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School of Global Health Faculty of Health

Practicum

Experiential Education- Global Health

The Integrated Global Health Practicum (GH4300) is the culminating course in York’s Specialized Honours (4-year) Global Health BA/BSc program. Designed to bridge theory and practice in a variety of health-related settings, the course comprises an 11-week (250 hour) research and/or practice-based experience with a designated practicum organization and parallel academic activities hosted online by the School of Global Health. Students are mentored, supervised, and evaluated by qualified supervisors at the practicum organization as well as course directors at the School of Global Health. Practicums are planned, where possible, in accordance with the students’ stream elective: Global Health Promotion and Disease Prevention; Global Health and the Environment; Global Health Policy, Management, and Systems; or Global e-Health.

Upon completion of the practicum, students participate in a two-week intensive Applied Global Health Research Capstone course (GH 4400) to share their experiential learning through student-facilitated seminars.

GH4300 and GH4400 are taken in immediate succession. Together, they offer students a unique opportunity to learn how to apply global health concepts, methods, and theory in health-related settings in Canada and globally. The experiential education pedagogy of the courses also enables students to develop skills and attributes needed for career development.

Practicum Eligibility

To be eligible to complete the Global Health Practicum, students must meet all of the following requirements by the term preceding their practicum:

  • Registered in the BA or BSc Specialized Honours program with a declared a stream
  • Maintained a 5.00 GPA
  • Completed required core and stream courses (48 core credits and 21 stream credits)

Practicum Process Overview

The Integrated Global Health Practicum course is offered in the Winter term (January-April), but practicum processes, including the application, begin the year prior to the practicum. This table outlines the key steps in the practicum process, but specific details will be shared with eligible students as the practicum approaches.

Time of Year Stage of Practicum Process
March Students who are on track to meet the practicum eligibility requirements are:


  • Invited to attend a Practicum Information Session to learn more about the practicum process

  • Given access to the Global Health Practicum module on Experience York, where they will submit and track their practicum application and match

    • JunePracticum applications are due, and include:
  • General Interest Questionnaire

  • Resume

  • Statement of interest

  • Two reference forms
    • July-DecemberStudents’ eligibility is confirmed.

    Accepted students are matched with a practicum opportunity.

    Practicum organizations interview students before confirming the match
    September-JanuaryStudents attend three pre-practicum workshops to prepare for the practicum experience.
    January-AprilStudents complete GH 4300 Integrated Global Health Practicum course: 
  • 250-hour practicum

  • Bi-weekly webinars and associated assignments

    • AprilStudents attend a post-practicum workshop.

    Students complete GH 4400 Applied Global Health Research Capstone course over two weeks.