Before Starting Your Field Experience
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Field Experience Sequence of Events:
- The field experience is intended to complement the knowledge and skills learned in classes, and provide an opportunity to apply that knowledge and those skills in a practice-based setting. Therefore, it should be done after completion of at least half of the student's coursework is complete. Students are encouraged to meet with their faculty advisors to discuss and assess their personal, educational and professional goals in order to develop a tentative plan for their field experience.
- It is the responsibility of the student to make final arrangements for field placement with the field preceptor. The faculty advisor is available to facilitate placement. The Student Worksheet, Overall Objectives for Field Experience may serve as a guide in field experience planning.
- Prior to beginning the field experience, students should meet with their field preceptor. At this time, students should present a resume and discuss goals and objectives for the field experience. The field preceptor provides orientation materials and overview of the agency.
- After negotiating mutually acceptable goals and timelines, finalized objectives for the field experience are established and should be recorded on the Field Experience Contract form, be reviewed and approved by the field preceptor, faculty advisor and student, and submitted to the Major Coordinator.
- Midway through the field experience, students should set aside time for discussion and evaluation of progress toward outlined objectives with their field preceptor. (Note: Regular communication is essential for all involved. Students should notify their major coordinator of problems, or inappropriate placements IMMEDIATELY).
- Upon completion of the field experience, students should be evaluated by their field preceptor using the Preceptor Evaluation of Field Experience form. Students should evaluate their experience using the Student Evaluation of Field Experience form. Both evaluations are submitted to the faculty advisor and sent to the major coordinator, who approves the credits.
Forms to be used in the field experiences (worksheet, contract, preceptor evaluation, student evaluation) are available from the Field Experience Web site at www.ahc.umn.edu/sphfieldexp/
Certain facilities are required by Minnesota law to submit paperwork for a criminal background check, IRB approval, HIPAA, and/or immunizations. Make sure to allow enough time to provide the proper documentation as needed.
Looking for a list of characteristics for a good field experience site or for examples of agencies with which students might seek affiliation?
How to find a field experience:
- Contact you Field Experience Faculty Advisor.
- Contact other faculties who have same interest as your field experience area of interest, search faculty expertise and interests (PDF)
- Increase and improve your networking. Explore networking tips
- Check current postings at:
SPH Career Services
Local and national opportunities
Global opportunities
Public health jobs
- Or you can access the searchable database for previous experiences.(login required)
- Learn more about desirable preceptor traits
- Search preceptors interest and expertise (login required)
- Learn more about funding resources (PDF)
- Field Experience Scholarships for SPH Students
- For other funding resources you can check:
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• Field Experience Checklist (Local & National) • Field Experience Checklist (International) |