Office of Applied Public Health (OAPH)
The Office of Applied Public Health (OAPH) supports students in applying the knowledge, skills, and theories learned in the classroom to real- world public health issues outside of the classroom. The Office builds relationships between academic, public health and government agencies, healthcare organizations, non-profit organizations, and communities to support practice-based education, research, and service to strategically expand and develop professional skills and competencies of the public health workforce.
The Applied Practice Experience (APEx) is a requirement of all Master of Public Health (MPH) students. The goal of the APEx is to help students apply the knowledge, skills, and theories learned in the classroom to real-world public health issues outside of the classroom. Guided by your departmental Practice Advisor, faculty, and preceptors, you will be able to demonstrate the attainment of MPH foundational and program-specific competencies, learn from public health professionals from a range of public and private sector disciplines, and jumpstart your public health career or career transition.
The DrPH Applied Practice Experience (DAPEx) is a requirement of the Doctor of Public Health Program. The goal of the DAPEx is to advance the development of higher-level applied competencies and critical thinking relevant to student’s area(s) of specialization. The DAPEx is an opportunity to apply principles of leadership and management and public health theories and methodologies learned through the program coursework to real-life situations.
The DC Metro Urban Health Program (UHP) is a voluntary public health-focused, service-learning initiative open to all residential GW Public Health Students. Over the course of the Fall and Spring academic semesters, students from various professional backgrounds and fields of study are placed into Learning Communities according to their skills and interests to participate in meaningful community engagement with organizations in the DC Metro area. This program provides students with an opportunity to translate their public health knowledge learned in the classroom to practice in the larger DC community while gaining essential team and leadership skills.
Learn more about the APEx: Practicum & EPR, Preceptor Resources, Student Resources, DAPEx (DrPH), and Urban Health Program.