They are the culminating experiences of the MPH program. The Field Placement is similar to an internship or a practicum, and the student will work with a public health agency on a project the agency identifies as a need. The Capstone Project consists of writing a Master’s Paper, and the student may or may not work with an agency, depending on the student’s topic.

Yes, both the Field Placement and Capstone Project are required courses. Students may apply for a waiver from the Field Placement requirement if they have a bachelor’s or advanced degree in health and at least five years of continuous, paid, public health experience. See the Field Placement Waiver webpage for further details.  Additionally, students who are conducting a traditional Field Placement must complete the Field Placement Preparation course (18279) the semester before enrolling in Field Placement.

Students should begin thinking about these courses when they enter the MPH program. The first step is to review this website and consider options and interests. Any questions or concerns that arise should be addressed to the Program Coordinator, Laura Conklin, MPH at lconklin@mcw.edu or 414-955-4510.

The Field Placement should be taken as one of the last courses in the MPH program, and the Capstone Project must be the final course. Students should be planning for these courses throughout the program, but intensive planning occurs during the semester before enrollment. Students must gain Program Coordinator approval prior to registering for either course.

These courses are similar in that they both require students to apply the knowledge they have gained through coursework; however, there are some distinctions between them:

Some project ideas might be appropriate for either course.  Questions and comments regarding project ideas should be discussed with the Program Coordinator, Laura Conklin, MPH at lconklin@mcw.edu or 414-955-4510.