1. THE APPLIED EXPERIENCE
A Requirement of the Public Health Studies Program,
An Opportunity for You.
Welcome to the Public Health Studies Applied Experience Overview. The Applied Experience is a supervised, hands-on, 80-hour experience working with public health professionals that all PHS students are required to complete as part of their undergraduate degree. To ensure that you have all the information you need to successfully complete your Applied Experience, we’ve developed this online overview and broken it into a few short modules.

2. Overview What is the purpose of the Applied Experience?
What qualifies as an Applied Experience opportunity?
What is required of the Applied Experience?
How do I start exploring my Applied Experience options?
How do I start my Applied Experience?
How do I complete my Applied Experience requirement?
First, we’ll talk through what the purpose of the Applied Experience is, as well as what qualifies as an Applied Experience opportunity. Second, we’ll walk through what is required from the Applied Experience, and how you can take steps to start exploring your Applied Experience options. Lastly, we’ll talk about how you can get started fulfilling your Applied Experience, as well as the various steps you’ll need to take in order to successfully fulfill the AE requirement.

3. UNDERSTANDING THE APPLIED EXPERIENCE AND EXPLORING OPTIONS
Once you’ve identified the Applied Experience you want to pursue, the next step is to approach your potential supervisor there. Here are some tips for doing so...

4. What is the purpose of the Applied Experience?
Gain hands-on work experience in a professional public health setting
Actively apply knowledge and skills obtained through coursework to a real-world issue
Connect an individual experience to broader public health concepts
Begin to develop a sense of professionalism within the field of public health
Effectively communicate the public health relevance of a specific project or program

5. What qualifies as an Applied Experience?
The position must be:
At least 80 hours with one organization, PI, study, etc.
Completed within one calendar year
Public Health focused
Under the direction of a non-student supervisor (ideally with mentorship)
AND
DISCUSSED with your PHS Advisor and PRE-APPROVED by the Applied Experience Instructor
First, the key details. Your AE should be 80 hours at one site, whether that’s at a specific organization, focused on a particular research project, or engaging with a specific faculty member. The 80 hours do not need to be completed all at once, but they do have to be finished within one calendar year from the time you formally enroll in the AE section on blackboard. Of course, the Applied Experience must be public health focused -- what we mean by that is that there MUST be a public health significance to the work that you are doing -- whether that is to public health topics you’ve learned in class or other public health issues that exist. Research that you are conducting that doesn’t have direct public health significance cannot be counted as your AE requirement. Lastly, the AE must be under the direction of a non-student supervisor, and the hope is that your supervisor will have the opportunity to work with you on skills you hope to develop, or provide broader advisorship/mentorship. Finally, in order to ensure that your AE meets all of these criteria, we do require that your AE first be vetted and discussed with your PHS advisor, and then approved by the Applied Experience Instructor -- and we’ll talk about the process for doing that shortly.

6. Where can you complete the AE?
Local
Elsewhere in the US
Abroad
Some study abroad programs may qualify, particularly Boston University Internship programs, SIT (School for International Training), and CIEE Service Learning.
As long as it abides by the official criteria for the AE
AEs can be completed in a variety of settings: here in Baltimore, other locations domestically, or, in some cases, internationally as well -- as noted here, some study abroad programs with strong experience components to them may qualify, particularly those offered by BU, SIT, and CIEE. As long as the criteria discussed on the last slide all apply and the proposal has been pre-approved by the AE instructor, it can count as the AE.

7. What work can qualify for the AE?
In a community setting
Faith-based
Non-profit
Grass roots
In a research setting
Natural OR Social Science
In a clinical setting
Medical tutorials generally do NOT qualify for the AE
Credit is not given for paid work, but paid work can still satisfy the Applied Experience (AE) requirement for the Public Health Studies (PHS) Major
You also cannot receive AE credit if you are already receiving credit for the same experience as research, independent study, etc., but it may still satisfy the requirement
A number of different organizations could serve as your AE placement site. For example, a faith-based institution doing health education or outreach work would qualify, as would a local non-profit or grass-roots organization. Again, the most important thing here is public health significance. If the work you are doing is research-focused rather than practice-focused, both natural and social sciences could be relevant, provided the work still falls under the umbrella of public health of course. Work in a clinical setting could qualify, but medical tutorials that are limited to clinical interaction with patients typically will not qualify.
Work that you are getting paid for can satisfy the AE requirement; however, credit is not given for paid work. Similarly, if you are already receiving research or independent study credit for that experience, you cannot also receive AE credit for it -- however, it could satisfy the requirement.

8. How do I start exploring AE options?
Established courses
Practicum in Community Health
Study Abroad
Campus Organizations
Health Leads, THREAD, SALUD…
On-Campus Resources
The PHS Weekly Announcements
Handshake
Student Employment
Center for Social Concern
Personal contacts – family friends, past employers, professors, peers
End Module 1. To start exploring different AE options, here are a few suggestions:

9. Ready to start the conversation?
ALREADY FOUND A SUPERVISOR OR SITE THAT YOU ARE INTERESTED IN PURSUING?
Ready to start the conversation?
Start Module 2. Once you’ve identified the Applied Experience you want to pursue, the next step is to approach your potential supervisor there. Here are some tips for doing so...

10. How to approach a potential supervisor:
Identify your interest
Find connections through Hopkins if they exist (does the Center for Social Concern or a student organization already work with them?)
Make sure the site is compatible with your schedule and transportation needs
Contact site person via telephone. If there is voic , leave a message including your name and contact number. If no response within 48 hours, try calling again.
Or, start with a well-crafted …

11. Why is email etiquette important?
Make a good first impression
Establish a professional relationship
Communicate effectively with a minimal amount of s
As you reach out to a potential site, here are some things to keep in mind...

