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Section
7
MCH Culminating Experience
Culminating Experience
All Maternal and Child Health concentrators will complete an integrative paper as their Culminating
Experience (CE). The CE is an opportunity for you to think more deeply than you have before about a
question that you care about. With the guidance of your advisor, you will craft a question upon which the CE
will be based—one that arises out of your field experience (practicum, job, or fellowship) and can be
investigated through empirical evidence and the application of a relevant conceptual framework. Based on a
synthesis of the available evidence and the framework, you will critically analyze the organization or project
for which you worked, develop a set of recommendations based upon your analysis, and assess the
challenges to implementing them within the realities of the organizational or project context.
The CE also includes responses to a set of reflection questions about your development as an MCH
professional—competencies you have gained and those you wish to pursue as lifelong learning.
Through completing the Culminating Experience, MCH students will demonstrate:
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THINKING critically;
WRITING (and re-writing) with power and effectiveness;
INTEGRATING field-based and academic learning in MCH;
APPLYING a relevant conceptual framework; and
REFLECTING meaningfully on your development as an MCH professional.
Typically, your academic advisor serves as the reader for the CE and must approve it.
Alternatively, you may request that another MCH faculty member serve as your reader,
particularly if they have expertise on your topic.
Questions about the integrative paper should be directed towards the student’s advisor or the department’s
curriculum coordinator.
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INTEGRATIVE PAPER
Elements of the Integrative Paper
First, decide upon the relevant audience for your paper. For example, your audience might be the director
of the organization for which you worked, the health commissioner in the state or city, the head of a policy
unit or institute, or principal investigator of a research project. Second, outline your paper, being sure to
include each element shown below. All elements are required for all CE papers, although the order and
length of each section may vary.] Be sure to review with your faculty reader how you can approach each
section as you set out to write. The total length should not exceed 15 double-spaced (d.s.) pages.
Background and Significance: The purpose of this section is to convince the reader that they should care
about your work. Introduce the topic and its broad importance to MCH practice, policy, or research. Your
question may either frame or conclude this section. (1-2 pages d.s.)
Conceptual Framework: The purpose of this section is to lay out a conceptual framework that is salient to
your question and can inform the critical analysis of your project or organization (below). After a brief
description, summarize its importance to your topic/question. Frequently students choose the life course
perspective to frame their analysis given its universal importance within MCH; however, choose the
framework that best fits your paper. Summarize the framework and key concepts and then briefly explain
to the reader its salience to your question. (1-2 pages d.s.)
Empirical Evidence: This purpose of this section is to critically review the evidence that can inform the
answer to your question. Although, both peer-reviewed and gray literatures are acceptable, use peerreviewed literature whenever possible. Be sure to focus on the most robust evidence available, including
review articles whenever available. In the absence of strong evidence for your specific topic, you may have
to “borrow” from studies on a parallel or similar topic and then apply lessons learned to your inquiry.
Summarize key findings and critically analyze the strength of the findings and applicability to your question.
(4-5 pages d.s.)
Critical analysis of field-based practice in light of evidence and conceptual framework: The purpose of this
section is to analyze the effectiveness of the organization or project for which you worked through the lens
of your literature review and conceptual framework. First, briefly describe the field experience upon which
you have based your question (e.g. MCH practicum, job, fellowship). What is the project/organization?
What is its overarching mission? On what project did you work? What role did you play? Second, describe
the strategies the organization (or your project) uses to achieve its mission; and then go on to critically
assess the strengths and limitations of the approach based on the evidence and framework you presented.
Discuss the implications of your analysis r future practice. Remember: Write with your selected audience in
mind. (For this paper you may assume you are an ‘insider’ charged with conducting the analysis, rather than
a student intern.) (3 pages d.s.)
Recommendations: The purpose of this section is to present 3-4 recommendations for improved future
practice to your selected audience. The recommendations should be based on your analysis (above) and be
as specific and practicable as possible. Assess the challenges likely to be faced implementing the
recommendations and, if possible, ways the challenges may be addressed in the context of the organization.
(1 page d.s.)
Conclusion: The purpose of the conclusion is to step back from specifics, re-state the significance of the
issue at the heart of your paper, answer your question as succinctly as possible, and point to the need for
future investigations. (1 page d.s.)
Additionally, all MCH culminating experiences must include responses to a series of reflection questions
(See page 36).
