Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Who should do the Field Experience?
The accreditation criterion of the Council on Education for Public Health requires all MPH students to complete a supervised field experience in a public health setting.

2. Can a prior professional experience be considered a Field Experience?
Prior professional experience normally does not satisfy this requirement. The field experience must involve a project with defined objectives and evaluation criteria. (For exceptions contact your major coordinator)

3. Does all of the paperwork have to be completed before I start the field experience?
The online contract for the field experience has to be completed before you start the field experience. If it is an international field experience, you have to indicate so in the contract, and you must complete the release and waiver (part of the contract) prior to your departure.

4. What is the release and waiver for?
It is a document that states the liability of the University for the students who are undergoing international field experiences. A copy of it is kept in the Learning Abroad Center for identification purposes in the event the University needed to contact the student due to war, political instability, or other danger in the destination country.

5. My preceptor does not have access to the internet.  What can I do to complete the paper work?
Consult with your major coordinator first to get approval to use paper forms. Paper forms can be printed from the online forms login area using your X500 University ID and password.

6. When do I register for the Field Experience credits? Can I register for those credits after completing the field experience?
It is strongly recommended you register for your field experience credits before you begin. You may register for the field experience credits the semester after completing it, but you need the consent of your major coordinator before registering.

7. How do I know how many credits hours to register for?
There are two places you can find the minimum number of credits required by your major. First, you can look on the Field Experience Requirements section of this site, under credits. Second, you can find it in the Field Experience section of your student guidebook.

8. What is the maximum number of credits that I can register for?
You can register for a maximum of five credits with your faculty advisor consent.

9. Is there a minimum number of hours that the Field Experience needs to be?
Yes, there is minimum number of hours, but this depends on your major and how many minimum credits you are required to take. You can find this information on this site under Field Experience Requirements under credits or in the Field Experience of your student guidebook.

10. I am thinking about doing a global health concentration. If I decide to do that will my field experience need to have something to do with global health?
No, your field experience does not necessarily have to pertain to global health, although you are strongly encouraged to find a field experience that is relevant to your degree and interests.

11. Can a student get paid for a Field Experience?
Yes, a student may be paid, but this is not the norm.

12. What immunizations are required before beginning the Field Experience?
The AHC required immunizations, and for international field experiences in addition to the AHC immunizations, students must get all the required immunizations and documentations needed by their destination country. It is a good idea to complete all the recommended immunizations as well.

13. How can I check if I’m in compliance with the immunization requirements? What do I need to do, if I’m not in compliance with the immunization requirements?
To check if you are in compliance with AHC immunization requirements:
1. Visit the myU portal at http://www.myu.umn.edu
2. Click on "My Health & Wellness." Under “immunizations” you can check to see if all your immunizations are verified. If not, you will find links to policies and required forms.

 14. What is HIPAA?
HIPAA is required by the ACH for all students at the School of Public Health. HIPAA stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 and requires us to implement processes with respect to protected health information as well as inform individuals about how we protect their information.
            * More HIPAA information
            * View the HIPAA awareness video

15. How can I check if I’m in compliance with HIPAA?What do I need to do, if I’m not in compliance with HIPAA?
To check if you need to complete any HIPAA courses go to the myU portal at www.myu.umn.edu and click on the "My Academics & Career" tab. Under "U of M Privacy and Security Training", you will find the courses listed that you need to complete, and a link to complete them.

16. When do I receive my grade for the field experience?
Grades for the field experience are submitted when the faculty advisor and the major coordinator have accepted and approved both the student’s and preceptor’s evaluations of the field experience. S/N is the only grading option available.

17. When can I start my Field Experience?
It is advised to complete the field experience after you complete your second semester, so that you will be prepared to apply what you studied.

18. Do I have to start and complete the Field Experience in the same semester?
No, the field experience can be either completed in one semester, or in two or more semesters. You have to arrange the timing with your faculty advisor and coordinator.

19. What will happen if I have already registered for the Field Experience and couldn’t complete it in the same semester?
You will get a grade of “K” (incomplete) and when you complete the field experience it will be changed to S/N. (It is important to let your faculty advisor know the situation.)

20. How do I get a permission number to register for the Field Experience?
When the contract is complete and signed by everyone, the coordinator will activate your student ID to make you eligible to register for the field experience.

21. Are the requirements for the local, national and international field experiences are same?
The requirements for the local and national experiences are the same.  There are additional requirements for the international field experiences in addition to the general requirements.

22. How do I find a Field Experience?
* Contact your Field Experience Faculty Advisor and other faculty who have similar interests to the area in which you would like to do your field experience.  Search faculty expertise and interests (PDF)
* Check current postings at:
SPH Career Services
Local and national opportunities
Global opportunities
Public health jobs
* Access the searchable database to see where other students have conducted their field experiences. (Login required)
* Network to find your Field Experience! (Great practice for job search in the future!) Explore networking tips

23. What if I have no clue of what I want to do for a Field Experience?
You can get help and advice from your faculty advisor. Or you can check students’ previous field experiences database (login required) to get an idea of what to do. 

24. Can my faculty advisor also be my Field Experience preceptor?
No, your field experience preceptor will be the field advisor where you do your field experience and he or she should be different than your field experience faculty advisor.

25. I would like to do the Field Experience at my place of employment. Is this possible?
Yes, with your faculty advisor and coordinator’s consent.

26. Do I need a background check before I start my Field Experience?
Certain facilities are required by Minnesota law to submit paperwork for a criminal background check for all personnel with direct, unsupervised client contact. If you are placed in such a facility, you may be asked by the institution to submit paperwork, or the institution may require that you have this check facilitated by the School of Public Health.  You may call The School of Public Health Student Services Center at 612.626.3500 or come to D305 Mayo, University of Minnesota Minneapolis campus for assistance.

27. What is permission for the human-subject review?
Based on the proposed work scope for the field experience (for example working and collecting data directly from people), certain facilities require permission from the Human Subjects Committee (Institutional Review Board).

28. How do I know if I need to complete permission for a human-subjects review?
The organization where you will conduct your field experience will notify you if such permission is needed.

29. What is the confidentiality agreement? And when do I need one?
Some agencies may ask students to sign agreements concerning confidentiality of data or other data practices. This may be especially true in those settings where students will have access to personal identifiers.

30. Is there a way to check if I did all the required steps to complete the Field Experience?
Yes, there is a checklist provided depending on the type of the field experience (local/ national or International). You can access the checklist from the resources page, or you can get the students’ checklist from the “for students” link under View "Before" Resources.

31. Where can I get the Field Experience forms?
You can get sample forms from the resources page in the field experience website, and there you will also find a link to official forms (this requires login). You can also access the official forms directly from the resources page.

 32. What if I have a trouble with my preceptor during my Field Experience?
You can post your problem in the discussion board to get suggestions on how to deal with the problem, and try to work the problem with your preceptor. If you fail to reach a common ground with your preceptor get suggestions from your faculty advisor on what to do. You may also contact your major coordinator.

33. What if I have technical problems accessing or completing the online forms (contract, evaluation)?
If you have a technical problem contact Barbara Smith at bjs@umn.edu.