Applied Practice Experience

What Is the Applied Practice Experience?

The Applied Practice Experience (APE) is the culminating field-based component of the Master of Public Health (MPH) program at NYU School of Global Public Health. It is required for all MPH students across our nine concentrations and provides students with the opportunity to apply the theory, concepts, and methods learned in the classroom to real-world public health settings.

Students may complete their Applied Practice Experience in the New York City area, elsewhere in the United States, or internationally. Timing and scope of work vary depending on the student’s concentration and placement site.

The APE structure varies by concentration:

• Biostatistics – MPH
• Community Health Sciences & Practice
• Epidemiology – MPH & MS
• Global Health (GH)
• Environmental Public Health (ENV)
• Public Health Nutrition
• Public Health Policy and Management
• Social and Behavioral Sciences

Please Note: International students completing an internship must apply for CPT (Curricular Practical Training), for both paid and unpaid internships completed outside of NYU or NYU Langone. Do not start any internship prior to obtaining approval for CPT.

Your Role as a Preceptor

As a current preceptor, you play a critical role in mentoring and supervising students throughout their Applied Practice Experience. You are the on-site professional responsible for overseeing the student’s day-to-day work and development.

We ask that you:

• Provide guidance and meaningful learning opportunities relevant to public health practice.
• Participate in periodic check-ins and evaluations using forms provided by GPH.
• Offer feedback and support to help students meet their required competencies and professional goals.

Preceptor Expectations & Guidelines

To support your role, we encourage you to review our Expectations and Guidelines for Preceptors for detailed information about responsibilities, timelines, and evaluation processes.

Have Questions?

If you have any questions or need additional support, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the GPH Office of Public Health Practice at gph.practice@nyu.edu.

Want to be a Preceptor?

The agency preceptor is the on-site professional responsible for supervising students daily during the Applied Practice Experience. We ask preceptors to evaluate the student's progress at various times during the Applied Practice Experience, using forms provided by the GPH administration, as well as through periodic meetings with the student to provide direct feedback.

Please read the Expectations and Guidelines for Preceptors to gain a better understanding of the roles and responsibilities of a preceptor. 

Have Questions?

For more information, please contact our GPH Office of Public Health Practice at gph.practice@nyu.edu.

Meet the Team: