The Community Health Sciences (CHS) Division focuses on health needs and multidisciplinary interventions, preparing students to assume leadership or middle-management positions. The approach within CHS is analytical, critiquing today's programs in light of their historical development and current realities. CHS faculty evaluate the effects of services on the health status of specific groups and work to improve the structure, process, and content of services through education concerning the latest scientific theories, practices, and policies.
CHS offers three tracks in which students can specialize: 1) behavioral sciences and health promotion, 2) gerontology, and 3) maternal and child health (including MCH epidemiology); or students may enter as generalists. Students may choose to combine courses in topic areas such as developmental disabilities, international health, public health practice, public health nutrition, and women's health studies. Behavioral science aspects of public health are an integral part of all these topic areas. Students desiring more in-depth training in the behavioral sciences should elect the behavioral sciences and health promotion track. CHS students are exposed to a wide range of quantitative and qualitative methods for assessing the health of populations as well as for program planning and evaluation. Individual programs of study are developed for each student based on previous experience, interests, and professional goals.
CHS awards four graduate degrees through the School of Public Health and the Graduate College: the Master of Public Health (MPH), Doctor of Public Health (DrPH), Master of Science (MS), and the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). Enrollment can be on a full- or part-time basis. MPH students are admitted to the Comprehensive Curriculum or to the Professional Enhancement Program for experienced professionals with at least three years of paid public health or community health experience.
The MPH and DrPH curricula provide students with a scientific knowledge base, practical public health experience (the practicum or internship), and scientific research and writing experience (the master's paper or dissertation). These degrees are primarily directed toward students interested in public health practice and administrative positions, although the DrPH is also a desirable degree for those interested in academic public health. The MS and PhD curricula include basic course work designed to provide an understanding of substantive areas of public health and advanced quantitative skills. Concentrated work is undertaken related to a selected research project. The MS and PhD programs are largely directed to students interested in academic or research careers. General SPH and Graduate College requirements apply to both the MS and PhD degrees.
CHS offers a number of special programs of study which are described more fully elsewhere in this catalog. These programs are the Maternal and Child Health Program (including the Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology Program), an MPH program based at the UIC College of Medicine at Peoria, and a joint degree program with the UIC College of Nursing leading to the MPH and the Master of Science (MS) in Nursing.
CHS has multidisciplinary faculty with backgrounds in the behavioral and community health sciences that include anthropology, epidemiology, health education and promotion, health services research, pediatrics, preventive medicine, psychology, public health administration, public health nursing, public health nutrition, social work, and sociology. Faculty have extensive experience in direct-care services, education, management, and research. Additional professionals hold adjunct appointments, further enhancing the diversity and expertise of the division. The CHS faculty are involved in very successful research projects. These projects may offer interested students some opportunities to participate and provide them with financial assistance.
Careers for graduates include public health practice, teaching, and research. The skills a student brings to the School of Public Health remain relevant. Graduate study in public health adds new knowledge and competencies in primary prevention and health promotion, the solution of health-related problems, health policy formation and analysis, and in planning, managing, and evaluating health programs for specific at-risk populations. The program allows the individual to bring a broad perspective to his/her position and often advance to a higher level of responsibility. The possible careers vary widely. For example, a clinician with an MPH or DrPH degree may become a public health program director, planner, consultant, or a legislative aide. A graduate with an MS or PhD degree may become a researcher or a university faculty member.
Applicants who meet the admission requirements of the School of Public Health are eligible to apply to CHS. Preference is given to those who have had graduate training or experience in a public health-related field. Admission requirements include a baccalaureate (usually a master's degree for doctoral students) from an accredited college or university. Applicants must submit three letters of recommendation, academic transcripts, Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores, and a statement of academic interests and professional goals. Demonstrated competence in English is required prior to entrance. The admissions process is very competitive.
For application information, please contact Rebecca Fields, MPH, Academic Coordinator, at 312-996-8940 or RFields@uic.edu.
The Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences (EOHS) Division provides students with the requisite scientific and public health background to help protect the environment and improve the health of workers and the general public. The EOHS curriculum emphasizes quantitation and as much practical experience as possible within the limits of an academic program. EOHS field investigations, both as academic courses and research projects, take advantage of the access to industries and challenges associated with a major urban metropolis. Industries include heavy manufacturing, health care, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and high technology. Air and water pollution and solid and hazardous waste management are among the challenges addressed.
EOHS graduates regularly find positions in the environmental/occupational field in government, industry, and consulting, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Abbott Laboratories, Ford Motor Co., Motorola, LTV Steel, the Cook County Department of Environmental Control, and the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory.
EOHS offers four degree programs: the Master of Public Health (MPH), Doctor of Public Health (DrPH), Master of Science (MS), and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). The MPH and DrPH are professional degree programs involving course work in EOHS as well as core courses in other public health disciplines and practical public health experience through the practicum. The MS and PhD are research degrees requiring a thesis for students interested in research or academic careers.
Specialized study is offered in air pollution, industrial hygiene, occupational medicine, toxicology, water quality, and hazardous materials management. In the industrial hygiene concentration, the MS and the comprehensive MPH curricula are accredited by the Applied Science Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc. (ASAC-ABET). The occupational medicine concentration has been approved for physicians seeking eligibility to the American Board of Preventive Medicine. Physicians in this program are awarded the MPH degree upon completion of their studies.
Financial support from traineeships and research assistantships is available. For additional information on traineeships, see the "Financial Aid" section of this catalog. Students seeking research assistantships may become involved in such faculty research projects as remote monitoring of landfill emissions, reducing eye injuries in agricultural workers, source apportionment of indoor PAHs in urban homes, Aspergillus surveillance in the University of Illinois Hospital, indoor risk factors for asthma in Chicago Public Schools, modeling of airflow and contaminant distribution in local exhaust ventilation hood design, worker exposure from flux core arc welding, characteristics and treatment of mercury in dental wastewater, electrokinetic remediation of contaminated soil, air pollution source apportionment in Mariupal, Ukraine, environmental exposure and hospital admission in Cook County, Illinois, simulation of TB coughing emissions, and receptor modeling of Southeast Chicago aerosol.
To qualify for the program, applicants must have taken the GRE and have taken two semesters of calculus, a year of general chemistry, and at least one semester of organic chemistry. For those interested in traineeships in industrial hygiene or hazardous materials management, a course in human physiology is also required. In unusual cases, if only a single course requirement is missing, permission may be given to take it in the first semester of residence at SPH.
For information regarding the application process, please contact Delores Samuels, Academic Coordinator, at 312-996-8856 or Delores@uic.edu.
