The Culminating Experience

The Culminating Experience (Integrated Learning Experience) integrates and applies public health knowledge and competencies acquired during coursework. All students in professional master’s programs (MPH, MSPH, MPH&TM, MHA) must complete a culminating experience.

Options for the Culminating Experience

Public health analysis
Comprehensive exam (not available in all programs)
Capstone course or integrated seminar (being developed by some programs)

Public Health Analysis

The Public Health Analysis, or PHA, is a planned project that addresses public health issues and solutions. The PHA may take many forms, including:

Investigating and proposing solutions to a public health problem
Conducting a program evaluation or intervention
Developing a training manual
Critical review of a public health issue
Policy statement based on a critical analysis

Comprehensive Exam

The comprehensive exam is specific to each program and may be given in two formats: an essay exam with at least five questions that require in-depth responses integrating and applying the competencies; or an analysis of a case study designed to demonstrate the integration and application of program competencies. The comprehensive exam is generally an all-day exam.

Integrated Seminar

A department may offer a semester-long course or integrative seminar that investigates public health and professional issues. The course or seminar will be program specific, based specifically on program competencies.

Culminating Experience Requirements

All options must integrate and apply the core and program competencies in the project.
Students produce a high-quality written document that could be used by external partners.
Students must do an oral presentation of either the culminating experience or the practicum.

Visit Inside SPHTM to download the Culminating Experience Handbook.

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The Culminating Experience