12. Some basic tips
Establish a work . Either use your jhu.edu account, or a professional address with your name.
Be sure to use the recipient’s correct title (Dr. , Professor, etc.).
Make the subject of your specific.
Maintain a formal and professional tone.
Keep the communication direct and concise.
Keep the message thread – it’s helpful in reminding your contact of your earlier conversations.
Use spell check, and avoid text speak and abbreviations.
Make sure any attachment is attached!

13. One example

14. How do I start my Applied Experience?
Credit
Submit AE Proposal through Blackboard
Receive approval from Advisor
Enroll in AE section as instructed
Complete gold “Undergraduate Research, Independent Study, Internship an Departmental Thesis form” for 1-2 credits, depending on your timeline for completion, and submit to the registrar
Discuss your idea with your PHS Advisor
End Module 2. Once you’ve identified a potential site, there are a few steps to take care of before you get formal approval and can start. The first is to determine if you will be pursuing your AE for credit or not –remember, a paid position may qualify for the AE requirement, but cannot also earn credit. At any time during this process, you can feel free to talk through your AE ideas with your advisor or the AE instructor, who can provide guidance and additional connections that might be useful. However, when you’re sure that you want to move forward, you will need to complete the AE Proposal Form that is located in the Blackboard PHS Communities Forum. Just go into the community that is tagged to your graduating year and you will see a pinned entry for the AE Proposal Form. When you fill it out, the AE instructor will get an with the relevant information, review it, and let you know if you have received approval. For those who will pursue the AE for-credit, you will also receive instructions on how to complete a gold independent academic credit form and submit it to the registrar within the appropriate timeline for completing the AE. Once you have received approval, you will also be enrolled in the appropriate AE section.
Not for Credit
Submit AE Proposal through Blackboard
Receive approval from Advisor
Enroll in AE section as instructed

15. I’VE SECURED MY APPLIED EXPERIENCE. WHAT ARE THE ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS?
Start Module 3. Once you’ve identified the Applied Experience you want to pursue, the next step is to approach your potential supervisor there. Here are some tips for doing so...

16. What are the academic components required to complete the AE?
During your AE you will complete three reflection journal entries (2 pages double-spaced) and a final synthesizing assignment
The synthesizing assignment connects your individual experience to the broader world of public health. The format for your SA is an academic poster – this can be used for any AE site, research or otherwise. A 10 minute voiceover recording via Voicethread, transcript, and abstract are also required.
Prior to producing the synthesizing assignment you must submit a synthesizing assignment proposal and secure approval from the AE instructor

17. How do I complete my Applied Experience?
Complete Syllabus Agreement
Complete Reflections
Submit Synthesizing Assignment Proposal
Poster Presentation
Complete Synthesizing Assignment Abstract
Complete Synthesizing Assignment (poster + voicethread)
Once you’re enrolled in the AE section,[LF1] you have a year to complete your hours; however once you launch your AE you will need to stick to the timeline of the semester that you’ve enrolled in . As mentioned previously, there are a few items you will need to complete. The first of these is the syllabus agreement which should be the first thing you fill out upon reading through the syllabus. Any specific information you need about the AE requirements will be repeated in the Syllabus, so make sure to look through that thoroughly. Once you begin your AE, you will also be completing regular reflections. The purpose of the reflection is to explore learnings, questions, and other ongoing lessons from your Applied Experience. We’re looking for content beyond just transactional descriptions of the work that you’re doing. They should be around 2 pages double-spaced, and a rubric is available on Blackboard in terms of what makes a satisfactory reflection and what does not.
Submit Memorandum of Completion
Complete Exit Survey

18. How do I complete my Applied Experience?
Complete Syllabus Agreement
Complete Syllabus Agreement
Complete Reflections
Complete Reflections
Submit Synthesizing Assignment Proposal
Poster Presentation
Complete Synthesizing Assignment Abstract
Complete Synthesizing Assignment (poster + voicethread)
As you near the end of your AE, you will be required to complete a Synthesizing Assignment proposal that will enable the AE Instructor to let you know if you’re on the right track or not. After that has been approved, you will develop your poster and the accompanying voicethread. All requirements for the SA are available in adetailed document on Blackboard. The rubric for grading your SA is directly based off of that guideline document. The final step to receiving credit for completion of your AE requirement is to share your synthesizing assignment in a public poster event. There are at least two options a year to do so at JHU, and some AE opportunities have a poster session built in. Details will be disseminated by, and discussed and finalized with the AE Instructor. You will also have a chance to provide feedback on your site so that information can be shared with other students looking for AE opportunities”
Submit Memorandum of Completion
Complete Exit Survey

19. Remember that you are a representative of Hopkins
We ask that you:
Show up when expected
Be respectful
Maintain a positive attitude
Be proactive, and…
Finally, remember that your Applied Experience is a great opportunity to see public health up close, outside of the classroom. As a representative of the university, we ask you to take the experience seriously and view it as a snapshot of professional work down the line. Given that, we expect you to show up on time and when asked, to be respectful of your peers, colleagues, and supervisors, to maintain a positive attitude if things are going more slowly or just differently than you expected, and to be proactive. If you have questions, suggestions, or want to work on something within the context of your project, communicate! Most of all, we want you to

20. ENJOY!
Lisa Folda, Assistant Director of the Public Health Studies Program
To make an appointment:
Enjoy! Your Applied Experience should be a fulfilling, eye-opening, unique experience that helps you determine what aspects of public health interest you and, perhaps what aspects don’t. We look forward to hearing your interests and to seeing your proposals. If you have any questions, please reach out to Lisa Folda at