Epidemiology, the basic science of public health, studies the occurrence and distribution of diseases and other health-related events in populations. It is sometimes thought of as a bridge between quantitative methods and medical sciences. Biostatistics applies statistical methods both to describe and draw important inferences about particular problems in public health. Epidemiologists rely on the sophisticated methods of biostatistics to determine the magnitude and impact of diseases in populations or in selected subgroups of populations. This information is fundamental to the determination of disease causation. Epidemiologic methods, in conjunction with biostatistical techniques, have been used in establishing the link between smoking and lung cancer, in studying Legionnaire's disease, in unraveling the mystery of how HIV was being spread, in clarifying the distribution of AIDS, and in helping elucidate the natural history of many other diseases.
Although epidemiology and biostatistics are closely interdependent disciplines, the teaching programs are separate. Programs in epidemiology and biostatistics may lead to MPH, MS, and PhD degrees.
The MPH degree in epidemiology provides students with a broad base of public health knowledge concentrating on epidemiology. The MPH degree prepares the graduate to provide epidemiology services within multidisciplinary public health environments. For those with previous clinical experience, this degree is often a route to higher administrative positions within public health and health care settings. The MS and PhD degrees educate students in the application of epidemiologic research methods in preparation for research careers. The MS graduate may participate as a collaborator in epidemiologic research studies, while the PhD graduate is prepared to develop independent epidemiologic research. Both MS and PhD graduates may find career opportunities in academic, government, or private institutional settings. MPH and PhD programs with a specialization in maternal and child health epidemiology are also offered. For additional information about the Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology Program, please see the "Special Programs of Study" section in this catalog.
Graduates of this division are in high demand and have found positions in the private and public sectors, as well as in academia. Recent doctoral graduates include a cancer researcher at the Illinois Department of Public Health, a biostatistician with a pharmaceutical firm, an epidemiologist with the U.S. Veterans Administration, and an Epidemiology Intelligence Service (EIS) officer at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The MS degree in biostatistics introduces the student to fundamental techniques of data analysis built upon a solid methodologic base. This degree is appropriate for persons interested in obtaining employment at an intermediate level either in the pharmaceutical industry, in government, or in the academic setting. The PhD program in biostatistics prepares the student to play important roles in study design, data collection and processing, and in statistical analysis and interpretation. Employment opportunities are excellent for graduates in biostatistics, both in private industry and in the public sector. The biostatistics program also offers an MPH in quantitative methods. This degree is designed for health professionals who require competency in the management, analysis, and interpretation of public health data and knowledge of data analysis issues as applied to a particular area of public health.
The Epidemiology and Biostatistics Division has a very successful research program. A variety of projects are ongoing in the following areas: AIDS, cancer, asthma, hepatitis B, aging and functional status, reproductive outcomes, drug abuse, hepatitis C, violence, sexually transmitted diseases, helicobacter pylori, bioterrorism and emerging infections, environmental epidemiology, and health promotion and disease prevention. These research projects often offer the interested student an opportunity to participate and obtain subsequent financial assistance.
Students entering the MPH or MS program in epidemiology must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution, preferably with a major in biological or social sciences or mathematics. Students entering the PhD program in epidemiology should hold a master's degree with similar background. Students with other health science or professional degrees are encouraged. Students entering the MS program in biostatistics should have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution, preferably with a major in mathematics or biology, and have taken at least one year of college calculus. Applicants to the MPH in quantitative methods must have taken at least one course in college algebra and a basic course in statistics or data analysis. Students entering the PhD degree in biostatistics must hold a master's degree in biostatistics or statistics.
For further information, please contact Beth Groom, Academic Coordinator, at 312-413-0327 or Groom@uic.edu.
The Health Policy and Administration (HPA) Division focuses on identifying the best policies and administrative practices to improve population health that are consistent with the constraints of available resources and current knowledge. The course of study is designed to prepare graduates to fill a variety of administrative and policy-oriented positions in both the private and public sectors. Students will be exposed to a multidisciplinary program that encompasses teachers from a range of disciplines–including sociology, psychology, organizational behavior, economics, law, and policy analysis–who apply these approaches to analyze aspects of the health care system and public health programming that range from the cost-effectiveness of a particular intervention to reforming the U.S. health care system. The emphasis within the program is directed at the application of theory and methods to "real world" problems, since knowledge and skills are of little value if they cannot be applied.
Areas of current research include: chronic illness and rehabilitation; environmental policy analysis; organizational behavior; computerized management information systems; effectiveness of public health laws; the cost effectiveness and outcomes of health services; economic analysis of health care delivery programs; dental care under various delivery systems; and knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about AIDS. A student's educational experiences are enhanced by participation in HPA's research and service activities.
The division admits students to any of the four degree programs offered by the SPH. Ordinarily, applicants are established professionals or are recent graduates with majors in appropriate biological, physical, or social sciences. The MPH program takes one or two years to complete for full-time students, depending on the applicant's previous health training and experience. HPA has two tracks: Public Health Policy and Administration (PHPA) and Health Services Administration (HSA). Students in the MPH Comprehensive Program must select one of these tracks. HPA also offers an on-line MPH in public health informatics for experienced health professionals. It is a three-year, part-time program. For information on how to apply to this program, contact Aimee Wiebel, HPA Academic Coordinator, at 312-996-3818 or by e-mail at PHI@uic.edu. In collaboration with other relevant departments at UIC, students can develop a concentration in a variety of areas: health policy analysis, health information management, health services research, and quality management. In addition, the MPH program based at the UIC College of Medicine at Rockford is offered through this division.
HPA applicants for the MPH or MS degree programs must have a baccalaureate degree in an appropriate biological, physical, or social science. Students entering the DrPH or PhD programs should also have a master's degree in a relevant area.
Careers for graduates include administrative positions in federal, state, and local government health agencies, health services administration, environmental and occupational health organizations, third-party health care payment agencies, accounting and management consulting groups, advocacy organizations, voluntary and professional health associations, and health care systems of various types. Positions held by recent graduates include: director of the Illinois Department of Public Health; consultant with a hospital planning corporation; chief executive officer of a major urban medical center; associate commissioner of a large city health department; county health department director; and key staff positions with the American Hospital Association, the American Medical Association, the American Dental Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
For information regarding the application process, please contact Aimee Wiebel, Academic Coordinator, at 312-996-3526 or Aimee@uic.edu.
Two degrees, the Master of Public Health (MPH) and Doctor of Public Health (DrPH), are offered by the School of Public Health. The Master of Science (MS) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees are offered through the Graduate College. Application and degree requirements differ among the degree programs.
