Dear Colleague:

Thank you for your interest in the field placement program at Hunter College. Field work is an integral part of our training program. Your participation helps us to prepare qualified professional health educators at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Students are expected to use their placement as an opportunity to practice the skills and test the theories they have learned in the classroom. All undergraduate fieldwork students have completed their junior year in the Community Health Education Program.

Students are required to complete 210 hours during the Summer, 105 hours during the Fall, and 150 hours during the Spring semester.

All graduate fieldwork students have completed at least 20 credits including the following core courses: 'Principles of Community Health Education" and "Theory and Practice in Health Communication". Many of our graduate students enter the program with extensive practical experience in a particular field. The graduate field placement provides an opportunity for students to develop or sharpen their skills and apply new knowledge in a organizational setting that is different than that which they are already familiar. Graduate field placement students are required to complete six credits (420 hours) in a community based setting. These hours can be accomplished by working full time for 3 months or part time for a longer period.

Students can spend all their placement time in one location or no more than three different locations. A description of the responsibilities of the field placement program is attached. Prior to the end of the semester or the student's placement (whichever comes first), I will send you an evaluation form that can be used to assess the student's performance. Please note that only a master's prepared professional in a health or related field should be responsible for supervision and evaluation of the student.

We are also seeking to identify sites to host a multidisciplinary team comprised of two or more MPH students with specialized interests in community health education, environmental and occupational health, or nutrition. By working in teams, students will be able to provide a wider range of skills to address the complexity of urban health issues.

In order to facilitate student recruitment and to update our files, please fill in the attached Field Placement Opportunities form and return by email to bberney@hunter.cuny.edu or by fax to (212) 481-5260. For further discussion, please call me at (212) 481-5165.

To learn more about our master's program in Urban Public Health, please visit our web site at:    www.hunter.cuny.edu/health/uph.

Again, your support of the Urban Public Health Program at Hunter is greatly appreciated. I look forward to having the opportunity to work with you.

Sincerely,

 

Barbara Berney, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Coordinator of Field Placement