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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.