Whatever degree is pursued, the applicant must select one of the four SPH academic divisions (Community Health Sciences, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Health Policy and Administration) outlined earlier. Specific admission requirements for these divisions may exist and may exceed general SPH requirements.
The Master of Public Health (MPH) is the basic professional degree offered by the School of Public Health. The program ensures that the graduate has a general understanding of the field of public health and specific competence in a particular area. The graduate is prepared for public health practice.
MPH Admission Requirements
A baccalaureate degree from an accredited school is the minimum requirement for admission to the MPH degree program; a master's or doctoral degree in an area relevant to public health is preferred.
All MPH applicants must submit Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores, EXCEPT:
- MPH applicants with a graduate or professional degree at the doctoral level, e.g., PhD, ScD, MD, DDS, DO, DVM, JD, from an accredited U.S. or Canadian school;
- MPH applicants with the above-stated degrees from foreign schools whose applications are sponsored by an accepted referral service, such as AFGRAD or AMIDEAST;
- physicians who are licensed to practice in the United States.
NOTE: The USMLE and ECFMG will not be considered in lieu of the GRE.
In exceptional cases, the division director may waive the GRE requirement. If an applicant wishes to be considered for such a waiver, the application must be submitted in sufficient time to take the GRE and have the scores sent to the School of Public Health by the application deadline, in the event that the request for waiver is denied. A cover letter must state the basis for the request for a waiver.
The admissions process is highly competitive. Admitted students typically have at least a combined undergraduate/graduate grade point average of 4.00 (A = 5.00) and a combined Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score of at least 1,000 (verbal plus quantitative). Additional requirements may be specified by the student's academic division. Public health, management, or social leadership experience is also an important consideration.
Application Process
Applications must be submitted by the deadline of February 1 for admission to the School of Public Health for the following fall semester. (See the calendar at http://www.uic.edu/sph/calendar/ for information which may have been updated.) Applicants with international credentials are strongly encouraged to submit their applications by January 1 for fullest possible consideration.
SPH application forms must be used. Applicants must follow all instructions and submit academic transcripts and GRE scores. Also required are: (1) a letter stating career objectives and the desired academic division(s), (2) three letters of recommendation, and (3) a résumé. Additionally, each academic division has specific entrance requirements regarding prerequisite training, experience, and grade point average (GPA) performance. Students must indicate the academic division to which they are applying. An interview may be required.
International applicants must present evidence of English competency. Official scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) administered by the Educational Testing Service, Princeton, NJ 08540, must be sent to sent to UIC. The test must have been taken within the last two years. Minimum scores required: paper-based TOEFL = 550, computer-based TOEFL = 213. The USMLE and ECFMG will not be considered in lieu of the TOEFL or as evidence of English competency. For more complete information about the TOEFL requirements, please refer to the School of Public Health website, http://www.uic.edu/sph, under Admissions, Applications for Degree Program, SPH MPH/DrPH Application Instructions.
Program of Study
The program of study leading to the MPH degree is adapted to each student's past experience and future career goals. A student with a health sciences background may matriculate in an abbreviated Professional Enhancement Program. A student with limited or no background in the health sciences completes a Comprehensive Curriculum.
Professional Enhancement Program (PEP)
The PEP curriculum consists of general public health course work for students who have three or more years of public health experience related to their academic division or a graduate or professional degree in a relevant area. Divisions may have more stringent criteria for admission into this program. While curricular requirements vary among divisions, full-time students whose program is limited to this curriculum will likely be able to complete it during one calendar year. Part-time students should complete the program in less than three years.
Comprehensive Curriculum
The Comprehensive Curriculum is for students with little or no background in a health sciences field, or who are changing careers within the field. It consists of the PEP curriculum plus extended training in an area of concentration, requiring supplementary course work tailored to the student's individual interests. The Comprehensive Curriculum has variable requirements up to 60 semester hours (sh). Students typically complete a minimum 45-53 sh program of study. Comprehensive students attending the program on a full-time basis will likely be able to complete it during two calendar years.
Both the PEP and Comprehensive Curriculum programs consist of five components:
1. SPH Required Courses
EPID 400 Principles of Epidemiology (3 sh)
BSTT 400 Biostatistics I (3 sh)
HPA 400 Principles of Management in Public Health (3 sh)
CHSC 400 Public Health Concepts and Practice (3 sh)
EOHS 400 Principles of Environmental Health Sciences (3 sh)
HPA 401 Behavioral Sciences in Public Health (2 sh)
IPHS 698 MPH Capstone Experience (1 sh)
2. Additional required and elective courses that vary among the academic divisions.
3. A field practicum, which can vary from 192 to 320 hours. Practicum requirements vary by division. Advisors and academic coordinators should be consulted when students are planning their practica to assure that requirements will be met. The practicum requirement may be waived for students with three or more years of professional experience related to their area of concentration in public health.
4. An essay which may be required at the discretion of the academic division.
5. A capstone experience that requires the student to synthesize and integrate knowledge acquired in course work and other learning experiences and to apply theory and principles in a situation that approximates some aspect of professional practice. The field practicum experience frequently provides the foundation for the student's capstone project.
The Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) degree program is for students who wish to prepare for leadership roles in the professional practice of public health in governmental, private, or voluntary agencies. It is oriented toward applied research in the organization, direction, and evaluation of public health programs rather than toward academic research and teaching (the province of the PhD program described later).
The goal of the DrPH program is to provide a broad knowledge of public health combined with specific knowledge in the student's area of interest. The structured program emphasizes course work and mastery of knowledge and skills. In addition to course work and independent study under faculty guidance, students devote one year to a major investigation or independent research resulting in a dissertation. DrPH candidates with less than one year of mid- to upper-level public health experience must also complete an internship of 6-10 semester hours.
The DrPH degree is offered in Community Health Sciences, Health Policy and Administration, and Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences.
DrPH Admission Requirements
Ordinarily, applicants have either an MPH degree or other master's degree in an area relevant to public health, in addition to a baccalaureate or professional degree. Promising applicants without a master's degree may be recommended for admission to the MPH or MS programs of the School of Public Health. The time required to earn the DrPH is not necessarily lengthened. However, successful completion of the master's degree does not guarantee admission to the DrPH program.
Minimum admission standards are a combined undergraduate and postgraduate grade point average of 4.00 (A = 5.00) and a combined Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score of 1,000 (verbal plus quantitative). These standards may be relaxed in unusual circumstances when excellence of previous professional achievement can be demonstrated. However, the admissions process is highly competitive; admitted students usually have qualifications in excess of these minimum standards.
The applicant's potential for making a contribution to the advancement of public health practice is also considered. Prior experience is assessed for leadership, concern for public welfare, and research potential.
