New Student Experiences Policy
The field of public health continues to offer expanding opportunities for students with a variety of academic interests and career prospects. These broadening possibilities require policy changes to meet the unique needs of individual students. In response to the expansion of the field, the BYU Public Health department has revised its experiential learning policy to better reflect the kind of customization that students need.
Ayugi Ntambwe-Kalala, the department’s new Student Experience and Internship Coordinator, says this change is part of an effort to modernize the opportunities for public health students.
“There are so many opportunities in this career that didn’t exist before, especially post-pandemic. We’re trying to provide students with the opportunity to craft a career that makes sense for the world today, and before they craft that, to make sure that they are graduating prepared to craft that career.”
Students are required to complete 3.0 credits of experiential learning, which can be done through a traditional internship or a combination of options that makes the most sense for the student’s future, including study abroad programs, mentored research, campus and/or community engagement and leadership, practicum experiences, and interdisciplinary opportunities offered through the BYU Honors Program.
By expanding the definition of what constitutes an “experience,” this new policy will give students the flexibility to design a public health education at BYU that is aligned with their personal, educational, and professional interests and goals.
As students plan for a more customized experience in public health, the department recommends meeting with Ayugi for support, resources, and accurate information on how to make the most of their educational journey at BYU.
Read more about the new policy here.