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REFLECTION QUESTIONS
All MCH culminating experiences must include responses in two reflection areas:
• a self-assessment of your achievement of MCH competencies and other areas of valuable
learning during MPH studies
• your professional development, mission and career objectives
Reflection Questions
Your MPH education is a strong foundation upon which to build a meaningful career and lifelong
learning. Please reflect on your achievement of competencies during your MPH/MCH studies and upon
areas for future learning.
1. Review the five MCH competencies (see page 8)
a. In which MCH competencies do you feel you have gained the most confidence during your
MPH/MCH education? Which courses or experiences contributed most to building your
confidence in each? Likewise, in which competencies would you have liked to gain more
confidence and how?
b. Beyond these five competencies, what have you learned that you most value during your
MPH studies? What contributed to this learning?
c. Reflect on other areas of public health practice in which you would like to gain competence
or achieve mastery. How might you pursue learning in these areas after graduation? (To
answer this question you may refer to the Maternal and Child Health Bureau competencies)
2. Reflect on your development as an MCH professional during your studies at BUSPH.
a. How would you describe in 1-2 sentences your mission as an MCH professional?
b. How would you describe your specific career objective at this time?
c. How has your identity as an MCH professional evolved since entering BUSPH? What has
most influenced your professional identity and development over the course of your MPH
studies?
Note: These are self-reflections; citations are not required. Expected length: 4-5 d.s. pages.
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THE APPROVAL AND DOCUMENTATION PROCESS
The process of approval and documentation applies to all MCH students, Please refer to the table below for
specific deadlines for each step.
1. Register for MC940: MCH Culminating Experience (0 Credits) for the semester you intend to
graduate and complete you culminating experience. (E.g., if you intend to graduate in May 2016,
you should register for MC940 during the Spring 2016 semester)
2. Attend a meeting with your advisor (or other faculty member who will serve as your reader) at the
end of the prior semester or at the beginning of the semester in which you will complete your CE.
The purpose of this meeting is to brainstorm about the topic and question that will serve as the
basis of your CE. It is very important to begin this conversation early.
3. Complete the “Culminating Experience Topic Approval Form” and attach an outline that includes the
question and the topics you will examine in your evidence review and the conceptual framework
you will apply.
4. Submit a full draft of your CE to your advisor or reader for comments.
5. Respond to advisor/reader’s comments and submit a second draft. This may serve as your final
draft, but be prepared for further revisions if necessary.
6. Submit a final CE to your advisor for approval.
7. Obtain the required signatures on the “Culminating Experience Completion Form.” This form is the
official record of approval for graduation and must be signed by your academic advisor. If the
document is not approved, the student must make the required revisions before the form can be
signed and submitted as part of the graduation record. Students also should keep a copy of the
signed “Culminating Experience Completion Form” and their final document for their own records.
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All documents must be submitted by the due dates listed below. This allows the necessary time for
advisors to review the CE and return comments to students for revisions, as needed, at each stage of the
process, including final approval of your graduation
2015-2016 Culminating Experience Due Dates
January 2016 Graduation
Must be completed by
Attend a CE brainstorming session with your advisor
Monday, September 14
Submit question and outline for integration paper with signed CE Topic
Monday, September 21
Completion Approval Form to department curriculum coordinator
Submit first full draft of CE to advisor
Monday, October 26
Submit final draft of paper and CE Completion Form
Monday, December 7
May 2016 Graduation
Attend a group or individual CE brainstorming session with your
advisor
Monday, January 18
Submit question and outline for integration paper with signed CE Topic
Monday, January 25
Completion Approval Form to department curriculum coordinator
Submit first full draft of CE to advisor
Monday, March 7
Submit final draft of paper and CE Completion Form
Monday, April 18
September 2016 Graduation
Attend a group or individual CE brainstorming session with your
advisor
Monday, June 6
Submit question and outline for integration paper with signed CE Topic
Monday, June 13
Completion Approval Form to department curriculum coordinator
Submit first full draft of CE to advisor
Monday, July 11
Submit final draft of paper and CE Completion Form
Monday, August 15
NOTE:
If you are conducting your practicum during your final semester, please talk with your advisor about how
you can move ahead, still allowing for the completion of your practicum to inform the critical analysis
portion of the CE paper.
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