Full-time applicants are given preference over part-time students for admission to the DrPH program. Two years beyond the MPH or three years for students without a public health degree are normally required for completion of the DrPH degree.
Application Process
Applications must be submitted by the deadline of February 1 for admission to the School of Public Health for the following fall semester. (See the calendar at http://www.uic.edu/sph/calendar/ for information which may have been updated.) Applicants with international credentials are strongly encouraged to submit their applications by January 1 for fullest possible consideration.
SPH application forms must be used. Applicants must follow all instructions and submit academic transcripts and GRE scores. Also required are: (1) a letter stating career objectives and the desired academic division(s), (2) three letters of recommendation, and (3) a résumé. An interview with faculty from the chosen academic division(s) may also be required. Research interests and financial support will be discussed during the interview.
International applicants must present evidence of English competency. Official scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) administered by the Educational Testing Service, Princeton, NJ 08540, must be sent to UIC. The test must have been taken within the last two years. Minimum scores required: paper-based TOEFL = 550, computer-based TOEFL = 213. The USMLE and ECFMG will not be considered in lieu of the TOEFL or as evidence of English competency. For more complete information about the TOEFL requirements, please refer to the School of Public Health website, http://www.uic.edu/sph, under Admissions, Applications for Degree Program, SPH MPH/DrPH Application Instructions.
Program of Study
Upon admission, the student and his or her advisor develop an integrated program of study that ideally incorporates significant elements of two or more academic divisions. The program of study must identify a major area of emphasis.
The program should total at least 96 semester hours (including up to 32 hours from a previous public health-related master's degree) and consists of four to five components.
1. Required courses that provide the student with advanced information in the tools and scope of public health. It is assumed that all DrPH students will have satisfied the basic course requirements of the MPH degree or their equivalent.
2. Special-emphasis courses that provide the student with in-depth knowledge and skills in the area of concentration.
3. Elective courses that broaden the student's knowledge of other SPH areas.
4. The research requirement (see below) that culminates in the dissertation thesis.
5. An internship requirement for candidates with less than one year of mid- to upper-level public health experience.
Minimum Semester-Hour Requirements
Required Courses 15 sh
Special-Emphasis Courses 16 sh
Elective Courses and Seminars* 23-33 sh
Independent Research 32 sh
Internship 0 or 6-10 sh
Total 96 sh
*At least 9 semester hours must be at the 500 level.
Required courses constitute an advanced-level overview of the tools and scope of public health. These include one course in each of the program areas as follows:
EPID 401 Quantitative Methods in Epidemiology I (2 sh)
BSTT 401 Biostatistics II (4 sh)
CHSC 500 Proseminar in Community Health Sciences (3 sh)
EOHS 461 Community Health and Consumer Protection (2 sh)
HPA 511 Organization Theory Applied to Health Programs (3 sh) or
HPA 522 Health Evaluation Methods (3 sh)
IPHS 660 Doctoral Integrative Seminar (1 sh)
The Research Thesis
All DrPH students are required to complete a research thesis. The student is required to demonstrate competence in conducting original research and in evaluating the investigations of others. The topic should be in an applied area, directed to problem solving in a specific public health activity or interdisciplinary program.
The Internship
Where required, the student is assigned 6-10 semester hours of structured, supervised activity to provide in-depth, mid- to upper-level public health experience. The internship (which should be relevant to the student's career plans) is selected jointly by the student and his or her Faculty Committee, which also supervises the intern. A salary may be accepted. The internship will provide the student with advanced information in the tools and scope of public health. The experience may or may not relate to the student's dissertation.
Examinations
The student must pass a preliminary examination after completing all required courses and a minimum of 32 semester hours.
The Doctoral Committee administers and evaluates a dissertation proposal examination to review the proposed independent research thesis.
A final oral examination consisting of a public presentation or report and a final examination on the student's research findings is administered by the student's Doctoral Committee.
Master of Science
The MS in public health sciences prepares students for intermediate to senior research positions in local, state, or federal agencies, in private or public health organizations, or in health research programs. MS degree students are also prepared for continuing studies through the PhD program.
MS Admission Requirements
An applicant must have (1) a baccalaureate degree from an accredited school, preferably with a major in the biological, physical, or social sciences, (2) an undergraduate grade point average of at least 4.00 (A=5.00), and (3) a combined Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score of 1,000 (verbal plus quantitative). Although exceptions may be made, admitted students usually have qualifications in excess of these minimum standards. The academic divisions may have additional admission requirements.
All MS applicants must submit Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores, EXCEPT
• MS applicants with a graduate or professional degree at the doctoral level, e.g., PhD, ScD, MD, DDS, DO, DVM, JD, from an accredited U.S. or Canadian school;
• MS applicants with the above-stated degrees from foreign schools whose applications are sponsored by an accepted referral service, such as AFGRAD or AMIDEAST;
• physicians who are licensed to practice in the United States.
NOTE: The USMLE and ECFMG will not be considered in lieu of the GRE.
Application Process
Applications must be submitted by the deadline of February 1 for admission to the School of Public Health for the following fall semester. (See the calendar at http://www.uic.edu/sph/calendar/ for information which may have been updated.) Applicants with international credentials are strongly encouraged to submit their applications by January 1 for fullest possible consideration.
The Graduate College application forms must be used. Applicants must submit academic transcripts, GRE scores, three letters of recommendation, a résumé, and a career-goal statement including (1) reason for pursuing the MS at UIC in the chosen area of concentration and (2) career goals and intended research.
International applicants must present evidence of English competency. Official scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) administered by the Educational Testing Service, Princeton, NJ 08540, must be sent to UIC. The test must have been taken within the last two years. Minimum scores required: paper-based TOEFL = 550, computer-based TOEFL = 213. The USMLE and ECFMG will not be considered in lieu of the TOEFL or as evidence of English competency. For more complete information about the TOEFL requirements, please refer to the Graduate College website, http://www.uic.edu/depts/grad/admissions, Degree Admissions, Application Procedures, International Applicants, Test of English as a Foreign Language.
Program of Study
Upon admission, the student and his or her faculty advisor develop a goal-oriented program of study that includes:
1. Required courses, limited to:
EPID 400 Principles of Epidemiology (3 sh)
BSTT 400 Biostatistics I (3 sh)
2. Academic division course requirements, seminars, and electives combined to suit the student's goals. SPH courses may be combined with those from other departments (e.g., Community Health Sciences with Anthropology).
3. Research must be completed in three to four semesters of full-time work leading to a required thesis. The research may include theoretical, laboratory, field, or computer-based investigation. Research is undertaken with the assistance and approval of the student's academic advisor and Thesis Examining Committee.
