Your practicum and your ADP - when to schedule?
The Practicum course is listed on your Academic Degree Plan you received from your Enrollment Counselor when you entered the Program. If you want to register for your Practicum at a different time, you may do so - but it is important to discuss your options with your academic advisor to avoid unwanted gaps in your schedule. Here are some things to think about:
When is the Practicum scheduled now?
If you do not have a copy of your Academic Degree Plan (ADP), you may request a copy from your Academic Advisor.
Think about when you want to work on the bulk of your Practicum hours.
Remember that you have two parts to your Practicum that you complete sequentially. First you complete your Applied Learning Experience (APE) - expect to expend at least 180 hours total on your APE (that does not include the time on hold that will inevitably occur as you wait for things to get approved). Then you will need to complete your Integrated Learning Experience (ILE). Expect to revise your final ILE product several times - so plan on having your first draft completed no later than 1 months before the end of your Practicum term.
You have two primary choices: You can either work full-time on your Practicum in one block of time, or you can spread the work out over a prolonged period of time, grabbing hours as you can. Either way, plan on using the bulk of your first block in the Practicum finding a Practicum location, getting the Practicum set up and preparing your APE Learning Agreement. Then consider taking only one course - or no courses - that following block so that you can concentrate on completing your APE & ILE. Also consider using the 5-6 week break between SPB2 and FAB1: Note that if you enroll in the Practicum in SPB2, you not only get SPB2 and FAB1 to complete your practicum, but also the 5-6 weeks in between.
For ASDOH and MOSDOH students, consider using the summer rotation between your D3 and D4 years to complete the APE portion of your Practicum. If you choose this option, then your Practicum may best be scheduled for SPB2. However, do NOT fall into the trap of thinking that you can then wait to start working on your practicum until closer to summer. Planning and getting signatures may take a LOT more time than you think, and you could miss that opportunity. If you have other plans for the summer rotation, then you might want to think about scheduling your Practicum for SPB1, so that you can complete the practicum before you start rotations. Alternatively, you may use a clinical rotation location as your practicum site. If this is your choice, then please plan ahead.
You can leave your Practicum scheduled around the end of your second year in order to complete your Practicum before or at the same time that you complete the rest of your classes. Or you can schedule your Practicum at the end of your studies. If you want to schedule your Practicum somewhere different than where it is currently in your ADP, or if you want to reschedule your courses around your Practicum, contact your Academic Advisor to discuss your options.
Financial considerations: You are now required to be enrolled in a minimum number of credits per semester in order to qualify for financial aid. Since courses are usually not offered every block, it is very important to discuss your schedule options with your academic advisor in order to meet financial aid requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Should I be contacting the place where I plan to do the APE portion of my practicum now, or should I wait until I am enrolled in the course?
A. It is up to you. Some students want to get as much set up as they can before they are enrolled in the course, and others do not even think about it until the course starts. Both approaches are acceptable. Just remember that you cannot begin to actually work on the APE until you are enrolled in the course and have all the preliminary paperwork - including an approved APE Learning Agreement - turned in. While you have a full two blocks to set the project up and complete both the APE and the ILE, you may be surprised at just how quickly those two blocks can get away from you.
Q. Do I have to come up with a project for either my APE or ILE or will I be given one?
A. It is your responsibility to develop your project(s). Very often the organization you do your APE with will have projects they will benefit from. A good approach is to tell them what the practicum is and ask if they have an issue or project that they could use your help with. Then work out with your preceptor what your products could be. You will assigned a faculty advisor for the APE and ILE. Once you have a site and a project idea, your APE advisor will work with you and your preceptor to help you flesh out the details, scope and structure of your project and products. Similarly, your advisor will work with you to help you plan an appropriate final product for the ILE.
Q. I'm not enrolled in the course yet, but I have some ideas for either the APE or the ILE that I would like some feedback on. Is there someone I can talk to?
A. Absolutely. The Practicum Director is Dr. Greg Loeben (gloeben@atsu.edu), and he would be happy to answer your questions.
Q. OK, I found a public health facility and a preceptor - when can I start work on the APE?
A. Both the site and the preceptor must be approved by the Practicum Director. This requirement may be met by submitting the "Site and Preceptor Approval" form and your preceptor's CV/resume or the Preceptor Credentials form. You must have the following items in place before you will be allowed to begin working on your products:
Q. What is the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)?
A. The MOA is a legal document between the practicum site and the University. It spells out various issues such as liability, insurance, length of agreement, etc. Often you may not begin work on your APE until it is completed. There are many factors that influence how long it takes to get the MOA signed by your practicum site, so begin this process as early as you can once you have found a site. If your site wants to make changes to the form, please contact Dr. Greg Loeben (gloeben@atsu.edu) to assist. Such changes may be allowed, but they must be approved by the University's legal counsel. We can usually review and reach a decision regarding changes relatively quickly.
Q. Oh my gosh, my preceptor just told me that it might take 3 months just to get the MOA approved! What should I do?
A. Talk to your APE advisor and/or the Practicum Director. You may be able to start work on at least some portions of the APE while you are waiting for the MOA to be approved. Or you can start to think about what your ILE might be. Under most circumstances, however, you will need to wait until the MOA is approved to start work on your APE and will start on your ILE only after your APE is complete, or nearly so. So hopefully you listened to our warnings and started looking for an APE location early. If so, then you should have some breathing room even with such a long wait. But we did warn you: if you waited until the last minute to start your search, then you may find it difficult to complete your APE and ILE before the end of two blocks.
Q. Would it be permissible to complete an APE by telecommuting for the most part, with just a handful of days where I'm physically present at the agency?
This question may arise if you have a lengthy commute to the facility or if your regular job has you traveling most of the time, etc.
A. Ask your APE advisor. The APE is meant to be a real world experience, where you get to participate at another location / worksite, as well as interact with the people. There may be exceptions, depending on the circumstances.
Q. Can I bring work home?
A. You do not have a set amount of hours that you need to be on site. Keep in mind that the purpose of the practicum is to provide you with hands on experience. So as much of the work as possible should be completed within the public health setting chosen for your APE - this is for your learning (and networking) benefit. Some support work may be done at home or other setting, with permission from your preceptor.
Q. I work in a public health setting. Can I just do my APE where I work?
A. Generally, we prefer that you find a separate setting for your APE. However, in some cases, this arrangement can be allowed. Your APE products would have to be something completely separate from your normal work duties, and your preceptor must be someone other than your current supervisor.
Q. I'm enrolled in the MPH-Dental Emphasis program. Do my APE and/or ILE have to have a dental focus?
A. No. Your APE and ILE only need to have a public health focus. We encourage you to broaden your horizons and consider an interdisciplinary APE/ILE or one outside of dentistry. The choice is yours.