Applied Practice Experience
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What Is an Applied Practice Experience?
An applied practice experience (APE) is a unique opportunity that enables students to apply practical skills and knowledge learned through coursework to a professional public health setting that complements the student’s interests and career goals. This required 200-hour (minimum) experience is supervised by a Site Supervisor and requires approval from an APE Faculty Advisor designated by the student’s academic department at RSPH.
Students align their work with chosen MPH foundational competencies and concentration competencies and produce at least two deliverables that benefit the APE organization. Students work on their APE after completing at least nine credit hours towards their MPH.
Rollins students do APE work throughout the country and around the world and their work has benefited hundreds of public health organizations.
APE Examples
Examples of Places Where Students Have Completed APE Projects
- American Cancer Society
- CARE
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA)
- Historic Westside Gardens of Atlanta
- International Rescue Committee
- The Task Force for Global Health
- Walgreens Company
- WaterAid
For Students
Where to Find an APE
The applied practice experience (APE), while a degree requirement, provides degree-seeking students with an opportunity to gain real-world experience while applying skills and knowledge from their academic training. The APE must be competency-based and provide the student with the opportunity to attain a combination of foundational and concentration/department-related competencies.
When starting the process for identifying an APE, students should consider their career/professional goals and interests. It is important that students begin the process early and understand that they will need to use a combination of job search tools to secure an APE, including but not limited to RSPH Career Connection job postings, networking events, career fairs, LinkedIn contacts, external events, information sessions and workshops, career coaching appointments, and other resources. Students also have the opportunity to complete their APE at various industries, including research, proprietary, non-profit, government, health care, and others.
As a reminder, an APE is required to be approved by the department APE Advisor prior to starting the position to ensure it meets the requirement. It is also the student’s responsibility to secure an APE prior to graduation and ensure all approvals and documents are submitted on time.
APE opportunities may be paid or unpaid depending on funding available at the organization. Unpaid experiences still offer an immeasurable opportunity to build practical skills, gain professional skills, make a tangible difference, and open doors for future opportunities.
Current Students
More information about the APE program is available through 12Twenty.
For Employers
All Rollins students are required to participate in an applied practice experience (APE) in a public health setting, such as a federal/state/local public health organization, hospital, nonprofit, for-profit or non-government organization.
In addition to giving students a hands-on experience in their field, APE can help foster relationships among the public health community and provide organizations the opportunity to mentor a student at a pivotal point in their public health career.
Reasons organizations should consider offering opportunities for students:
- Recruit a potential new employee
- Mentor and contribute to the next generation of public health leaders
- Enhance the organization’s relationship with the RSPH and Emory University
- Increase awareness and exposure for the organization
- Receive assistance with completing projects and related tasks
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