MPH Capstone Schedule

Timeline for online presentations, May 6-9, 2024

*This course is only required for students who matriculated in June 2019 and after.

Timeline for Full-time presentations at May Capstone Symposium, May 11, 2024

*This course is only required for students who matriculated in June 2019 and after.

Timeline for online presentations, August 5-7, 2024 session 

*This course is only required for students who matriculated in June 2019 and after.

Timeline for online presentations, December 2-4, 2024 sessions 

*This course is only required for students who matriculated in June 2019 and after.

Timeline for presentation at alternate venue

Students presenting at an alternate venue must adhere to the schedules above, as per the time of year in which the project is completed. Deadlines for completion of the oral presentation are August online, December online, or the May symposium date, depending on the period in which the student is graduating. 

You should start by identifying a faculty member whose research interests and expertise are in the topic area and/or methodology that you wish to pursue, and is available to advise the project. Your faculty advisor may serve as your capstone advisor, or they may have an initial discussion with you and then refer you to other faculty members. Another helpful strategy is to inquire with several faculty members about any current work of theirs that may lend itself to a potential capstone project. Other resources for identifying a potential capstone advisor are the MPH Program Office, the faculty directory (searchable by keyword) and Collexis.

A capstone project is suitable if it provides students the opportunity to apply the skills and competencies acquired in the MPH program to a problem likely encountered in public health practice and research. The topic and format of the capstone project is flexible and is developed through discussions between the student and capstone advisor. Possible options for format or design include:

Program Plan

The capstone project would involve developing a plan to implement a public health program. It would address critical issues such as management, fiscal, ethical and logistical issues.

Example Projects:

• “The Accident and Emergency Department of the Cornwall Regional Hospital’s Training on Health Professionals (Nurses and Doctors) Burnout”

Program Evaluation

The capstone project would involve evaluating/monitoring an existing public health program, such as process evaluation, monitoring of outputs and outcomes, impact assessment and/or cost analysis.

Example Projects:

• “Mentoring nurses to improve quality of delivery care at primary health centers: Evidence from Bihar, India”

Policy Analysis

The capstone project would involve analyzing the public health implications of a current or proposed policy. The work could include perspectives on economics and financing, need and demand, politics/ethics/law, or quality/effectiveness.

Example Project:

• “An Analysis of a Federal Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Excise Tax”

Research Proposal

The capstone project would simulate a grant proposal or research plan. The project would include a clear statement of the research question, the specific aims of the proposal, review of literature, study design, methods of analysis, implications and significance of the work. The research question would be one that is encountered in professional work, such as the evaluation of a public health intervention.

Example Projects:

• “Efficacy and Safety of Empagliflozin on Prevention of Chemotherapy- induced Heart Failure”

Research Report

The capstone project could involve the collection, analysis and/or interpretation of data to address a public health problem. The project could include sections on the research question, study design, data collection procedures, data analysis, interpretation and significance of findings.

• Primary Data Analysis: Work for the MPH capstone can also involve the collection of data. Data collection for capstone is usually in the context of an ongoing study, but it is also possible (although not recommended) for MPH students to initiate an original study under the guidance of a Johns Hopkins faculty member. In the latter case, the student should allow substantial lead time for research planning and IRB approval.

Research Report Example Projects:

• "Air Pollution and Health: Novel Insights on Black Carbon Toxicity and Air Pollution in the Coronavirus”
• “A comparison of total cost estimates between exclusive breastfeeding and use of breast milk substitutes in humanitarian contexts”
• “Trends in sleep problems and patterns among Japanese adolescents: 2004 to 2017 - ScienceDirect” 

Research Report - Quantitative Analysis

• “Polypharmacy, Cognitive Impairment, and Frailty in the Women’s Health and Aging Study II (WHASII)”

Research Report - Qualitative Analysis

• “A Qualitative Analysis of Pharmaceutical Manufacturer Funded Patient Access Services for Newly Launched Drugs”

Policy Change/Advocacy

Example Project:

• “Removing the ‘I’ from "Indian": An Implementation Guide to Combat Regionalized Racism and Appropriation”

Training Program

Example Project:

• “Using Epidemiologic Evidence for Decision-Making: A Training Program for Health Commissioners”

The Bloomberg School IRB Office is charged with assuring that human subject research studies conducted in the school comply with internal school policies and external regulations designed to protect human subjects. All students who plan to do human subjects research must have IRB approval before working with human data or samples and/or before contacting human subjects.

