Thesis CGPH Applied Practice Information Guide 2016 - 2017
CGPH Thesis Guide
Page |2
TABLE OF CONTENTS Applied Practice (Thesis): Overview ........................................................... 3 Registering for the Course .............................................................................. 4 Applied Practice (Thesis) Criteria ................................................................ 4 Finding an Applied Practice Experience ........................................................ 4 Selecting an Appropriate Applied Practice Experience ............................... 4 Human Subjects & Institutional Review Board (IRB) ................................. 5 Global Applied Practice Experiences ............................................................. 5 Grievance Policy ................................................................................................ 6 Expectations of the Thesis Experience ...................................................... 7 Expectations of Students .................................................................................. 7 Expectations of Applied Practice (Thesis) Faculty ....................................... 9 Expectations of NYU CGPH Administration .............................................. 9 Expectations of Applied Practice Agency Preceptors ...............................10 Thesis Academic Year Timeline .................................................................11 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) ........................................................12
Sep-16
CGPH Thesis Guide
Page |3
APPLIED PRACTICE (THESIS): OVERVIEW The Master of Public Health program within the NYU College of Global Public Health (CGPH) requires that all students complete a culminating experience consisting of hands-on applied practice experiences and a course. While the requirements vary depending upon which concentration a student is pursuing, the applied practice experience provides students the opportunity to become familiar with the kinds of organizations that put into practice the theory, concepts, and methods taught in the MPH program. Students in Biostatistics (BIOS), Epidemiology (EPI), and Social & Behavioral Science (SBS) are required to complete the two semester course Thesis: Practice & Integrative Learning Experience in conjunction with at least 180 hours of an applied practice experience, relevant to their career goals, as their culminating experience. While 180 hours is the minimum number of hours required by the program, we encourage students to complete as many hours as appropriate or needed in order to enhance their experiential training. Applied practice experiences can take place in the greater New York City area, elsewhere in the United States, or overseas. Students are recommended to complete their applied practice experiences the summer before beginning Thesis I or, if necessary, during the fall semester concurrently with the Thesis I course. The applied practice experience allows students to integrate skills and theories learned in the classroom into the real public health work environment, to learn from interactions with mentors in the field, and to provide a safe environment to explore questions and engage in group problem- solving around the work experience. It also allows students to gain valuable skills and explore new career opportunities. To find out more about what makes an acceptable applied practice experience, students should consult the Guidelines for Applied Practice Placement for Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Social & Behavioral Science students.
Sep-16
CGPH Thesis Guide
Page |4
REGISTERING FOR THE COURSE Students must complete at least 12 credit hours of coursework in order to be eligible to enroll for the Thesis I: Practice & Integrative Learning (GPH-GU 2686) course. Students must also fulfill the following prerequisites: GPH-GU 2140 or GPH-GU 5140 Global Issues in Social and Behavioral Health GPH-GU 2106 or GPH-GU 5106 Epidemiology GPH-GU 2995 or GPH-GU 5995 Biostatistics for Public Health GPH-GU 2920 Biostatistics: Regression & Multivariable Modeling One conceptual course (strongly recommended) Students must secure an applicable applied practice experience, and submit a learning contract for the experience, before registering for the course. Once the practice learning contract has been reviewed and approved, students will receive an access code to register for the course.
