Please see below for a general overview of Field Immersion and Experiential Learning of the DrPH Program. Resources and information specific to the type of field immersion experience can be accessed via the drop-down menu on the left.
Field Immersion & Experiential Learning Overview
| Team-Based Case Development Immersion 4-5 months; November to March |
- An intentional process of organizing to learn in a real-world setting. Students stretch forward in their leadership development and intentionally focus on the foundations of teaming as they take on a case writing project that addresses a public health challenge or issue and related team and organizational processes, within the context of an organization.
- Fall 1
- Preliminary descriptions of cases are presented to the cohort by course instructor, providing an opportunity for students to learn about the public health issue and the project and scope of work to be researched and documented by the student team.
- Students teams are formed by mid-October in preparation for Enabling Teams (DrPH 250) and Team Based Case Development Immersion: Dynamics of Teams in Systems (DrPH 255) in Fall 2.
- Fall 2
- Students are enrolled in Team Based Case Development Immersion: Dynamics of Teams in Systems (DrPH 255A) and begin meeting with team mentors, developing case guides and connecting with their organizations, engaging in research and preparing for interviews.
- Case skills are reinforced in Enabling Teams (DrPH 250) through study of team theory and engagement with in-class mini cases.
- Student teams are conduct introductory meetings with their host organization over Fall 2.
- Winter & Spring 1
- Students are enrolled in Team Based Case Development Immersion: Dynamics of Teams in Systems (DrPH 255 B and C).
- Student teams engage with host organizations, engage deeply in case content development and writing, for three weeks in the January (“J”) term and continue their work with their hosts and mentors to complete deliverables over February/March in Spring 1 during Enabling Large Scale Change (DrPH 251).
- This field immersion experience is with host organizations located in the Boston/Metro Boston. Students may receive a stipend to cover transportation expenses as required.
- Students need to register for DrPH 255 Winter and Spring terms.
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| Summer 2 Field Immersion 8-10 Weeks; May to August |
- Full-time, individual experiences where students concentrate on developing new competencies and advancing existing skills to tackle a public health issue or challenge.
- The DrPH Program supports students in identifying field immersion opportunities beginning early November with 1:1 networking / career development conversations with the Assistant Director of Field Practice, advisors and other mentors.
- Students are not funded by the program for this experience but are encouraged to seek compensation from their host organization or funding from other third-party sources.
- Students need to register for DrPH 305 Summer (10 credits)
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| Winter 2 Experiential Learning 3 Weeks; January |
- Students focus on strengthening tools for leadership, furthering ideas and goals regarding the DELTA Doctoral Project Thesis and/or integrating public health concepts and theories into practice.
- Some examples can include participation in a Harvard Winter Session trip or formal field immersion experience, enrollment in a course that will strengthen one of the main competency domains of the Program, exploration of and visits to potential organizations for the DELTA Doctoral Project, and pursuing work on a research question that is related to your DELTA Doctoral Project.
- The DrPH Program supports students in identifying field immersion opportunities through the DELTA Seminar (DrPH 290A).
- Students are not funded by the program for this experience but are encouraged to negotiate compensation with their host organizations.
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