4. The biostatistics program requires a comprehensive examination rather than a formal thesis for MS students.
Minimum Semester-Hour Requirements
Required Courses 6 sh
Area Course Requirements,
Electives, and Seminars* 26 sh
Research 16 sh
Total 48 sh
*At least 9 semester hours must be at the 500-level.
Final Oral Examination
The final oral examination consists of a presentation of the student's research findings at an open meeting of students and faculty and a separate oral examination in the academic division by the student's Thesis Examining Committee.
Doctor of Philosophy
The PhD in public health sciences prepares scholars to conduct in-depth research and provide advanced instruction in public health at the college and university level. It also prepares researchers for governmental, private, and voluntary organizations in the prevention and control of disease.
PhD Admission Requirements
An applicant must have (1) a baccalaureate and a master's degree, at least one of which is in the biological, physical, or social sciences; (2) a combined undergraduate/graduate grade point average of at least 4.00 (A = 5.00); and (3) a combined Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score of 1,000 (verbal plus quantitative). Although exceptions may be made, admitted students usually have qualifications in excess of these minimum standards.
The applicant's potential for making a contribution to the advancement of public health science is also considered. Prior experience is used to assess leadership, concern for public welfare, and research potential. The primary requirement is a demonstrated ability to plan and complete significant health-related research. The applicant's MS or MA thesis is used to evaluate this requirement. A formal research paper or other evidence may be accepted in unique cases.
Promising applicants without a master's degree may enter the MS program as the route into the PhD program. The time required to earn the PhD is not necessarily lengthened. However, successful completion of the master's degree does not guarantee admission to the PhD program.
Applicants with an MPH or a postbaccalaureate education in a health or related science and MS students who have completed 32 semester hours and have demonstrated potential for conducting independent research may also be considered for admission.
Application Process
Applications must be submitted by the deadline of February 1 for admission to the School of Public Health for the following fall semester. (See the calendar at http://www.uic.edu/sph/calendar/ for information which may have been updated.) Applicants with international credentials are strongly encouraged to submit their applications by January 1 for fullest possible consideration.
The Graduate College application forms must be used, and applicants must submit academic transcripts, Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores, three letters of recommendation, a résumé, and a career-goal statement including (1) reason for pursuing the PhD at UIC in the chosen area of concentration and (2) career goals and intended research.
International applicants must present evidence of English competency. Official scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) administered by the Educational Testing Service, Princeton, NJ 08540, must be sent to UIC. The test must have been taken within the last two years. Minimum scores required: paper-based TOEFL = 550, computer-based TOEFL = 213. The USMLE and ECFMG will not be considered in lieu of the TOEFL or as evidence of English competency. For more complete information about the TOEFL requirements, please refer to the Graduate College website, http://www.uic.edu/depts/grad/admissons, Degree Admissions, Application Procedures, International Applicants, Test of English as a Foreign Language.
Program of Study
Upon admission, the student and his or her faculty advisor develop a program of study that must total at least 96 semester hours (which may include up to 32 credits earned for an MS degree in public health sciences or up to 32 semester hours of graduate credits earned at another institution).
The program of study includes:
1. Required courses:
EPID 400 - Principles of Epidemiology 3 sh
BSTT 400 - Biostatistics I 3 sh
BSTT 401 - Biostatistics II 4 sh
2. Formal 500-series courses in the major discipline (a defined track of an SPH academic division) and in a collateral area (if required by the academic division).
3. Seminars and electives.
4. Research (creative and original) advancing the field of public health by adding significant new knowledge. Research is undertaken with the guidance of a Dissertation Examining Committee.
5. Instructional experience (teaching in at least one course for at least some part of the academic semester with guidance from the regular instructor).
Minimum Semester-Hour Requirements
Required Courses 10 sh
Formal 500-Series Courses:
in Major Discipline 9 sh
in Collateral Area, if required 6 sh
Seminars and Electives (maximum) 39-45 sh
Research (minimum) 32 sh
Total 96 sh
Examinations
The preliminary examination (a rigorous test of the student's knowledge and ability to apply it) should be taken as soon as possible after completion of the required program of study.
The dissertation proposal examination is given orally to determine if the proposed research is feasible and if the student is prepared to pursue it.
The final oral examination includes both presentation of the dissertation at an open meeting and a final examination by the Dissertation Examining Committee.
The School of Public Health offers a Master of Public Health degree specializing in public health informatics (PHI). This program is focused on the study of the application of information management techniques to improve the practice of public health. All courses are delivered via the Internet.
The program is a cooperative effort between the UIC School of Public Health and the School of Biomedical and Health Information Sciences. The courses in the program provide core competencies in public health information systems and management. The program consists of fourteen didactic courses plus a field experience and a capstone experience mentored over the Internet. Because this program is delivered solely on-line, students must have access to Internet and e-mail communication.
The three-year on-line program was developed in response to the need for professionals who can manage public health information and surveillance systems and play leadership roles in the central public health function of information gathering, analysis, and dissemination. The target audiences for the program are public health administrators, health officials, health information professionals, and managed care organization analysts.
This on-line informatics program allows the student to earn a graduate degree from a fully accredited school of public health from anywhere in the country. All on-line courses are taught by the same faculty who teach the traditionally delivered courses. All courses employ frequent student and faculty interaction, use of on-line library resources, group study using Internet communications, and on-line examinations, thereby allowing professionals to continue working while earning their degrees.
Program Description
Students are expected to take five courses per year (two in the fall and spring semesters and one in the summer session) in order to complete the 48 semester hour program in three years. There are no electives in the program, and students are expected to move through the program in cohort groups.
Public Health Informatics Curriculum
Public Health Core Courses
BSTT 400 Biostatistics 1 (3 sh)
CHSC 400 Public Health Concepts and Practice (3 sh)
EPID 400 Principles of Epidemiology (3 sh)
HPA 400 Principles of Management in Public Health (3 sh)
EOHS 400 Principles of Environmental Health Sciences (3 sh)
HPA 401 Behavioral Sciences in Public Health (2 sh)
Informatics Courses
HPA 465 Health Information and Decision Support Systems (4 sh)
HPA 437 Health Care Data (3 sh)
BHIS 505 Legal and Social Issues of Health Informatics (3 sh)
HPA 510 Health Care Information Systems (4 sh)
HPA 520 Management of Health Care Communication Systems (4 sh)
HPA 563 Web-based Public Health Informatics (3 sh)
HPA 564 Applications of Geographic Information Systems in Public Health (3 sh)
CHSC 432 Analytical Methods in Public Health (3 sh)
The program will culminate in a field practicum and capstone experience.
