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Q:What is a Supervised Field Experience?
A: A Supervised Field
Experience is an on site pre-professional
placement that provides exposure
to a public health issue or
concern. Field Experience provides
students with an opportunity
to identify skills needed in
a given field and gain practical
work experience.
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Q: Why must I serve
a Field Experience?
A: A Field Experience is one
of three culminating experiences for
students seeking the MPH and the Industrial
Hygiene MSPH. Students are expected
to complete their Field Experience
in an organization, agency, or community
that provides planning or services
relevant to public health. Your Field
Experience will help further develop
skills or competencies learned in your
academic program as you have the opportunity
to take theory you have learned in
the classroom and apply it in a real
world public health setting.
Practical experience is a critical
part of professional preparation. It
contributes meaningfully to a student's
plan and vision for his/her public
health career development. Students
learn a great deal about organizational
structure, collaborative team work
and management skills, via the field
experience. They also are able
to explore a profession or field of
public health prior to graduation.
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Q: What are the
benefits of a Field Experience?
A: The benefits are two fold:
- Provide community service
- Integrate theory with practice
- Identify areas for research
- Analyze community health problem
Career Development
- Gain work experience
- Explore career options
- Define career objectives
- Develop contacts for the future
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Q:
When should I start looking for a Field
Experience?
A: The
second semester of your first year in the
program is a good time to start exploring
field experience possibilities. At the
latest, begin looking for a field experience
the semester prior to your desired placement. Students
participating in an international field
experience should begin the process one
year from the desired placement date. |
Q: When should I register
for a Field Experience?
A:Students should successfully complete all core classes before applying/registering for Field Experience. It is critical that students have knowledge and understanding of the key areas of Public Health. Students must register for their Field Experience during the semester when they intend to serve the Field Experience.
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Q: How long is my
Field Experience?
A: Your Field Experience can
range from 1-12 credit hours, as determined
by your academic advisor. The advisor
will examine your educational and professional
backgrounds, as well as departmental
guidelines, to determine the number of credit
hours that you must fulfill. Note
that 1credit hour = 45 contact hours
that the field site.
The Field Experience may last one
semester or may span several semesters.
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Q: How and where do
I find a Field Experience?
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Q: How do I register
for the Supervised Field Experience?
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Q: What resources
are available for finding a Field Experience?
A:
- Review the field experience opportunities that are posted on the COPH student listserv and in the COPH student lobby
- Review the list of previous field experience sites found at http://health.usf.edu/publichealth/academicaffairs/fe/pdf/Former%20Sites.pdf
- Visit your academic department and speak with your faculty advisor, other professors and your academic coordinator about their recommendations for field experience
- Contact the field placement coordinator for information on previous field experience sites
- Utilize the Internet to research internships and field experience opportunities at organizations where you would like to work
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Q: Are Field Experiences
paid?
A: A field experience can
be paid or unpaid. The typical
wage for paid field experiences is
approximately $8-15 per hour. In
lieu of an hourly wage some field experiences
will offer:
- Stipend-A fixed some of money paid
directly to the student
- Tuition waiver-Money paid directly
to USF to cover all or a portion
of the tuition fees association with
field experience
- Transportation assistance-Mileage
reimbursement or a fixed amount to
assist with transportation to and
from the field site
- Housing allowance-Housing dedicated
for student interns or money to offset/pay
for hotel accommodations
- Note that some sites (especially
non-profits) are unable to offer
any of the above
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Q:
How do I develop my Field Experience?
A: The best field experience
is specifically tailored to a student's
academic and career interests. This
is usually obtained when the placement
is researched and obtained by the student. There
are four steps for developing your own
field experience:
- Determine your academic and career
goals
- Research the desired field of interest
- Network with others with the field
of interest
- Contact field experience sites within
the field of interest
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Q:
How do I obtain a waiver for field experience?
A:In compliance with the Council on Education for Public Health, the college's accrediting body who now requires field experience for all students and sets the standard for FE across all schools of public health, full waivers are not granted. However, if a student or faculty advisor desires a reduction in field experience hours, then:
- Submit a written request to Dr. Deanna Wathington, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs
- The request should clearly articulate that the student has at least three years of experience directly related to their concentration for each credit hour to be reduced
- The request should be signed by the student's faculty advisor and department chair.
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Q:
I am earning a dual degree with social work (MPH/MSW). What are my FE requirements in public health?
A:The FE/practicum for dual degree students is primarily coordinated in the School of Social Work. However, public
health students must obtain their COPH faculty advisor's approval prior to beginning the practicum sequence in social
work. The COPH faculty advisor's approval will ensure that dual degree students also meet the requirements of the MPH
field placement. Once approved, students should submit the following documentation to the FE office and their COPH
faculty advisor over the course of their practicum.
- Field practicum application
- Field practicum planning agreement
- Field learning plan
- Process recording
- Field performance evaluation (Sequences 1-3)
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Q:
May I conduct my Field Experience at my place of employment?
A: According to the Council on Education for Public Health, the accrediting body for the USF COPH, "If the student can do
a placement only in his or her regular place of employment, the assignment must extend beyond or be something
other than his or her regular work duties and allow application of knowledge and skills being learned." Additionally, the
college prefers that the student's job and FE supervisor not be the same person. Finally, students are encouraged to
designate a portion of their workday/week solely for FE. This delineation will help the student and colleagues/supervisor
to not allow the FE to infringe upon work time and vice versa.
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Q: I am an international student. Do I still have to complete an international field placement for global health practice?
A: Yes and no. As a courtesy, the Global Health Department will allow international students to complete a domestic field placement. However, a few conditions must be met:
- the domestic placement should still be international in nature
- the domestic placement will be for six credit hours
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Q: I need a background check for my field experience. What is the process?
A:Students are responsible for requesting and paying for their background check. To initiate the process, visit American DataBank
at https://secure2.americandatabank.com/university_south_florida/package.asp and select the option for COPH students. As the
sole person requesting the background check, students will be the only party to receive results. It is their responsibility to share the results with the FE supervisor, if requested.
Note that it will take anywhere between 3-6 weeks to complete the process and receive results. The search is dependent upon how quickly the student completes all forms and mails them back to American DataBank, as well as the time the FBI takes to process
the information.
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Q: I am an undergraduate student. Can I participate in field experience?
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Q: I am earning a DrPH. What are my FE (practice-based specialized study/ internship) requirements in public health?
A: First, students should visit http://health.usf.edu/NR/rdonlyres/7B36180A-A4EA-46DB-8DE5-979CD8986C51/0/DrPHStudentManual11011.pdf to familiarize themselves with the student handbook for their academic program. The practice section is on pages 12-16.
Second, the internship for DrPH students is coordinated primarily between the student's major professor(s) and field supervisor. Review the DrPH manual for specific guidelines.
Third, copies of any documentation/materials—specialized study contract, internships plan, learning objectives, description of deliverables, letter of acceptance, reports, presentations, abstracts, etc.--that relate to/or are produced during the internship should be directed to the student's major professor(s) and copies given to the FE office over the course of their internship.
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