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.
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.
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
- Health Services Master of Science (M.S.)
- Health Services Master of Public Health (MPH)
- Community-Oriented Public Health Master of Public Health (COPHP MPH)
Theses, along with dissertations from health services students, are available in the UW Library’s research archives.
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.
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.
Programs and Degrees
Student Research and Fieldwork
These are a few stories about HSPop student research and fieldwork.
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Critical What?! – Teaching media literacy to youth filmmakers
For her practicum, HSPop MPH student Marie Antoinette Perez worked as a research instructor on a documentary film project. Her contribution involved creating lesson plans and giving a series of presentations to the youth filmmakers that covered media literacy and basic research methods.
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Universal Free School Meals: A key ingredient in improving childhood health outcomes
Findings from a promising new study show universal free school meals could be an excellent tool in reducing childhood obesity and improving health outcomes. “Universal free school meals are important because they eliminate the paperwork required for both schools and parents to maintain eligibility for free meals,” said Dr. Jessica Jones-Smith, “They also provide free…
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Sherry Wu (MPH ’23) Awarded APHA’s Masters Student Research Award in Aging and Public Health
Sherry Wu, Research Coordinator and UW alum, has been awarded the 2023 Masters Student Research Award in Aging and Public Health. Wu says, “Our society’s emphasis on productivity categorizes older adults as less desirable. But the experiences and wisdom of older adults are invaluable, and they have a right to fulfilling and healthy lives.”