Student Support
UIC provides on-line registration, academic counseling, and library services. On-line orientations to the UIC Internet-based course delivery systems, CourseInfo and WebBoard, are provided as well as telephone and on-line technical support to help the student become accustomed to distance learning tools and techniques. Faculty advisers are available to answer questions during telephone office hours or through e-mail.
Visit the Public Health Informatics Program website at http:// www.uic.edu/sph/phi to download an application as well as review admission requirements and application instructions. To apply to the program, applicants must complete the School of Public Health MPH application and check the Health Policy and Administration (HPA) program preference. For additional information, please call Aimee Wiebel, Academic Coordinator, Health Policy and Administration Division, at 312-996-3818 or e-mail her at PHI@uic.edu.
Medicine
The UIC College of Medicine and the School of Public Health (SPH) offer a program of study leading to the joint MD/MPH degrees. This is a five-year program of study.
Students must apply to the joint degree program at the outset of their training. In rare circumstances, medical students may apply to the joint program during their first year of medical school.
Students are encouraged to take advantage of the summers before and after the College of Medicine M1 year to complete some of the MPH core course requirements. The fourth year of the five-year program will be dedicated to completing the core requirements and much of the elective course load of the Master of Public Health degree. In the fifth year students must complete all M4 requirements including the medicine sub-internship and the core sub-specialty rotations, the SPH capstone experience, and College of Medicine clinical electives which may be satisfied by approved course work in SPH. Concurrent public health course work during the M1 through M3 years is discouraged.
For further information, contact Babette J. Neuberger, JD, MPH, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, at 312-996-5381.
A combined DDS/MPH degree program is available for students in good standing in the College of Dentistry at UIC.
For further information, contact Babette J. Neuberger, JD, MPH, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, at 312-996-5381.
The College of Business Administration and the School of Public Health offer a program of study leading to the Master of Business Administration and the Master of Public Health. The joint MBA/MPH program is designed for baccalaureate-prepared students who are seeking health care and business preparation for health care executive positions in government, hospital systems, long-term care, health maintenance organizations, planning/regulatory bodies, and consulting. To enter the program, a person must make separate applications and be admitted to both the Master of Business Administration program and Master of Public Health program. The policies of each program with respect to admission requirements, degree requirements, and other academic requirements are applicable.
Students must complete a minimum of 70 semester hours of appropriate graduate work through a combination of core and elective courses to satisfy the joint degree requirements. Most students will complete the joint degree in two and one-half years on a full-time basis or in three and one-half years on a part-time basis.
MBA Core Requirements (24 sh)
ACTG 500 Introduction to Financial and Managerial Accounting (4 sh)
ECON 520 Microeconomics for Business Decisions (4 sh)
FIN 500 Introduction to Corporate Finance (4 sh)
IDS 532 Decision Models & Information Systems II (4 sh)
MGMT 541 Organizational Behavior (4 sh)
MKTG 500 Introduction to Marketing (4 sh)
MPH Core Requirements (15 sh)
BSTT 400 Biostatistics I (3 sh)
EPID 400 Principles of Epidemiology (3 sh)
CHSC 400 Public Health Concepts and Practice (3 sh)
EOHS 400 Principles of Environmental Health Sciences (3 sh)
HPA 401 Behavioral Sciences in Public Health (2 sh)
IPHS 698 MPH Capstone Experience (1 sh)
Elective hours must raise the total hours for the joint degree to at least 70:
MBA Electives (12 sh)
Students must take at least three elective courses (twelve semester hours) from courses offered within at least two departments in the College of Business Administration.
MPH Electives (18 to 23 sh)
Students must satisfy requirements of one of the public health disciplines offered by the School of Public Health.
For further information, contact Babette J. Neuberger, JD, MPH, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, at 312-996-5381.
The UIC College of Nursing and the School of Public Health offer a program leading to two degrees: the Master of Science (MS) in Nursing with specialization in public health nursing and the Master of Public Health (MPH) with specialization in community health.
The joint degree program is designed for registered nurses seeking an advanced nursing degree and public health experience to prepare them for high-level administrative, consulting, and leadership positions in the public health field. Nurses who complete the joint degree program will be well prepared to assume leadership positions in a variety of settings and programs that are community based or population focused. The joint degree program helps nurses to integrate clinical knowledge and administrative expertise with public health practice to improve the delivery of health services in a variety of settings. Nurses interested in this option must be admitted to both the School of Public Health through the Community Health Sciences (CHS) Division and the College of Nursing through the Department of Public Health, Mental Health, and Administration (PMA).
The joint program of 57-66 credits is tailored to accommodate full-time students working to complete both degrees in two academic years. The required coursework also can be completed on a part-time basis in up to four years. Courses designated with an asterisk (*) meet both College of Nursing and School of Public Health degree requirements.
College of Nursing Courses (23-25 sh)
*NUPH 515 Advanced Nursing Management in Community-focused Health Services (3 sh)
*NUPH 516 Evaluation of Health Services Outcomes for Nursing (3 sh)
NUPH 517 Budget and Finance of Health and Nursing Services (3 sh)
NUPH 518 Field Study in Health and Nursing Management (3 sh)
*NUSC 526 Nursing Inquiry I (2 sh)
*NUSC 527 Nursing Inquiry II (2 sh)
NUSC 528 Health, Environment, and Systems (2 sh)
NUSC 529 Issues of Advanced Practice in Nursing (2 sh)
NUSC xxx: Choose one of the following: NUSC 597 or NUSC 598 (3-5 sh)
School of Public Health Courses (34-41 sh)
*BSTT 400 Biostatistics I (3 sh)
*EPID 400 Principles of Epidemiology (3 sh)
CHSC 400 Public Health Concepts and Practice (3 sh)
EOHS 400 Principles of Environmental Health Sciences (3 sh)
HPA 401 Behavioral Sciences in Public Health (2 sh)
CHSC 480 Health Education and Health Promotion (3 sh)
Choose one of the following policy and advocacy courses: CHSC 527, CHSC 543, or HPA 430 (3 sh)
CHS Track Requirements (5-10 sh)
CHS Elective Requirements (5 sh)
IPHS 650 Field Experience in Public Health
(3 or 5 sh)
IPHS 698 MPH Capstone Experience (1 sh)
Minimum credits required: 57-66 sh
For further information, contact Rebecca Fields, MPH, Academic Coordinator, Community Health Sciences Division, at 312-996-8940.
