Epidemiology APEx

The APEx is a planned, supervised and evaluated Applied Practice Experience (APEx) that allows students to apply classroom knowledge and skills to meaningful fieldwork and make significant practical public health contributions to organizations and agencies locally and globally.

Epidemiology MPH students complete an APEx during which they demonstrate at least three foundational public health competencies and at least 2 of the following epidemiology competencies:

  • Critically appraise epidemiological literature in a defined problem area using bibliographic and informatics resources;
  • Assess the magnitude, distribution (person, time and place) and determinants of public health problems;
  • Engage in studies using appropriate epidemiologic designs based on study goals and available data sources;
  • Apply appropriate epidemiologic and statistical measures to generate, calculate, and draw valid inferences from public health data; and
  • Recognize ethical and legal principles pertaining to the collection.

Students in a certificate program can select an APEx related to their certificate area, but this is not required except for students in: (1) the Public Health and Humanitarian Assistance Certificate, and (2) the Global Health Certificate. Students in those certificates should consult their certificate director to identify requirements beyond those set by the Epidemiology Department.

Most students begin the planning process for their placement at the beginning of their second semester and complete their APEx during the summer between their first and second years of study.

  • Students in the 2-year MPH program, 4+1 program, and dual degree programs devote a minimum of 240 hours to their APEx, and accelerated students complete a minimum of 140 hours.

Students complete their APEx in New York City, elsewhere in the United States, or abroad. Common APEx sites for Epidemiology students include departments of health and other city, state, and federal government agencies; community-based organizations; international organizations; CUIMC and other medical centers; pharmaceutical companies; and analytics and consulting firms.

EPI APEx Spotlights

A key component of the APEx is developing practice-based products for the host site. Examples of products developed by past Epidemiology students include a program evaluation plan for a community health clinic; data linkage across multiple disease surveillance systems at a department of health; data collection standard operating procedures for a large population-based survey conducted by an international organization; visualizations of spatial data on health outcomes for an advocacy project led by a Columbia Mailman faculty member; and real-world insights related to treatment outcomes, disease burden, or healthcare utilization for a consulting firm.  

Faculty Director

Batya Elul, PhD, MSc, directs the Epidemiology APEx. She holds several required seminars to orient students to the departmental APEx expectations and process. Beginning in the second semester, she also advises individual students as they look for an APEx, shares epidemiology-relevant APEx opportunities and helps students navigate APEx offers. Additionally, she hosts Epidemiology Master’s Student Day in the beginning of the second year of study where each student presents their APEx work.

Additionally, the Office of Field Practice supports the APEx across all departments. They coordinate the school-wide infrastructure needed to plan, conduct, and evaluate the APEx. They also provide school wide APEx opportunities, and a travel stipend to all students who complete their APEx planning process on time, to defray travel costs related to their APEx.

Epidemiology Masters Student Day

In addition to completing their APEx hours and developing practice-based products for their host site, all students except those completing an accelerated degree are required to share their APEx work in oral and poster presentations at Epidemiology Masters Student Day. Held in the fall of the second year of study, this is an exciting half-day event that is attended by departmental faculty. APEx mentors and employers are also invited. Students can present completed work or work in progress. Accommodations are made for students who did proprietary work, for example, with a pharmaceutical company.