Applied Practice Experience
The purpose of the Applied Practice Experience course is to provide all students with an applied, scholarly and mutually beneficial experience in a public health practice setting. This experience augments the academic course work, meets community needs, and provides students with an opportunity to integrate and apply at least five foundational public health competencies. Students are expected to demonstrate mastery of public health principles, values and practice.
All partner organizations must be approved by the Office of Public Health Practice. Applied practice experiences may involve governmental, nongovernmental, nonprofit, industrial and for-profit settings or appropriate university-affiliated settings. To be appropriate for applied practice experience activities, university-affiliated settings must be primarily focused on community engagement, typically with external partners. University health promotion or wellness centers may also be appropriate.
With questions, email Laura Vinson or email Vice Dean Brandon Grimm, PhD, MPH.
Learn more
- Attendance at the orientation session (held each semester)
- In good academic standing
- Completion of at least six credit hours plus the CPH 500 Foundations in Public Health Course, which may be taken concurrently with CPH 528 APEx
- Completion of affiliation agreement
- Completion of professionalism training module no longer than 60 days prior to registration (located in Canvas under the COPH Student Success Center)
- Approval of the applied practice experience learning contract
The affiliation agreement is a required legal document between UNMC and the partner organization for which the student is placed for academic course credit and must be completed prior to the beginning term of the experience. The affiliation agreement provides coverage for all College of Public Health students placed with the organization and is not project or student specific. The organization may have additional requirements (background checks, drug testing, immunizations, etc.) before on-site experiences can begin. If these are required and the organization does not cover the expense, the student will be responsible for the expense.
College of Public Health students must email Julia Quigley, public health practice project coordinator, to determine appropriate requirements as soon as the organization is identified. Due to varying terms and conditions of certain affiliation agreements, these requirements must be handled on a case by case basis and the length of time for completion can range from two to six months.
View the Affiliation Agreement List.
Once students have identified a partner organization, students should use the required learning contract template to further outline the scope of the applied practice experience. Please read template instructions carefully.
The deadline to submit a reviewed learning contract to the Office of Public Health Practice will vary each semester. The date will be announced at each semester's required general student orientation.
Sample Timelines
Students should begin planning for their applied practice experience at least three months before the intended registration semester. Since it must be completed in one semester, it is important for students to begin preparations during the semester prior.
Student intends to register in the fall semester.
- May: Student should begin thinking about applied practice experience and brainstorm possible partner organizations of interest.
- June: Student should attend the orientation session.
- June-July: Student should begin contacting organizations to explore the organization’s needs and the student’s personal interests.
- June-July: Student should verify the status of the affiliation agreement with the project coordinator of the Office of Public Health Practice.
- July-August: Student should draft the learning contract and receive approval.
- July-August: Student should meet all applied practice experience registration prerequisites and contact the Service Learning Programs manager to request to register.
- August: Student should begin applied practice experience.
Student intends to register in the spring semester.
- September: Student should begin thinking about applied practice experience and brainstorm possible partner organizations of interest.
- October: Student should attend the orientation session.
- October-November: Student should begin contacting organizations to explore the organization’s needs and the student’s personal interests.
- October-November: Student should verify the status of the affiliation agreement with the Public Health Practice Project coordinator.
- December: Student should draft the learning contract and receive approval.
- December: Student should meet all applied practice experience registration prerequisites and contact the Service Learning Programs manager to request to register.
- January: Student should begin applied practice experience.
Student intends to register in the summer semester.
- January: Student should begin thinking about applied practice experience and brainstorm possible partner organizations of interest.
- February: Student should attend the orientation session.
- February-March: Student should begin contacting organizations to explore the organization’s needs and the student’s personal interests.
- February-March: Student should verify the status of the affiliation agreement with the Public Health Practice Project coordinator.
- April: Student should draft the learning contract and receive approval.
- April: Student should meet all applied practice experience registration prerequisites and contact the Service Learning Programs manager to request to register.
- May: Student should begin applied practice experience.
Applied Practice Experience General Orientation
The required general orientation guides students through completing their applied practice experience.
