*As a part of the MPH degree, students must either complete a Master’s Project (thesis) or a 400 hour internship.

Master's Project Guidelines

The Master’s Project gives students an opportunity to apply knowledge and skills gained through coursework to a specific problem of significance in the field of health education and health promotion. This project must include original work. It is completed over a one-year period and represents 8 units (2 courses) of work. It can include original research, design of an intervention, or an evaluation or other work. The nature and parameters are negotiated by the student and the supervising faculty member (Project Supervisor). The Project Supervisor may or may not be the student's academic advisor. Each Project Supervisor will spend at least 10 hours providing guidance to each student project and evaluating the preliminary and final papers. The final paper will be read and critiqued by both the Project Supervisor and an additional faculty reader.

The Master's Project can address general or specific questions; e.g. the effectiveness of a new family planning service or an evaluation of a Health Department Clinic (general); the role of the pediatrician in counseling parents of handicapped children; the utilization of nutrition counseling by pregnancy Mexican-American women (specific).

Examples of Past Projects

  • Baseline assessment of knowledge related to human trafficking in service planning area 6 of Los Angeles County

  • Validation of Risk Factors Utilized in the Caries Management by Risk Assessment (CAMBRA) Tool Among Children Aged 0-5

  • Border health: A study of the health status of residents at the Mexican border, focusing on obesity, diabetes and tuberculosis

  • Reproductive Decision Making of Women in Methadone Clinics: A Mixed Methods Study

  • Farmers Market – Assessing degree of change in shoppers from farmer markets in South LA

  • A Moderator’s Guide for Strengthening Community Disaster Preparedness Utilizing Veteran Involvement

HUMAN SUBJECTS APPROVAL FOR MASTER'S PROJECT RESEARCH

A student must secure written approval from the Human Subjects Committee prior to undertaking any study involving human subjects, and after consultation with his/her advisor. The student will be required to submit an outline of the proposed study, using the appropriate forms available from the Office for the Protection of Research Subjects. If the student determines that an exemption is warranted, a "Statement of Exemption" form must be submitted for approval. It is the student's responsibility to submit the Human Subjects Committee Approval Application or exemption at least six weeks prior to the proposed date of commencement of research. 

FORMS

Master's Project Guidelines

Master's Project Scope of Work

Field Studies

Students interested in completing the 400 hour internship should visit the CCLE Course Webpage for more information.