APPLIED PRACTICE (THESIS) CRITERIA Finding an Applied Practice Experience Students will be responsible for identifying relevant applied practice experiences, obtaining a mutually agreed upon assignment, and submitting the required forms by deadline dates to the CGPH Administration (
[email protected]). Students should start their applied practice search early (at least one semester in advance) - the process takes time so be prepared for your search to last longer than you anticipate. Keep your eyes out for deadlines. We recommend that students identify at least two potential applied practice sites/projects in the event that your first choice falls through. A student’s current job in the public health field cannot be used for an applied practice experience; if a student wishes to undertake an applied practice experience at his/her current workplace, he/she must identify a project not outlined in their normal duties and obtain prior approval from the CGPH Administration. If you are having difficulty location an experience, please contact the Office of Applied Practice and Experiential Learning (
[email protected]) to get assistance. Resources can also be found on our website. Selecting an Appropriate Applied Practice Experience Students are expected to identify an agency that provides a challenging and rewarding experience in public health. While applied practice experiences will vary considerably among students, the following basic criteria will be used in selecting sites: Willingness of the agency to provide an Thesis/practicum relevant to public health. Sep-16
CGPH Thesis Guide
Page |5
Relevance of the agency and the assigned work to public health. Activities and environment conducive to a graduate-level applied practice experience. Ability of the agency to provide adequate and suitable supervision and mentoring. The agency must be able to provide supervision by a professional with expertise in the area(s) covered by the student’s work. Willingness of the agency to allow the student to use the work for the student’s poster presentation, and, if applicable, the student’s Thesis. Appropriate organizations are those that: Have been operating for at least 5 years Offer a project consistent with the primary mission of the organization and that addresses a public health issue, has a realistic scope, and is technically feasible Are able to facilitate IRB approval, when necessary Have dedicated staff who can work with/mentor students Work with students on a learning contract that delineates activities and learning associated with the experience Human Subjects & Institutional Review Board (IRB) Projects, both domestic and international, are subject to IRB (this includes projects that are eligible for exemption). If IRB is necessary, international projects must be approved (including letter of approval) by the local equivalent of an IRB before they are presented to the NYU IRB. IRB submission will also need to include any documents supporting data collection, for example copies of surveys, interview guides, and consent forms. For information on NYU’s University Committee on Activities Involving Human Subjects (UCAIHS), visit http://www.nyu.edu/ucaihs/. If your project involves human subjects with research initiated by the PI or organization, before your applied practice experience, you must: Take, or have taken, and provide documentation of completing the CITI tutorial Ensure that the organization has their own IRB approval for the project. Global Applied Practice Experiences Students planning to intern overseas must contact the Office of Global Coordination
[email protected] as soon as their applied practice experience is secured to submit required documentation including: CGPH Foreign Travel Release Form Sep-16
CGPH Thesis Guide
Page |6
CGPH Foreign Travel Supplemental Form (if working with human subjects) A copy of travel itinerary (including hotel information) Contact information (email, work phone, mobile phone, and address) at field site Two emergency contacts (one contact must be in the U.S.) A copy of passport and visa Applied practice experiences with an organization in a resource-poor setting may be less structured than other experiences and will require students to be adaptable. Students are expected to secure their own travel and lodging; however students are encouraged to contact the organization and the NYU CGPH Administration for potential travel or lodging suggestions. NYU Risk Management / Public Safety must approve program-related travel to countries outside of the United States. Prior to making any travel arrangements, students should be in touch with the Office of Global Administration in order to determine the safety of the country to which they are hoping to travel. Grievance Policy Students and preceptors agree to the expectations outlined in the Practice Learning Contract. Should either party have a grievance, we encourage them to be resolved informally and in a timely manner. Students should discuss difficulties in an open and transparent manner and attempt to work directly with their liaisons to resolve them. Should the student decide that an issue with the liaison/organization needs intervention from CGPH faculty or administration, the student should bring the issue to the attention of the Capstone Instructor(s) and the Program Administrator for Applied Practice and Experiential Learning. Should the preceptor encounter difficulties with a student that is not resolvable with the student directly, he/she should contact the faculty or administrators. Further steps, such as site visits and educational/grievance contracts, will be implemented, as needed. More information on the grievance policy can be found on the MPH Program Policies webpage.
