The Arnold School as a network of more than 160 community parterns where students can complete their Senior Capstone Seminar and gaine hands-on experience for their careers.
November 19, 2024 | Erin Bluvas, bluvase@sc.edu
As students, Maya Smith and Lexie McIntosh had very different reactions to the nearly endless array of possibilities within the broad field of public health.
“At first, I felt overwhelmed by the many concentrations I could pursue,” says Smith, who grew up in Columbia. “The fear of not finding the right fit or choosing the wrong path was daunting.”
“When an exploratory advisor told me all the options with being a public health major, I decided that sounded perfect,” McIntosh, a Bluffton native, says of transferring from the College of Charleston after freshman year. “I didn’t have to know my path just yet.”
Despite their early impressions of the field, they ended up with several things in common. They both work in areas connecting adults with health and well-being resources, they both give back to their alma mater through mentorship, and they both have the same advice for current/future students.
The capstone project honed my ability to connect with diverse populations and fostered a passion for making a meaningful impact on people’s lives.
Intentional instruction
Finding the right niche within public health can be both liberating and overwhelming – and that’s where the undergraduate curriculum, advisors and mentors step in to provide guidance. An introductory course branches out into core requirements that provide overviews of major areas that then feed into individual concentration areas. Students are encouraged to engage in extracurricular activities, such as volunteering at a health-related nonprofit organization or contributing to scientific research alongside faculty members.
All of these paths converge back into PUBH 498, the Senior Capstone Seminar that all public health students take during the final semester of their bachelor's program. The course includes 50 hours of volunteer work with one of the more than 160 public health organizations within the Arnold School’s network of community partners.
“The volunteer component of the Senior Capstone Seminar allows students to see how public health work is done in real life, learn how to anticipate and address challenges to public health efforts, and apply the knowledge and skills they have developed through their coursework in a way that positively impacts their communities,” says Morgan Collins, an undergraduate advisor who takes turns teaching the course along with the others members of the Office of Undergraduate Student Services.
Experience leads to employment
Dedicated to promoting health equity and improving the well-being of vulnerable populations, Smith participated in the course last spring. She calls her time volunteering with Ending the Epidemic SC a pivotal experience in shaping her approach to public health – particularly community health initiatives.
“I gained valuable skills in outreach, education, and advocacy, which deepened my understanding of the importance of grassroots efforts in addressing health disparities,” says Smith, who applies the same principles of community engagement and support to empower caregivers and families in the Volunteer Coordinator role she landed at Leeza’s Care Connection after her May graduation. “The capstone project honed my ability to connect with diverse populations and fostered a passion for making a meaningful impact on people’s lives.”
McIntosh, a 2023 graduate, sees a direct connection between the capstone project she conducted at Girls on the Run Columbia and the full-time position she holds at SC Thrive. The Midlands Training Coordinator taught young girls at Girls on the Run and now adults at SC Thrive how to take care of their minds and bodies.
The school offers a wealth of programs, research opportunities, and guidance that are invaluable for personal and professional growth. Equally important is forming meaningful connections with faculty, peers and professionals in the field.
“We provide mental health first aid training on how to recognize the signs and symptoms to reduce ‘burn-out’ in the workplace,” McIntosh says. “I also use my degree to help tons of individuals across the state get connected to resources that they need and provide training on our system Thrive Hub, where clients can apply for support from multiple agencies at once.”
Mentees become mentors
This spring, Smith and McIntosh will supervise PUBH 498 students at their own public health organizations. Now considered community partners, these valued alumni will guide the next set of graduates as they explore their ideal public health paths through their senior capstone projects and gain experience that will help them secure their first professional positions.
They also have some advice for public health students who may be a bit earlier in the process.
“Taking advantage of the resources and opportunities at the Arnold School was crucial in shaping my career,” Smith says. “The school offers a wealth of programs, research opportunities, and guidance that are invaluable for personal and professional growth. Equally important is forming meaningful connections with faculty, peers and professionals in the field.”
McIntosh agrees that building relationships will help build the foundation of an impactful public health career.
“Your career will not be cookie-cutter as a public health major,” she says. “Go to networking events in your area, get out there! Put yourself in uncomfortable situations, and you may just meet your next employer.”
