The MPH Practice Experience is a structured project or activity that immerses the student in one or more aspects of public health operations under the guidance of a preceptor. This fieldwork gives students the chance to apply their academic training in a professional setting. Students build on their skills and knowledge as they work under the guidance of and with public health practitioners. Many students find their practice experience informs their future career choices.
Placement Sites
LSUHSC School of Public Health students are complete practice placements in a number of settings including local, state, and national governmental offices, hospitals, non-profit organizations, institutions of higher learning, non-governmental agencies and private companies. Students work in centers or programs devoted to the health of populations, including the prevention of disease and injury, promotion of health education, health policy and advocacy, and service delivery. The practice experience is designed to be beneficial to both students and the sites that host them. Students can request contact information on placement sites by emailing Yvette Merritt at ymerr1@lsuhsc.edu
Interested in Becoming a practice placement site? Information for Potential Sites and Preceptors
Practice Experience Planning
Students should begin planning to take the practice experience the semester before the intend to enroll in the course. This includes meeting with their Academic Advisors and working with the Office of Public Health Practice to identify sites, programs and/or projects that meet their academic and career interest.
Practice Experience Handbook
Frequently Unasked Questions
Proposal
The Practice Experience proposal form is available for completion via PDF (link) and online.
- For student completing the form online, please complete and upload the following documents:
Preceptor-Student Agreement
New Practice Site Request
Information Session Recording
2025-2026 Code of Conduct
HIPAA
CITI Instructions (Investigators & Researchers)
COVID-19
For accreditation purposes, all students must report their status of vaccination, by logging into the immunization portal and completing the immunization record located in PeopleSoft. Immunization information is required to successfully complete rotations at any affiliated sites. **Note: Exemption from vaccinations may interfere with rotation site attendance. For more details, please call student health at: 504-568-1800.
Practice Experience Course Requirements
PUBH 6800: Practice experience is a 3-credit hour course that counts toward graduation. Students are required to attend weekly didactic class sessions in addition to completing 200 hours of field work at their practice site. All students are responsible to abide by the course guidelines as written in the Practice Experience Handbook.
Student Work Log
Progress Report
Evaluation of Practice Experience
Preceptor Evaluation of Student Performance
Contact Information: Yvette Merritt, MPH, Coordinator of Public Health Practice & Community Engagement and Instructor
Phone: 504-568-5874/Email:ymerr1@lsuhsc.edu