Site Selection Criteria

Characteristics needed in the site where students will conduct the field experience:

• It should have needs that match the needs of the student. i.e. it should fulfill the student’s stated objectives.
• It should allow the student to practice and apply the competencies learned in the academic program (e.g., assessment, program planning, evaluation, management, data analysis, policy development, etc.)
• It should have a preceptor with public health background, willing and able to supervise the student daily activities.
• It should be able to offer the suitable contacts (patients, public health practitioners, etc) as needed by the student.
• It should allow the student to engage in the agency activities (meetings, reports, etc) when appropriate.
• It should exhibit a willingness to provide support, such as a desk, phone, and accessories as appropriate.
• It should be approved by your faculty advisor.

Examples of field experience sites:

The School of Public Health believes that a wide range of organizations and agencies can provide valuable field experiences for students. In general, any organization that provides, plans for, coordinates, organizes, pays for, or regulates public health services is a valid training site. Some examples are listed below:

• Federal agencies: Department of Health and Human Services, Veterans Administration, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
• State, county, or city health departments
• Other state and local health and social service agencies
• Managed care organizations
• Insurance companies
• Neighborhood health centers and community clinics
• Hospitals (public, not-for-profit, for-profit, psychiatric, rehabilitation)
• Community mental health centers
• Environmental health consulting companies
• Industrial settings
• Multi-specialty medical practices

Some Web sites for agencies with which students might seek affiliation for field experience include:  

• BlueCross BlueShield Association
• National Business Group on Health
• Center for Disease Control and Prevention
• Community-University Health Care Center
• Environmental Quality Board
• Mayo Management Services
• Metropolitan Council
• Metropolitan Waste Control Commission
• Minneapolis Water Department
• Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
• Minnesota International Health Volunteers
• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
• Minnesota State Health Department
• Minnesota State Planning Agency 
• National Institute of Health
• Physicians for Human Rights
• St. Paul Water Department
• Transdisciplinary Tobacco Use Research Center
• US Food and Drug Administration   
• There may also be 58 possibilities for assignments with local health department units of the cities of Minneapolis, Bloomington, Edina, St. Louis Park, Fridley, and Richfield, or with the Anoka, Ramsey, or Scott County Health Departments, etc.

Some possible Web sites for international field experiences include:

• Care Cambodia, Cambodia
• Minnesota International Health Volunteers
• Physicians for Human Rights
• ReliefWeb.com
• SOS Children's Village, Cairo
• World Health Organization, Switzerland