Experiential Learning and Professional Development
Master of Public Health (MPH)
All Master of Public Health (MPH) students complete six credits of experiential learning. This includes a three-credit practicum course and a three-credit culminating project. The practicum is designed as a two-hour internship where you will gain hands-on experience in a community setting under the mentorship of an organization. You will receive guidance on selecting a practicum site that best aligns with your career goals and interests. The culminating project is the MPH capstone experience. Through this course, you will work independently under the mentorship of a faculty member and with a community partner to develop a solution to a community problem. After completion of a grant-writing workshop, you will present the community partner with a grant that can be submitted for funding.
Experiential Learning Courses
| COURSE | TITLE | CREDITS |
|---|---|---|
| PUBH 607 | Public Health Practicum | 3 |
| PUBH 608 | Culminating Project | 3 |
Practicum
Description
All Master in Public Health (MPH) students are required to complete a 200-hour internship experience worth three credits. You will register for PUBH 60700 (Public Health Practicum) after completion of all six core courses and pre-practicum paperwork with an approved agency. The internship experience enhances your networking and job opportunities while also allowing you to grow your skills in a practical setting.
Placements
You will complete your internship experience in a variety of locations — local health departments, health care settings, global organizations, environmental protection agencies, nonprofits and private organizations.
The department provides support with finding the right placement for your career interests. This is done through a professional development seminar, internship fairs, networking sessions, alumni connections and established community partnerships.
Practicum Manual (PDF)
Culminating Project
Description
The MPH plans of study require a culminating project to be completed in the final semester of study. You’ll provide evidence of competency mastery by partnering with a public health-related agency, identifying a community problem, proposing an evidence-based solution and developing an evaluation plan. The final product is a grant proposal. You’ll receive guidance for proposal development through completion of a grant-writing workshop and feedback from a faculty advisor.
Culminating Project Manual (PDF)
Professional Development in Public Health Seminar
Description
This is a zero-credit seminar that meets on a monthly basis each semester. The seminar is designed to meet the professional development needs of MPH students. You will be trained on networking techniques and provided career mentorship from community leaders, alumni and faculty. In addition, you will review best practices for building a professional portfolio and managing the interview and negotiation phases of the career search. The seminar includes community and alumni panels as well as other events that aid in internship and job placements.
Career Support Resources
Office of Professional Development
MPH Alumni: Where Are They Now?
Purdue’s MPH alumni take on a variety of leadership positions at local, state and federal health agencies. Many more step into management roles within nonprofit and private organizations and develop community outreach programs for health care systems. Others provide data analytics support to health insurance companies. An MPH is a highly versatile degree with transferable skills applicable in a host of nonprofit, private, university, health care and government settings.
Here are a variety of titles and job locations of some of our MPH alumni over the past few years:
- Director of outreach and engagement – Mental Health America
- Director of clinical operations – GoodRx
- Data and accreditation specialist – Purdue University
- Population health strategist – Vital Incite
- Sanitation and safety specialist – Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences
- Tobacco program coordinator – Healthy Communities of LaPorte
- Public health administrator – OB Navigator
- Food microbiologist – United States Army Public Health Command
- Prevention specialist – Compass Health Network
- Epidemic intelligence service – Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Quality and risk coordinator – Encompass Health
- Data coordinator – Indiana Rural Health Association
- Director of community education – Franciscan Health
- Epidemiologist – US. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Infectious disease epidemiologist – Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH)
- Community partner specialist – Texas A&M
- Intercultural research specialist – CILMAR at Purdue
- Public health educator – Sevier County Health Department
- Naloxone program manager – Indiana Department of Public Health
- Partner support epidemiologist – Marion County Health Department
In addition to job preparation, the MPH program is designed to prepare you for additional graduate-level training. Many of our students have attended medical school, dental school, genetic counseling training, nursing programs, etc. Purdue’s MPH program also provides the opportunity to gain research experience under the mentorship of prominent public health faculty. Skills developed in the research lab prepare you to engage in further academic training through doctoral programs.
We believe that no two MPH students are alike. Our training is well-rounded and rigorous to ensure you find success in your chosen path.