Sep-16
CGPH Thesis Guide
Page |7
EXPECTATIONS OF THE THESIS EXPERIENCE A successful applied practice experience requires the commitment of several individuals and/or groups of individuals that comprise the applied practice network including students, faculty, CGPH administrators, and agency preceptors. The agency preceptor is the professional on-site responsible for daily supervision of the student. Preferably, this individual will be a public health practitioner. Expectations of Students Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Social & Behavioral Science students in the MPH Program are required to complete a minimum 180-hour applied practice experience in an approved public or private organization engaged in the prevention of disease, health promotion, health service delivery, health policymaking, or research. Students are also required to attend at a pre-applied practice experience information seminar one semester before beginning the Thesis applied practice experience/coursework to help students prepare and plan for the applied practice experience. As part of their culminating experience, students must fulfill, in addition to the 180 hours of applied practice, the requirements of the Thesis I: Practice & Integrative Learning Experiences (GPH-GU 2686) and Thesis II: Practice & Integrative Learning Experiences (GPH-GU 2687) courses. In the Thesis courses students, with faculty support, identify a public health topic and population of interest, preferably based on her or his work in the site where the applied practice experience is undertaken, which serve as the basis of the MPH thesis. The MPH thesis may be of one of four types: 1. A journal-style manuscript reporting results of data analyses (typically secondary analysis of an existing dataset) that about the public health topic. This also may include testing of measures or survey instruments (EPI, SBS); 2. A proposal for a research study to develop further knowledge on understanding or intervening on the specific public health issue. The proposal should follow NIH guidelines for an R21 or specific guidelines from another funding source (e.g., HRSA, ACS) (EPI SBS) 3. A proposal describing the development of a program or intervention to address the specific public health issue (SBS); 4. A proposed evaluation research study of a program that addresses the specific public health issue (SBS). All theses must include (1) a review of the literature and framing of the public health
Sep-16
CGPH Thesis Guide
Page |8
issue nested within a theoretical context, and (2) a discussion of the public health significance of the findings, proposed research, or program In Thesis I (GPH-GU 2686), students across tracks will study together, and will learn about the elements of the thesis, how to identify a mentor, and how to write a comprehensive review of the literature and an annotated outline of the project. In Thesis II (GPH-GU 2687), students apply what they have learned to prepare this MPH thesis as well a presentation associated with the thesis. Student Responsibilities Include: Attend an Information Session to learn about the applied practice requirements and procedures. Review all information provided (on website, at information sessions, etc) and familiarize him/herself with the applied practice (Thesis) procedures. Contact potential sites, arrange and conduct interviews, as necessary. We recommend that students identify at least two, ideally three, potential applied practice sites. Complete Practice Learning Contract and submit along with Competencies and CV of agency preceptor (and co-preceptor, if applicable) Plan ahead - the Practice Learning Contract must be completed and signed by the student and site preceptor before being submitted for final approval. Once the contract has been approved, the student will receive an access code to register for the course.
Register for (GPH-GU 2360) Thesis: Practice & Integrative learning and complete course assignments. Required components of this course include attendance of 7 seminars and completion of course assignments, presentation at post-applied practice experience event, and completion of course evaluations. Prepare a realistic work schedule in collaboration with the agency preceptor and confirm expected outcomes and deliverables. Adhere to regulations regarding research with human subjects. For information, see NYU University Committee on Activities Involving Human Subjects (UCAIHS): www.nyu.edu/ucaihs/. If a student wishes to undertake research, he/she is advised to work on a project that has an established Principal Investigator. If there is any possibility of publishing, students should speak with their preceptors about IRB clearance and agency permission. For questions, contact Thesis faculty. Complete at least 180 hours of applied practice experience for the agency,
Sep-16
CGPH Thesis Guide
Page |9
Note: While 180 hours is the minimum number of hours required by the program, we encourage students to complete as many hours as appropriate or needed in order to enhance their experiential training. Arrange for periodic conferences with agency preceptor to discuss progress and obtain feedback on performance. Expectations of Applied Practice (Thesis) Faculty The Applied Practice Faculty work with the Program Administrator for Applied Practice to ensure that applied practice projects and sites are appropriate and review, and approved, student learning contracts. Faculty who serve as Thesis instructors oversee the course content for the Thesis course (Thesis: Practice & Integrative Learning Experiences GPH-GU 2360) to ensure that course objectives are reflective of program goals for the MPH degree. Key responsibilities of the faculty include: Providing feedback on appropriateness of applied practice experience and site Reviewing and approving Practice Learning Contract Overseeing NYU Classes reports and discussions; providing feedback and grades to students on assignments (course instructors) Guiding and advising students as needed throughout applied practice experience Advising students on any IRB related matters Addressing student and preceptor concerns Expectations of NYU CGPH Administration The CGPH Administration serves as the liaison between students, preceptors, university administration, and the faculty. As part of the CGPH Administration, the Program Administrator for Applied Practice establishing and maintains clear guidelines for students and preceptors and provides support and guidance to students as needed during the applied practice experience. Key responsibilities of the Administration include: Organizing all applied practice information sessions Meeting with students, individual and in groups, to discuss interests and potential applied practice opportunities Assisting students in their search for an applicable applied practice experience
