The Applied Practice Experience (APE) is a 1-credit, brief work-based learning experience at a public health organization of your choice (with assistance from the APE Instructors).

APE Activities

• 15 hours of direct contact with APE Instructors
• 20 or more hours outside the classroom at the student-selected agency
• 10 hours of work on your electronic portfolio products.

Applied Practice Experiences create opportunities to assess population needs, assets, and capacities that affect communities health. Students apply awareness of cultural values and practices to the design or implementation of public health policies or programs, propose strategies to identify stakeholders and build coalitions and partnerships for influencing public health outcomes, select communication strategies for different audiences and sectors, and perform effectively on inter-professional teams.

The APE Faculty Coach and Instructor is Kelsey Gleason, contact her at Kelsey.Gleason@UVM.edu

The APE Career Development Coach and Instructor is Heather Palow, contact her at Heather.Palow@uvm.edu

Typical APE Schedule

Fall Preparatory Semester
You explore APE options in your area and identify a public health organization and Preceptor employed by that organization where you will perform your activities. You will communicate with the prospective Preceptor about the contents of a Preceptor Planning Form that you submit via Blackboard. 

While engaging with prospective Preceptors at public health organizations you will receive assistance improving your professional career documents including your LinkedIn (or WordPress) electronic profile, resume, and cover letter. 

You will review completed samples of the Preceptor Planning Form during the Fall semester to assist you in speaking with potential Preceptors.

Students will finalize plans and submit completed Preceptor Planning Form for their spring APE activities.

Spring Semester
Upon receiving signed approval by the UVM APE Faculty and Career Development Coaches, students begin their onsite work by end of January and complete onsite activities by early April. 

Students usually spend a few hours per week for approximately 4 weeks onsite participating in APE related activities.

Additional hours are spent completing brief Blackboard assignments, and completing the two items for the electronic student portfolio that showcases your knowledge and skills gained during previous MPH courses and the Applied Practice Experience. 

APE Sample Products

During your APE, 2 products are created. Students create a variety of items based on your interests and the organizations needs. Find a sample of products created by students in the past, here.

APE Sample Locations

Find a map of sample locations, here