Coordinated JD/MPH Program
The School of Public Health and the Illinois Institute of Technology's Chicago-Kent College of Law offer a coordinated program leading to both the Juris Doctor and the Master of Public Health degrees. The full program may be completed in three and one-half years (on a full-time basis): one year at SPH and two and one-half years at the law school. Students must apply to both schools through the normal admissions processes. Admission into the program is contingent on admission to both schools. IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law offers almost two dozen classes in every aspect of health and the law: legal and ethical issues in health care; environmental law; elder law; genetics and the law; and many more. The UIC School of Public Health has three lawyers on its full-time faculty, with courses emphasizing the public health aspects of legal and public policymaking institutions and procedures.
For further information, contact Daniel Swartzman, JD, MPH, Associate Dean for Student Affairs, at 312-996-5756, or request a copy of the JD/MPH Brochure from Ms. Gwendolyn Slaughter at 312-996-6628.
The School of Public Health participates in three residency programs by providing an accredited academic year toward board eligibility in general preventive medicine and occupational medicine (both under the American Board of Preventive Medicine).
The University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health offers a two-year, fully accredited program leading to board eligibility in occupational medicine. The program is open to physicians with MD or DO degrees who have completed an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited internship year in the U.S. and are eligible for licensure in Illinois. The first academic year entails completion of course work for the MPH degree, plus one day per week of clinical work and sixteen weeks of elective rotations. The second practicum year entails five months of industrial-based medicine, three months on the Occupational Medicine Consultation Service, two months of research, and two months of electives in occupational medicine-related areas. Half-day, outpatient clinical work and weekly conferences are integrated into both the academic and practicum years of the program. Persons interested in the UIC Occupational Medicine Program may contact Linda Forst, MD, MPH, 901 South Wolcott Street, M/C 684, Chicago, Illinois 60612, at 312-413-0369.
The Cook County Hospital Department of Medicine offers a four-year program which combines occupational medicine and internal medicine and leads to board eligibility in both occupational and internal medicine. The first year consists of a categorical internal medicine year at Cook County Hospital. The second year entails three months of work in medical specialties and nine months of academic study in the School of Public Health, working toward the MPH degree. The third year is in internal medicine at Cook County Hospital with full-time ward and specialty medicine assignments. The fourth year consists of three months of clinical occupational medicine at Cook County Hospital, five months of industrial plant experience (which also includes the MPH practicum experience), three months of research, and two months of electives (some program elements may overlap). Outpatient clinics and conferences are integrated into the four years of the program. Interested persons may contact Rachel Rubin, MD, MPH, Division of Occupational Medicine, Cook County Hospital, 1900 West Polk Street, Fifth Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60612, at 312-633-5310.
Both occupational medicine residencies work in conjunction with the Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety Education and Research Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago, one of sixteen NIOSH-funded training centers in the United States. Now in its twenty-fifth year, it is supporting thirty-five trainees in MPH, MS, DrPH, and PhD programs in industrial hygiene and occupational nursing as well as the physician residency program in occupational medicine. Lorraine Conroy, ScD, CIH, is the Center Director.
The third residency program that offers an MPH at the School of Public Health is The Cook County Hospital General Preventive Medicine Program. This program offers two years of concurrent MPH and practicum experiences in preparation to sit for the American Board of Preventive Medicine exam. This program is for physicians who have already completed a residency in internal medicine. A third research year is periodically offered. The MPH is in either epidemiology/biostatistics or community health sciences. The practicum is a blend of training in clinical, adminstrative, public health, and research components of general preventive medicine. The program is in its seventh year and typically admits only one resident/fellow per year. For further information about this program, contact Arthur Hoffman, MD, MPH, Cook County Hospital, by e-mail at ArthurHoffman@pol.net.
The goal of the Maternal and Child Health Program (MCHP) is to provide graduate leadership education for individuals pursuing careers in maternal and child health (MCH). It is a comprehensive, competency-based program focusing on the health needs of women, children, and families and on the services designed to meet these needs. Competencies include the ability to apply a historical, legislative, and public health knowledge base concerning Title V/MCH and related governmental programs, policymaking and advocacy, program planning and evaluation, resource allocation and service delivery, management and communication, health education, quantitative and qualitative methods, interdisciplinary collaborative skills, community assessment and collaboration, and epidemiologic and analytic skills. The MCHP is one of only twelve such programs funded at schools of public health in the United States through the federal Maternal and Child Health Bureau.
Through collaborative research activities, field-based learning in courses, and practica experiences, as well as through the provision of continuing education offerings, technical assistance, and consultation, MCH faculty and students work closely with state and local health, social service, and education agencies, not-for-profit advocacy organizations, and community-based health and social service organizations, in order to improve the health and well-being of the MCH population.
The program leads to one of four School of Public Health degrees with a specialization in MCH: the Master of Public Health (MPH), Doctor of Public Health (DrPH), Master of Science (MS), and the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). It takes most students two years full-time to complete the MPH degree program in MCH. Students may also enroll on a part-time basis.
In addition, the Maternal and Child Health Program offers an MPH and PhD specialization in MCH epidemiology. The focus of this program is on applying epidemiologic methods and skills to solving MCH problems, particularly in conjunction with state and local health agencies. A more detailed description of this program is provided below.
Students first must meet the School of Public Health admission requirements and apply through the Community Health Sciences Division. Preference for admission to the MCHP is given to applicants who hold an advanced degree within a professional discipline relevant to maternal and child health and who have had at least two years of experience in their profession. Applicants with a bachelor's degree, experience in public health programs or related areas, and clear professional goals are also considered. Competitive MCH traineeships and assistantships are usually available.
For further information, contact Jennifer Bowe, Program Administrative Coordinator, Maternal and Child Health Program, at 312-413-5625, or Rebecca Fields, MPH, Academic Coordinator, Community Health Sciences Division, at 312-996-8940 or visit the webpage at www.uic.edu/sph/mch.
The Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology Program at UIC is a collaborative effort of the Maternal and Child Health Program/Community Health Sciences Division and the Epidemiology and Biostatistics Division. Students in the program are required to follow a course of study that combines the assessment, planning, analytic methods, and MCH courses of the Community Health Sciences Division with the epidemiology requirements of the Epidemiology and Biostatistics Division. Because the focus of the program is on the application of epidemiologic and other analytic methods to the resolution of current MCH problems, students are required to work with state or local health agencies for their field practicum (MPH) or dissertation (PhD). Graduates of these programs will have the analytic skills to enable them to perform many of the activities of the MCH planning cycle at a very high level: surveillance, assessment, planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and policy development. Special funding is available for qualified first-year and continuing doctoral students in the MCH Epidemiology Program.