Sep-16
CGPH Thesis Guide
Page | 10
Working with organizations to identify applicable applied practice experiences for students to expand database Offering guidance on travel and accommodations if international travel is a component of the applied practice experience Advising and supporting students, as needed, during the applied practice experience Expectations of Applied Practice Agency Preceptors The agency preceptor is the on-site professional responsible for the daily supervisor of the students during the applied practice experience. The preceptor should be a professional with a strong background in public health. Key responsibilities of the agency preceptor include: Identifying an applicable project in the field of public health to be completed by the student Working with the student to develop a learning contract and to create a realistic work schedule to complete all applied practice requirements Assigning responsibilities and tasks, related to the student’s goals, that will provide a challenging professional experience Ensuring that any research involving human subjects that is intended for publication has IRB approval and that the student’s role, if any, meets IRB requirements Provide suitable facilities and equipment for the student to perform their assigned work Meeting periodically with the student during the applied practice experience to assess progress and provide feedback about performance For international applied practice experiences: assisting in the locating of adequate living quarters and providing guidance on safety concerns and cultural norms Notify the CGPH faculty and/or administration of any potential problems or concerns regarding the student’s progress that cannot be resolved after speaking directly with the student Evaluate the student’s performance periodically using forms provided by the CGPH administration and course instructor
Sep-16
CGPH Thesis Guide
Page | 11
APPLIED PRACTICE (THESIS) ACADEMIC YEAR TIMELINE February
Information sessions for student completing Applied Practice in Summer or Fall 2017
March 15
Deadline to submit “Planning” worksheet for Summer 2017 Applied Practice Experiences
April 15
Deadline to submit Practice Learning Contract for Summer 2017 Applied Practice Experiences
May
Presentations for Spring 2017 Applied Practice Experiences
Sep-16
CGPH Thesis Guide
Page | 12
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS) When do students in the EPI and SBS concentrations complete the applied practice requirement? The timing of applied practice experience will vary among students and will depend on enrollment status (full-time vs. part-time). In general, students can begin their applied practice hours once they have completed 12 credit hours of courses and all required courses. Applied practice experiences for students planning to enroll in Thesis I must be completed the summer before beginning the Thesis I course. How many hours are required for applied practice? Students are required to complete a minimum of 180 hours of direct applied practice experience for the degree requirement. However, overall many projects may require a greater time commitment and we encourage students to complete as many hours as appropriate or needed in order to enhance their experiential training. We encourage organizations to be clear about the number of hours expected of the student before approval forms/learning contracts are signed. All hours must be completed no later than the summer before beginning the Thesis I course. Does the program place students in their applied practice experience site? No, the program does not formally place students with their applied practice experience site. Rather, we provide a variety of resources to students so that they can identify an applied practice experience that meets their individual learning objectives. Students who need help finding an applied practice experience should contact
[email protected]. What resources are available to students to identify applied practice experiences?? The program provides a variety of applied practice experience resources and opportunities to students. Our website identifies some resources; for others, please contact our office at
[email protected]. Can applied practice hours be completed abroad? Absolutely! We encourage students to travel abroad for their applied practice. Students may undertake applied practice experience hours abroad so long as they do not conflict with other class schedules. For Thesis students, this will be during the summer semester (mid-May to end-August).
Sep-16
CGPH Thesis Guide
Page | 13
What protocol do I need to be aware of if my applied practice experience will involve research with human subjects with my agency? Per the NYU University Committee on Activities Involving Human Subjects (UCHAIS), students must take/have taken the CITI tutorial or UCHAIS exam. If a student wishes to undertake research, he/she is advised to work on a project that has an established Principal Investigator. Students will be asked to ensure that the agency has its own IRB approval for the research. Agency preceptor should ensure that the students’ participation in the research adheres to the IRB approval. How do I obtain more information about the applied practice experience and courses? Please visit our website to learn about the applied practice experience. Students can also contact the NYU CGPH Office of Applied Practice and Experiential Learning at
[email protected] for more information.
Sep-16
