Heather Clark, DrPH Director of Public Health Practice 979.436.9363 hrclark@tamu.edu
All BSPH-Internship Option, MPH, MHA, and DrPH students at the School of Public Health are required to complete an applied practice experience (APEx) as part of their curriculum. The APEx provides an opportunity to practice public health outside of the classroom. Applied practice experiences occur in a variety of settings and have happened across the globe. Graduate students must complete a Pre-APEx Orientation Training. The training modules are located in Canvas. All students are enrolled in the APEx Community (note: not a class) after the fall census date (about two weeks after fall classes start).
Students have access in the portal to upload fully approved work plans and access various documents related to their APEx.
Access to the Applied Practice Experience Work Plan Template (used to build work plans) is granted by the Office of Public Health Practice once required trainings are completed. Do not upload a work plan without a fully approved work plan draft that contains all required signatures.
Students should consult with their department APEx coordinator on all matters related to their applied practice experience.
Environmental and Occupational Health
Adam Pickens, PhD, MPH (MPH and DrPH): apickens@tamu.edu
Health Policy and Management
John J. Buckley, MBA, FACHE (MHA): buckley@tamu.edu
Elena Andreyeva, PhD (MPH): andreyeva@tamu.edu
Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Shaida Kalbasi, PhD (MPH and DrPH): shaida@tamu.edu
Health Promotion and Community Health Sciences
Sara Mendez, DrPH (MPH and DrPH): spmendez@tamu.edu
Stay tuned for information on our 2025-2026 Professional Networking Events!
Do you have a project idea for students but are not quite sure how to turn it into an APEx? Let us help you. Please fill out the following form and submit to the Office of Public Health Practice.
APEx Development Assistance Form
If your organization requires an affiliation agreement for students to participate in a practicum experiences, please email the Office of Public Health Practice.
In order to type on the forms, click "download". Any handwritten forms, with the exception of signatures, will be rejected.
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is work authorization for F-1 international students to receive further training that is designed to achieve an established academic objective directly related to degree level and major. CPT includes practicums and internships.
SPH student on F1 visas must:
Completed forms must be submitted to International Student Services and a copy of all completed forms must be provided to your department APEx coordinator.
For more information or questions related to CPT, please visit the International Student Services website.
For any additional questions regarding the applied practice experience or completion of these forms, contact your department APEx coordinator.
