MPH Project Guidelines

Students who plan to do a 6 credit MPH Project are required to take PH 540 (Introductory Biostatistics), PH 640 (Intermediate Biostatistics) and PH 691F (Data Management).

 1.     Identify a project and organize your thoughts.

 2.     Discuss your thoughts with an advisor and then choose an MPH faculty member to be your project advisor.

 3.     Prepare a detailed project proposal (3-5 pages) including but not limited to:

          a)     introduction and background, including rationale;

          b)     overall goals and specific aims;

          c)     methods (target populations, research design, sample size, anticipated limitations or problems);

          d)     statistical methods;

          e)     time table for completion;

          f)     plans for publication of results;

         g)     short list of the most relevant references.

 4.     Submit your project proposal for approval to the Worcester co-directors, Jacalyn Coghlin-Strom and Carol Bigelow.

 5.     Sign up for your project during one of the regular registration periods.  You can sign up for all 6 credits at once or divide it up into 3 credits for 2 semesters.  The cost is the same as a regular course - $1200/3 credits or $2400/6 credits.

 6.     Maintain continual contact with your MPH project advisor during the progress of your work.

 7.     Give an oral presentation of the project at a date and time agreed upon with your advisor.   Linda Hollis will arrange for a room and send a notice to all MPH students inviting them to attend.  Please allow 2 weeks notice.

 8.     Submit a complete, written report.  This should include, at a minimum:

           a)     abstract;

           b)     introduction and background, including rationale;

           c)     overall goals and specific aims;

           d)     methods (target populations, research design, sample size, limitations or problems)

           e)     statistical methods;

           f)     results;

           g)     discussion;

           h)     complete list of references;

           i)     appendices (including copies of data collection forms).

 9.     Obtain an MPH project grade from your advisor.

 10.   Submit the written project report to Linda Hollis.  If you do not finish the project in the same semester that you signed up for it, a change of grade card will be submitted to the Graduate Records Office in Amherst.

 

Opportunities for research exist in several sites, including:

     a.   Clinical Departments at University of Massachusetts Medical School
     b.   State Department of Public Health
     c.   Fallon Health care (HMO)
     d.   Division of Medical Assistance (Medicaid)
     e.   UMass Memorial Cancer Center
     f.    Meyers Primary Care Institute
     g.   Center for Health Policy and Health Services Research
     h.   Community Health Centers Affiliated with UMass Memorial
     i.    UMass Memorial Quality Assurance Committee
     j.    New England Research Institute
     k.   Massachusetts Department of Corrections
     l.   Worcester Department of Public Health

 

The research projects are individualized to reflect prior training, experience and career goals. However, the optional research project must include the following educational objectives:

  • formulation of a research hypothesis;
  • in depth review of the scientific literature;
  • conceptualization of the study design;
  • implementation of the methodology, data management and analysis;
  • summary and presentation of results in both oral and written formats.

The Program Director and core faculty provide oversight to ensure that each student is supervised by knowledgeable, accessible faculty with appropriate research expertise. Student supervision during the research project is accomplished through direct supervision by the faculty person(s) designated as research advisor(s). Students in the MPH Program are required to have a research advisor who must hold an adjunct faculty appointment with the University of Massachusetts School of Public Health and Health Science. Students who collaborate with researchers in an affiliated institution must identify a faculty member from the School of Public Health and Health Sciences or the Worcester Campus MPH Program to serve as consultant and advisor for the project.


Current student research projects include:

  • lifestyle modification and secondary prevention of prostate cancer in post-prostatectomy patients (UMass Memorial Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine);
  • assessment of post-incarceration access to primary and preventive services in a women's correctional facility (Massachusetts Department of Corrections and Department of Family Medicine and Community Health);
  • evaluation of a literacy project designed to increase reading in the home (Maine Health and Department of Family Medicine and Community Health);
  • analysis of PID reporting in an HMO setting (Harvard Pilgrim, State DPH);
  • risk factors associated with chlamydia trachomatis in men attending STD clinics in Massachusetts (State DPH);
  • analysis of quality of life measures pre-and post-intervention (acupuncture) in an HMO setting (Fallon Health Care).