Culminating Experience

To advance the public's health and well-being through education, research & service
with a focus on issues affecting Louisiana

The Culminating Experience requires students to "synthesize and integrate knowledge acquired in coursework and other learning experiences and to apply theory and principles in a situation that approximates some aspect of professional practice." (see Accreditation Criteria, Criterion 2.5, The Council on Education for Public Health, June, 2005). Students are expected to apply that knowledge to a significant topic of public health interest. It is designed to insure that all MPH graduates are able to integrate and apply knowledge and skills they have acquired in their core courses and through other experiences during master's level training; it is also the means
by which students show mastery of a body of public health core knowledge and the way in which students demonstrate their mastery of core and program competencies in public health. Core knowledge and skills in public health at LSU are acquired through public health training and in public health core courses in the following areas: biostatistics, epidemiology, behavioral and community health sciences, environmental and occupational health, and health policy and systems management. Program specific knowledge and skills in their chosen discipline are acquired through advanced coursework in one of the five disciplines listed above.

The Culminating Experience project at LSU is conducted independently by each student. There are two phases to this project. During the first phase, the student prepares a proposal for the Culminating Experience in consultation with the advisor and other relevant faculty. The proposal is submitted to a committee of five faculty and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. These five faculty, each representing their respective discipline, and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs comprise the Proposal Evaluation Committee. Each member of the Proposal Evaluation Committee is appointed by the respective program director. They will review the proposal to
ensure that it meets the competencies selected by the student in conjunction with the academic advisor. Upon approval, the students may begin the work on the project; this begins the second phase. Each student must produce a written report at the completion of the course. This report will be submitted to and graded by the faculty of the student's program. Guidance through and evaluation of the completed Culminating Experience is the responsibility of the Project Evaluation Committee, which is formed from faculty within the student's discipline.

Students register for PUBH 6600 Culminating Experience during the semester in which their project is to be completed, but they must begin planning for their project and submitting their proposal during the semester before they register for PUBH 6600 and complete the project and graduate. Although students register for only one semester, there is a substantial amount of preliminary work, and students must view this as a two-semester endeavor. However, students must register for and fulfill the requirements of their Culminating Experience within one semester.

Pre-Requisite: Students must have successfully completed the school-wide core course for all five of the MPH disciplines before registering for the Culminating Experience.

Culminating Experience Manual

Proposal Evaluation Form (Word version)

Evaluation Form (Word version)