PHE 404 Approval & Registration

PHE 404 Approval Process

Remember that you must have approval from the PHE 404 Faculty to have experiences count for the PHE 404 requirement and to register for PHE 404 credits.

The steps for an applicable experience to be approved and for students to register for the PHE 404 credits are below.

1. Students must add themselves to the PHE 404 Orientation Canvas site
2. Students must attend a PHE 404 Info Session (see the events calendar below)
3. Identify a placement (which MUST meet ALL the criteria below)
   • Minimum of 120 hours
   • A site supervisor to verify your experience via an evaluation of your performance OR Clinical observation hour verification (not both)
   • Align with your School of Public Health undergraduate major
   • Further your professional and career goals
4. Complete the PHE 404 Orientation Quiz in the PHE 404 Orientation Canvas site
5. Fill out the PHE 404 Approval Form
   • PHE 404 faculty will respond to student requests within a week

The PHE 404 Approval Form

Students are required to attend a PHE 404 Info Session and to complete the PHE 404 Orientation Quiz in the PHE 404 Orientation Canvas Site (below) BEFORE submitting the PHE 404 Approval Form (link below). The PHE 404 Info Session schedule is posted below. Students are also recommended to meet with their HSE Pathway (Academic) Advisor as they are planning their internship and before filling out the PHE 404 Approval Form.

Information needed to fill out the PHE Approval includes your PSU ID, your advisor’s name and contact information, your specific career goals, and learning goals you have for your PHE 404 (see examples below). You will also need to know the duties, responsibilities, knowledge, and skills you will use, as well as provide the contact information below for the person who will verify your experience and details about the organization. Please note, if there is not a person who can verify your experience (or clinical observation hours), you may not use the experience for your PHE 404 requirement.

PHE 404 Registration

Once a student has completed the PHE 404 approval process, including submitting the PHE 404 Approval Form, PHE 404 Faculty will review the form submission. Once approved, PHE 404 Faculty will then override the PHE 404 registration hold. Note, once the override has been completed, students MUST register themselves for the correct PHE 404 credits using the correct CRN listed on the registration page.

PHE 404 Waivers

If students have at least 120 hours of applicable experience (defined below), they may request a waiver to register for the PHE 404 credits. PHE 404 waivers follow the PHE 404 Approval Process above, including the submission of the PHE 404 Approval Form.

Students must work closely with their academic advisor to make sure degree requirements are met when those 4 credits are waived.

“Applicable experience” is at least 120 hours of experience that 1) has given you an opportunity to apply skills from both your major AND your concentration, and 2) be of benefit to you in your future professional goals.

Once a student’s previous applicable experience has been approved, students must still submit a PHE 404 Summary Report and have their experience verified by a site supervisor verification form. Students should plan to send the supervisor who can verify the experience either a Site Supervisor Evaluation of Student Performance Form OR a Clinical Health Science Observation Hours Verification Form (NOT BOTH).

Upon receipt and assessment of the PHE 404 Summary Report and site supervisor verification form, PHE 404 Faculty will then submit a request to have the PHE 404 requirement waived. Exceptions are processed and completed by another person in another office, so students should review their DARS to see when the waiver is processed.

IMPORTANT PHE 404 RESOURCES