Practicum

The practicum—essentially an internship in the field—is a required component of an MPH degree, and many Columbia students find it to be an exceptionally rewarding experience. During your practicum you will work alongside professionals, experience the day-to-day reality of public health practice and have the opportunity to apply what you’ve learned in class to make an active contribution in public health.

At the Mailman School, you will be supported before, during, and after your practicum. The first steps include workshops that introduce you to fieldwork and prepare you as a professional. This includes resume preparation, mock job interviews, and online training in HIPPA requirements and guidelines for research. You will also collaborate with a faculty advisor to select a site, project, and plan for your practicum experience. Once deployed in the field, you will receive ongoing support from your practicum advisors onsite and from the School.

Upon completion of the practicum, students will formally present their work at departmental or School-wide events. Many students use the data from their practicum experience as a component of their Master’s thesis or Capstone paper.

The faculty at the Mailman School has a vast network of contacts from community-based institutions in New York City to international aid organizations around the globe. Within the academic department you join, you will find many well-established relationships with government agencies and healthcare institutions of all kinds.