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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MPH student Lance Frankel studies emergency school meals during COVID
For his practicum, Frankel worked with conducted an analysis of emergency school meal programs across Washington state during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Student Emily Devora Hops studies mutual aid networks during COVID-19
Community-Oriented Public Health Practice Master of Public Health (COPHP MPH) student Emily Devora Hops studied mutual aid networks during COVID-19. “Mutual aid has long been a part of society, and arises whenever ineffective or unjust governing bodies make it necessary for communities to care for each other directly,” she said.
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Student KeliAnne Hara-Hubbard assesses community orgs serving Asian Americans during COVID-19
KeliAnne Hara-Hubbard conducted interviews with leaders and staff from community-based organizations serving older Asian and Asian American adults in Washington state to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and assess how well the organizations were able to adapt to the changing environment and client needs.