Experiential & Educational Experiences

The Applied Practice Experience (APEx) provides MPH students hands-on experience in real-world public health settings. Working collaboratively with practice organizations, students apply classroom knowledge to meet community needs while advancing their professional goals. This experience results in tangible works products that demonstrate their skills to future employers. Learn more about the Applied Practice Experience (APEx) requirement. 

Public Health Practice & Global Engagement has formalized Academic Health Department (ACD) partnerships with Washtenaw County Health Department (2023) and Livingston County Health Department (2025). An AHD represents a formal affiliation between an academic institution and a public health practice organization to serve as sites for joint education, research, and practice, enabling the practice and academic communities to work together to develop the current and future public health workforce. Students engage through the ACD through internships, short projects, class experiences, tours, and informational meetings with the health department.

The Public Health Action Support Team is a student-driven group with a faculty advisor whose mission is to make public health practice opportunities more accessible to students. The main objective is to actively assist local and state health departments in meeting the demands of certain public health events, disasters and investigations.

Public Health & Global Engagement administers several awards to support internships and research for Master's level students. Explore your options for additional funding support.

Public Health Practice & Global Engagement provides funding programs to help students purse international experiences. In addition, many campus units provide financial support for global learning opportunities. Explore your options and learn how to fund your international experience.

Public Health 615- Public Health in Action: International is an intensive course to prepare students for a culminating week-long practice-based domestic experience designed to address existing and emerging public health priorities as defined by the respective communities and their academic partners. Students will be engaged directly with communities and exposed to the contextual, cultural, political and economic factors impacting health.

Public Health 616- Public Health in Action: National is an intensive course designed to provide students with hands-on applied learning through direct involvement in population health research, translation, and development. This course will focus on population health in a global context, working in partnership with governmental and non-governmental organizations culminating in a week-long international experience.

As the School of Public Health expands its contributions to interdisciplinary efforts across campus and around the globe, several global academic programs are offered by individual departments for students.

Public Health Practice & Global Engagement participates in the annual Public Health Honors Event offered by the University of Michigan School of Public Health by recognizing outstanding contributions to practice. Since 2022, the Practice Office has recognized a faculty or staff member for their excellence in practice, and in 2025, students became eligible for a service award. Read more about the award, past recipients, and submit a nomination. (Due in March annually) 

• Excellence in Practice Award. This award recognizes faculty/staff who have significantly contributed to public health practice through partnerships, experiential learning, and workforce development. Members of the PAC contribute to the nomination and selection process.
• Excellence in Practice Through Service Award. This award recognizes students who have contributed significantly to public health practice through a deep commitment to service that reaches beyond the School of Public Health, embodying the School’s commitment to fostering equitable partnerships with individuals, communities, and/or organizations.