, a poster and an Integrative Learning Experience that demonstrate mastery of their selected fundamental and program competencies. All students are required to dedicate a minimum of 180 hours for the practicum quarter (average of 10 hrs a week). 

Prerequisites and Enrollment

  • Completion of all core Public Health courses (with the exception of PH 295)
  • Successfully passed the Certified in Public Health (CPH) Exam
  • Advanced to candidacy
  • Master of Public Health students only

Steps and Timeline

Step 1. Research & Prepare

Two quarters prior to enrolling in the practicum course:

Step 2. Apply to Sites

Six to eight weeks before the Site Placement due date:

  • Contact at least 5 Practicum sites listed, found through your mentor and/or, by networking within the community.
  • Apply to each site individually following the “How to Apply” section of each individual listing or via email.
  • Begin interviewing with sites that have contacted you.
Step 3. Finalize Your Site

Two weeks before the Site Placement due date:

  • Accept an offer from one site. Inform any other sites of your decision.
  • Confirm the placement dates with the supervisor at the site.
  • Talk with your supervisor and make sure you understand what you will be doing at the site.
  • Begin to discuss your Practicum Proposal, Goals, Core Competencies and Deliverables.
Step 4. Submit Your Site Registration Form

Before the Site Registration Due Date

Submit your Site Registration Form accurately and fully. Once you submit the form, it will be electronically routed to the Community Engagement Manger for review.

Step 5. Enroll in the Practicum Class

During your enrollment window

Once you have accepted a placement and submitted your Site Registration Form you will be provided with authorization to enroll in PH 295. Students following the traditional full-time study plan will enroll in PH 295 in the Winter quarter in the second year of the program. For students on a Modified Timeline, please contact the senior graduate advisor and community engagement manager for additional information.

Step 6: Final Evaluation

A Practicum agreement and evaluation will be sent to your supervisor, make sure they receive it and that your total hours worked are listed.

  • On the last day at our site, make sure to go over your evaluation with your supervisor.
  • Make sure your supervisor submits the evaluation to the Community Engagement Manager.
    • Qualtrics link will be sent to supervisor by community engagement manager.
  • Keep a copy of the evaluation for your own records.

Important Dates

ACTION ITEMWINTER 2024
Practicum Site Placement DueDecember 6th, 2024
Practicum Placement PeriodJanuary 2 – June 6
MPH Poster Symposium Week 10
* All students are held to all deadlines listed. Late submissions will place student on delayed timeline and can delay graduation. Program is not financially responsible for any additional quarters required due to late submissions. Costs for any additional quarters will be the responsibility of the Student.

Important Application Information

Please note: You will not be provided authorization for enrollment in PH 295 if you do not complete a Site Placement form on or before the specified deadlines, if you have not been officially offered a position at an approved internship site and/or if you do not meet all pre-requisites.

If your first-choice sites are no longer accepting interns, it is still your responsibility to meet the Practicum Enrollment deadline specified on the website. Some sites may require a background check, so be prepared by applying early.

For all practicum related questions, please email phpracticum@uci.edu or schedule a meeting with the community engagement manager.