Opening Message

Happy July and a warm welcome to our incoming Fall 2023 cohort!

In OOMPH, July is a time to prepare for the new academic year. Our current students are midway through their summer 2 courses and preparing to either complete their breadth courses this fall (Spring 2023 cohort), dive into their concentration requirements and electives (Fall 2022, Spring 2022 cohort), or start studying for their upcoming comprehensive exam (Fall 2021 cohort). While our incoming Fall 2023 cohort is preparing to kick off the start of their program by attending the upcoming New Student Orientation. See below for details about fall course enrollment dates. 

I also recognize that for our continuing students it can be tough to not get a real summer break from classes while in OOMPH. Please remember to take some time to do something that brings you joy. Maybe that is doing some light summer reading and checking out an e-book through the UCB library, or discovering a new trail to hike, or watching a movie through Kanopy (another resource you have access to through UCB). If you have any good book recommendations, I’m always happy to hear them!

This monthly student newsletter is packed with important course enrollment details, information on upcoming events, and program announcements so please be sure to read on.

On behalf of the OOMPH team, I want to wish you all a productive and meaningful new school year. We look forward to connecting and building community with you!

Sarah Zyba

OOMPH Public Health Nutrition Concentration Faculty Lead

Important Announcements

Important Dates and Deadlines: 

• July 14, 2023 - Add Course, Drop Course, or Withdraw for Summer 2 (with refund)
• July 16, 2023 - Fall enrollment begins for newly admitted students. Check CalCentral for your specific date and time.
• July 17, 2023 - Deadline to waive SHIP for fall to avoid $75 late waiver fee, absolute waiver deadline is August 15, 2023
• View complete SHIP waiver information here
• July 17, 2023 - Fall Phase 2 enrollment begins for continuing students. Check CalCentral for your specific date and time

Hope your summer is going well! I cannot believe fall enrollment is just around the corner. Our goal is to make sure you have a successful enrollment period. Please carefully review the fall enrollment instructions below by your admit term: 

First Year Students (admitted Fall 2023): 

Your enrollment date begins on July 14th. Please check CalCentral for your specific appointment time. You are required to enroll in Fall Full Term Courses: August 21 - December 10, 2023

• PHW200G: Health and Social Behavior (3 units) Enrollment # 30124 
• PHW250: Epidemiological Methods I (3 units) Enrollment # 30175

Note: You are advised not to enroll in any other courses.

Continuing students (admitted prior to Spring 2023): 

Phase II for continuing students begins on July 17th. Please check CalCentral for your specific appointment time. Remember, It is recommended that you complete all of your core and breadth requirements (W142, W250, W200E, W200F, W200G) before taking your concentration-specific requirements or electives. 

Student Gateway Resources for Course Mapping 

• To review course offerings and to access course syllabi from a previous term, please go to our Course Catalog: https://onlinemph.berkeley.edu/academic-planning/academics/online-curriculum/
• For current course offerings, class numbers for enrollment, and key dates please go to our Program Calendar: https://onlinemph.berkeley.edu/academic-planning/academics/program-calendar/

Note: Please Do Not register for more than six units of courses (also known as “doubling up") without prior discussion with and approval from the program’s faculty advisor.

First Year Students (admitted Spring 2023): 

Your enrollment date begins on July 17th. Please check CalCentral for your specific appointment time. You are required to enroll in Fall Full Term Courses: August 21 - December 10, 2023

• PHW142: Introduction to Probability and Statistics in Biology and Public Health (4 units) Enrollment # 30204
• PHW200F: Environmental Health Sciences Breadth (2 units) Enrollment #30205

Note: You are advised not to enroll in any other courses.

If you have any questions and/or concerns, please contact your Program Manager. 

New Offering for Fall 2023! 

With HPM Faculty Director Kim MacPherson: Strategically Managing Health Care Policy - offered by the Haas EWMBA Program and open to OOMPH Students for Fall 2023 - 2 units (Note: can add a 1 unit PH299 with the teaching faculty if want to get to 3 units - extra policy analysis paper required).



Please complete this form by Friday, August 4, 2023 if you would like to enroll in this course.

Comprehensive Exam

We are excited for our biggest Comp Exam cohort to date this Fall! 

The Fall 2023 Comprehensive Exam will be coming up in October between the 16th-22nd (week between Fall 1 and Fall 2). Please look out for a Comp Exam Prep Group invitation from Evan in a couple of weeks.

More information about the Comp Exam can be found on our Comprehensive Exam page in the Student Manual.

Student Spotlight

It was magical to see you at the Summer Visits! We would like to share some photos celebrating our time together.

During the First Year Summer Visit, five recent and upcoming OOMPH graduates joined us virtually (and one in person) to share their practicum experience with students who are preparing to begin their practicum journey. A HUGE thank you to the presenters! A recording of the presentations will be available on the RISE Practicum Resource Site in the next few weeks.

Career & Practicum Events

SAVE THE DATE! Practicum Q&A SESSION

Thursday, July 20, 2023 | 9:00 - 10:30 am PT or 5:00 - 6:30 pm P

• Zoom Link: https://berkeley.zoom.us/j/95044260414
• Do you have questions about the practicum? Wanting to get a jump start but not sure where to begin? Started your practicum but wondering what’s next? Join Kandis and Sara, your practicum field consultants, for an informative session discussing all things practicum. Regardless of where you are in your practicum journey, this workshop will share insights into the practicum process, provide resources for finding a practicum, and allow you to ask questions in real time. Two times to attend are offered; both sessions will cover the same information. This session will be recorded and made available on the RISE resource site.

Academic Support

• Disabled Student Program
• We equip disabled students with appropriate accommodations and services to achieve their individual academic goals. We are dedicated to supporting disabled students and collaborating with the campus community to remove barriers to educational access and embrace the University’s values of equity and inclusion. We believe that an accessible environment universally benefits everyone.

• Graduate Writing Center
• Assists graduate students in the development of academic skills necessary to successfully complete their graduate programs and prepare for future faculty and professional positions. This unit offers workshops on topics such as academic writing, grant writing, dissertation writing, editing, and preparing articles for publication, in addition to writing groups and individual consultations on these topics for graduate students.

Career and Practicum

Check out these Practicum Resources!

• Spring 2023 Practicum Info and Q&A Session Recording 
• Apply to Receive Supplemental Funding 
• Schedule an Appointment with your Field Consultant/Career Counselor 
• Schedule an Appointment with Dr. Catherine Metayer for quantitative practicum support. 
• Topics covered include but are not limited to: refining research question(s), mapping analytic plans, data management strategies, reporting results, and preparing a protocol for protection of human subjects (IRB). Statistical software support will not be covered in these sessions. Please see the D-Lab for support related to statistical software. (Please note that the D-Lab is unavailable for the summer)
• Check out the 130+ hour practicum opportunities on PHLEX!
• Access PHLEX for a complete list of additional opportunities including GSI/GSR, practicum, and part/full-time. Some of the new practicum opportunities you’ll see on PHLEX: 
• Development and Communications Intern, EcoAgriculture: EcoAgriculture Partners (Remote, Paid - $600/month stipend), Learning & Impact Intern: Hopelab (Remote, Paid - $25-30/hr), Africa Health Program Innovations Fellow: Fund for Global Health (Remote), Graduate Student Assistant: OEHHA - Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment / Cal EPA (Remote flexibility, Paid - $18-25/hr), Summer or Fall Internship for Health Equity: UCSF Center for Vulnerable Populations (Remote), AND MORE!