"Human subjects research" is broadly defined to include any activity involving living humans that seeks to test a hypothesis or answer a scientific question. This can include both secondary data analysis and research involving direct contact with subjects. The following resources are available to assist students with their IRB questions:

• Navigating the IRB : A Primer for Students and Postdoctoral Fellows. This is your first step in learning more about the IRB process. This IRB Office publication is designed to provide additional information about the IRB process.  
• To determine if your project involves data from human subjects, you should complete the online IRB Worksheet.  This worksheet will indicate any additional requirements to properly document IRB approval of your project.
• If a student is listed as a researcher on an ongoing, IRB-approved study at an external institution (other than JHU), the student must submit the following to the BSPH IRB Office at jhsph.irboffice@jhu.edu:
  • BSPH IRB Determination Request Form (Primary [New] Data Collection or Secondary Data Analysis)
  • Copy of the institution IRB approval letter that lists the student as an investigator
  • Copy of the IRB-approved research study protocol

• Additional assistance is available from Thomas Bradsher at the IRB Office (tbradshe@jhu.edu). The IRB office is located in room E1100. Please make sure that you've completed the IRB Worksheet before you contact the IRB Office.

If the IRB Office determines that you must submit a PHIRST application, you must do so by the date that your MPH Capstone Information Form is due. The IRB submission deadline for field experiences taking place during the Winter break and requiring IRB approval is November 15th.

Submit the online Capstone Information Form two terms prior to completion of the project. You will need to indicate such information as the name of your capstone advisor, a working title and the aims of your project, IRB status if applicable, etc.

Students must register for the two-credit "MPH Capstone" course number in the term in which the project is completed and presented. Full-time students must register for this course in 4th Term. Part-time/online students must register for this course in Term 4 for a May graduation; Summer Term for an August graduation; or Term 2 for a December graduation.

Students who are doing a large amount of preliminary research for a project may want to register for additional "Special Studies/Research" units. You should consult with your capstone advisor prior to registering. When registering, you should select the capstone advisor as the "instructor" and select the number of academic units that you and your capstone advisor have agreed is appropriate for the research.

MPH Capstone Course Numbers

Special Studies/Research Course Numbers

Discuss an overall timeline for completing the various sections of your paper with your capstone advisor in preparation for submitting a first draft for their review. The first draft deadline is about five weeks before the final draft deadline, allowing time for revisions. Communicating with your capstone advisor about your progress, including any issues or concerns, is critical during this phase.

Your capstone advisor will review your final draft for any final edits and recommendations, and you will complete revisions as necessary.

Then submit the final, approved paper to the CoursePlus drop box.  Your capstone advisor will submit an online approval directly to the MPH Program Office. Please note: Students may not participate in the oral presentation unless the final paper is submitted on time.

Resources:

• Welch Medical Library Informationists

• Welch Library Online Tutorials

• Student Handbook on Referencing

More information

After the final paper and capstone advisor's approval are submitted, you will complete the oral component of the capstone project by giving a 10-minute presentation followed by 5 minutes of discussion. This will take place at the May MPH Capstone Symposium, scheduled online presentations or an alternate venue.

Resource:

• Designing and Writing an Effective Capstone Presentation

The MPH Program Office will submit grades for the MPH Capstone Course as follows:

• "Pass" grade for all students that submit an approved capstone paper and complete the oral presentation requirement.

• "Incomplete" grade will be posted for those students who do not complete the capstone project in the term for which they are registered.

The MPH Program Office also awards special honors to the best overall capstone projects. Nominations are accepted from capstone advisors and winners are selected by an awards committee based on the written project. The capstone award includes a plaque for excellence in public health professional practice. The student with the single overall best capstone project receives a $500 award.