Culminating Experience Guide for PHC&M Students

MPH students are required to demonstrate proficiency in the application of the skills they acquire during their academic programs through the Practicum (PubH 214.19) and the Culminating Experience (PubH 215.19). The two courses can be taken simultaneously or sequentially, in which case the Practicum would come first.

The Culminating Experience (CE) is a graded course which consists of four elements that focus on the Practice Activity: (a) Concept Paper, (b) Proposal, (c) Final Report, and (d) Oral Presentation. These elements are fully described in the Appendix - Guidelines for Culminating Experience Elements.

The Culminating Experience is a planned experience that requires a student to synthesize and integrate knowledge acquired in coursework and to apply theory and principles in an experience that approximates some aspect of professional practice. The Culminating Experience will demonstrate the student's mastery of the body of knowledge and proficiency in the program competencies. Many different models are possible, including a major written paper such as a thesis or applied research project, development of a case study, completion of a needs assessment, development and pilot testing of an intervention program, or evaluation of programs or policies.

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

Synthesize, integrate and apply the theory and practice-based knowledge acquired in coursework and other learning experiences to a public health communication and marketing practice or research project.
Successfully propose, in writing, a practice-based or research project in which communication and/or marketing methods are used to advance a public health objective.
Successfully describe, orally and in writing, how communication and/or marketing methods were used in a research or practice-based project.

Possible CE Categories

CE's will often fall into one of four broad categories: formative research, a pilot intervention, a content analysis or a case study. Below you will find a brief description of each.

1. Formative Research

For this format, you should think of what kinds of research would be important to do as background information in planning the strategy for a health campaign (think stage 1 in the health communication wheel). This may include research which documents a health need (a needs assessment), which describes people's perceptions about a health issue, or which describes people's attitudes to various programmatic options. This may be done with survey research or with a qualitative method like a focus group. Example, "Intimate Partner Violence in the Andean Highlands".

2. A Pilot Intervention

You might develop sample materials for a campaign, write a report describing how these materials would fit into a campaign, and describe results from pretesting these materials. Example--"Childhood Cancer: A Media Advocacy Campaign to Build Awareness and Public Funding for a targeted therapeutic research initiative"

3. A Content Analysis

You might look at the content of health-related information in our media environment (e.g. TV, Internet, magazines). Example--"Childhood Obesity: A Content Analysis of Food Advertisements and Public Service Announcements that Air on Nickelodeon".

4. A Case Study

You might summarize the process of development and results of a particular campaign or social marketing program. Example--"Donate Life California: A Campaign Launch Case Study".

Important Deadlines

Culminating Experience	Spring 2009 Graduation	Summer 2009 Graduation	Fall 2009 Graduation
Concept Paper	December 19	March 27	June 26
Proposal & IRB Submission	January 16	April 24	July 31
Paper	April 10	July 24	October 30
Presentation	May 1st & 8th	August 28	December 4

Course Requirements

Course Prerequisites

PubH 202 Biostatistical Applications for Public Health
PubH 203 Principles and Practice of Epidemiology
PubH 205 Policy Approaches to Public Health
PubH 206 Health Education and Health Promotion
PubH 363 Introduction to Public Health Communication & Marketing
PubH 394 Marketing Research for Public Health

Co-Requisite

PubH 214.19 Public Health Communication & Marketing Practicum
PubH 383 Evaluation of Health Promotion Programs
PubH 395 Advanced Public Health Communication
PubH 396 Social Marketing
PubH397 Public Health Advocacy Campaigns

Other prerequisites

Students must take the online training courses relating to research with human subjects (CITI) and personal health information (HIPAA). (see Appendix I.C. and/or Practicum handbook for details)
Students must have participated in the SPHHS professional skills seminar (see Practicum handbook for details)
If applicable, students must have submitted IRB paperwork before participating in the Practicum.

Student Responsibilities

The practicum and the CE can be completed in tandem. However, students may choose to have separate activities for the practicum and culminating experience. If the practicum and culminating experience activities are unconnected, the student will work with the CE Advisor to develop a plan of action.
Before beginning the CE, students must first develop a concept paper which proposes - in broad terms - the work that will be done for the CE and how it will be carried out. (See Appendix for Concept Paper template.)
The Concept Paper is reviewed by the Department of Prevention and Community Health faculty to assess the appropriateness of its scope, feasibility, and proposed advisor.
Upon approval, the student expands the Concept Paper into a Proposal which requires the approval of the GW Advisor and Site Preceptor (if applicable) (See Appendix for Proposal guidelines).
Students work with their GW Advisor and Site Preceptor (if applicable) to determine whether IRB review is required. If required, an IRB submission must be completed and submitted (See Appendix for guidance).
Students should submit their Proposal and IRB paperwork (if applicable) by the end of the first semester of the Practicum.
Students should register for the Culminating Experience during their last planned semester at George Washington University SPHHS.
Students produce a Final Report which expands on their Proposal by including the results of their program and discussion of the culminating experience. (See Appendix for guidelines for the Final Report). The GW Advisor must receive an advanced draft of the report four weeks before the student intends to make their Oral Presentation.
Once the GW Advisor gives authorization, the students work with their GW Advisor and and/or CE Director to schedule their Oral Presentation. Students are encouraged to invite their Site Preceptors to their Oral Presentations.
Students must provide the GW Advisor with a copy of their PowerPoint presentation two weeks before the scheduled date of their Oral Presentation (See Appendix).

Method of Instruction

Students are actively involved in the integration of knowledge and skills gained in their MPH program under the supervision of the Culminating Experience Advisor. The student's progress in accomplishing the four basic elements of the course is tracked with the use of the Culminating Experience Tracking Form, which identifies the student, the activity, the preceptor (if applicable) and the GW Advisor and serves as a form of certification that each activity has been completed and certified by the GW Advisor.

Methods of Evaluation

Students will be assessed on how well they accomplish the objectives for the Culminating Experience through the evaluation of their (a) Concept Paper, (b) Proposal, (c) Final Report, and (d) Oral Presentation. The GW Culminating Experience Advisor and PCH faculty will complete evaluations of the student's performance.

Grading Scale

The Culminating Experience will be graded as follows:

Proposal - 25%
Final Report - 50%
Oral Presentation - 25%