Capstone Seminar I

Catalog description

The Capstone Project is the culminating experience for the Master of Public Health degree in which MPH students apply the knowledge and skills learned throughout the curriculum to public health problems in a chosen area of interest or skillset. To support this process, students are required to take two semester-long Capstone courses, Capstone I and Capstone II. During Capstone I, students will identify, design, and plan their project under the guidance of their Capstone Instructor. Students will also identify a Capstone Mentor/s, a public health professional with expertise in the field who will oversee the design and development of the project. Each student is required to conduct a comprehensive review of the relevant literature to ensure they understand the social, cultural, and environmental context of their public health problem of interest. Additionally, students are asked to pay particular attention to the relevant policy environment, the concept of evidence-based practice, and to the needs of vulnerable populations. The nature and scope of the project is determined jointly by the student, Capstone Mentor, and Capstone Instructor. By the end of Capstone I, students should have a solid idea of what their Capstone Project is and how to complete it.