Student Research and Fieldwork


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The UW Department of Health Systems and Population Health (HSPop) requires students to complete research and/or field-based projects for their degrees. Final projects vary depending upon the program and are dissertations, theses, practicum projects, and/or capstone projects.

Practicum Projects

A practicum project allows students to apply what they have learned in the classroom to a public health setting, while they enhance their skills in areas such as leadership, communication, and teamwork. The practicum is also an excellent opportunity for students to gain practical experience in their particular area of interest in public health.

Project examples are on the individual program websites.

Dissertations

Doctoral students are required to write a dissertation that significantly advances the state of knowledge in their chosen field. As part of their course requirements and dissertation requirements, students are also required to publish research findings.

Programs and Degrees

Dissertations, along with theses from health services graduate students, are available in the UW Library’s research archives.

Dissertations

Ph.D. Publications

Theses

A thesis is an original research project that generates new knowledge using rigorous methods appropriate to the research questions, while also applying concepts and methods from one or more branches of science relevant to public health.

Programs and Degrees

Theses, along with dissertations from health services students, are available in the UW Library’s research archives.

Theses

Capstone Projects

A capstone project is a culminating scholarly project usually conducted for, or on behalf of, an organization, constituency, or community.

Capstone projects are designed to give students meaningful hands-on experience working on real-world health policy or health administration challenges.

Project examples are on the individual program websites.

Student Research and Fieldwork

These are a few stories about HSPop student research and fieldwork.

  • Research by Health Services PhD students explores strategies to improve health care workforce well-being

    Research by Health Services PhD students explores strategies to improve health care workforce well-being

    Two recent publications examine how community health centers can use evidence-based interventions and staff feedback to address burnout and workforce well-being, with mentorship from UW faculty members Sharon Laing and Kathleen Shannon Dorcy.

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  • Changing the conversation around firearm safety

    Changing the conversation around firearm safety

    A recent graduate of the UW School of Public Health’s Community-Oriented Public Health Practice program spent a year building trust with rural gun owners. What she found upends a common assumption about who’s willing to listen.

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  • Expanding autism care access across Washington state

    Expanding autism care access across Washington state

    In the U.S., children with autism face significant barriers in receiving diagnoses and support. Bridging that gap for children with autism has long been a passion for HSPop MPH student Pooja Manjunath. During her practicum experience with the UW Autism Center, Manjunath analyzed autism diagnoses disparities and recommended ways for the Center to expand services across…

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