For further information, contact Jennifer Bowe, Program Administrative Coordinator, Maternal and Child Health Program, at 312-413-5625, or Rebecca Fields, MPH, Academic Coordinator, Community Health Sciences Division, at 312-996-8940
The UIC School of Public Health is dedicated to the training of a diverse cadre of public health professionals. To this end, and in collaboration with the UIC Urban Health Program, a program to recruit, retain, and graduate students from minority groups historically underrepresented in the health professions, the school has developed a comprehensive career pipeline into public health, consisting of the Health Careers Opportunity Program (HCOP) and the Health Professional Partnership Initiative, supported through grants from 1) the Health Resources and Services Administration, Division of Education Development and Diversity, 2) the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and 3) several public health partners.
The model will increase the pool and the competitiveness of African-Americans and Latinos who are enrolled, retained, and graduated with master's and doctoral degrees in public health. The comprehensive plan includes individuals from all educational levels, K-20.
The Elementary/Middle School Program includes: 1) Public Health Assembly; 2) Public Health Curriculum, a health education program in over ten elementary schools taught by public health graduate students; 3) Public Health Week; 4) a six-week intensive Summer Public Health Institute and a thirty-week, all-year-round Saturday College for sixth to eighth grades at both the Early Outreach Program of UIC and Chicago State University.
The High School Program includes: 1) Public Health Clubs, a leadership training organization for 250 students from nine participating high schools); 2) a Saturday College at both the Early Outreach Program of UIC and at Chicago State University; and 3) a six-week High School Summer Public Health Institute.
Public Health Education for Teachers helps teachers to incorporate public health science into the K-12 curriculum and to increase their understanding of the impact of prejudice and stereotypes on the delivery of health care and the improvement of public health. Participating teachers receive lane credit promotion.
The Undergraduate College Students’ Program includes: 1) bi-annual conferences organized to disseminate information on how to prepare for a career in the public health workforce, address cultural competence in public health, access educational and professional opportunities in public health, and address public health issues facing disadvantaged minorities; 2) Public Health Sciences Satellite Centers to provide preliminary education to community college students and to strengthen their performance in sciences; 3) a Pre-Application/Admission Program to increase the competitiveness of disadvantaged undergraduate juniors and seniors in preparing for graduate study; and 4) a Summer Residential Enrichment Program, an eight-to-ten-week summer program that facilitates the entry of disadvantaged and under-represented minority undergraduate juniors, seniors, and post-baccalaureate students into professional and graduate training in public health.
Participants are also given a stipend of $300.00 per week if they are from the Health Professions Shortage Areas of Illinois and/or demonstrate financial need.
The UIC SPH Matriculated Students’ Program includes: 1) the Pre-matriculation Program, an intensive six-week preliminary course to strengthen the academic competitiveness of disadvantaged and under-represented minority students admitted to the UIC SPH; and 2) student support groups, a retention program focusing on biostatistics, epidemiology, environmental calculations, and writing.
Financial Aid and Job Placement: A minimum of two seminars is held every semester to provide opportunities for students to: 1) access financial assistance; 2) network with federal, state, and local agencies, and with private organizations; and 3) attend professional conferences.
For further information, contact Shaffdeen A. Amuwo, PhD, MPH, Associate Dean for Community, Government, and Alumni Affairs, at 312-996-6625 or the HCOP director at 312-996-5955.
This program allows doctoral students to take advantage of specialized courses, laboratory and library facilities, and related faculty guidance available at universities in the Big Ten and the University of Chicago. Under the program, DrPH or PhD students may spend two quarters or one semester at any of the other CIC institutions. Consult the Graduate College for further information.
The MPH program based at the UIC College of Medicine at Peoria (UICOM-Peoria) offers a professional enhancement MPH degree. The program is offered through the School of Public Health's Community Health Sciences Division and complements the UICOM-Peoria Program in Population and Community Health. Student admission and performance standards are the same as those for students at the Chicago campus.
A 33 semester hour program is available for practicing physicians, nurses, public health officials, and related personnel working in the community. Students will complete the program using a combination of on-line distance learning and Peoria-based instruction. Students will also have the option of taking courses at the School of Public Health in Chicago. The admission criteria require the applicant to have a bachelor's or advanced degree in health or a related profession plus three years of paid public health or community health experience.
A 38 semester hour program is available for medical students or those in clinical residency programs. A field experience is required of these students in addition to the core requirements.
Curriculum
SPH Core Requirements (18 sh)
BSTT 400 Biostatistics 1 (3 sh)
EPID 400 Principles of Epidemiology (3 sh)
HPA 400 Basic Principles of Management in Public Health (3 sh)
HPA 401 Behavioral Sciences in Public Health (2 sh)
CHSC 400 Public Health Concepts and Practice (3 sh)
EOHS 400 Principles of Environmental Health Sciences (3 sh)
IPHS 698 MPH Capstone Experience (1 sh)
CHS Core Requirements (15 sh)
CHSC 446 Research Methods in Community Health (3 sh)
CHSC 480 Health Education and Health Promotion (3 sh)
CHSC 494 Community Assessment in Public Health (3 sh)
CHSC 433 Public Health Planning and Evaluation (3 sh)
XXX xxx Students select one of the following policy and advocacy courses:
CHSC 527 Critical Issues in Long-Term Care Policy (3 sh), or
CHSC 543 MCH Policy and Advocacy (3 sh), or
HPA 430 Introduction to Public Health Policy Analysis (3 sh)
Field Experience (5 semester hour credits for medical students):
IPHS 650 Field Experience in Public Health
Students are encouraged to take additional elective courses.
For further information, contact Regional Program Directors Alina Fernández, MD, MPH, or Kathleen Baldwin, PhD, RN, at 309-671-3447.
MPH Program at UIC College of Medicine at Rockford
The MPH program based at the UIC College of Medicine at Rockford (UICOM-R) offers a 36 semester hour professional enhancement MPH degree. The program is offered through the School of Public Health's Health Policy and Administration Division. The focus of the program is strengthening the relationship between medicine and public health.
The program is available for medical students and those with at least three years of experience working in health or a public health field. The admission criteria and student performance standards are the same as those for students in the PEP program at the Chicago campus. Students are admitted to the program every year in the fall semester.
Curriculum
SPH Core Requirements (18 sh)
BSTT 400 Biostatistics I (3 sh)
EPID 400 Principles of Epidemiology (3 sh)
HPA 400 Basic Principles of Management in Public Health (3 sh)
HPA 401 Behavioral Sciences in Public Health (2 sh)
CHSC 400 Public Health Concepts and Practice (3 sh)
EOHS 400 Principles of Environmental Health Sciences (3 sh)
IPHS 698 MPH Capstone Experience (1 sh)
Additional Program Requirements (18 sh)
HPA 494 Public Health Law and Ethics (3 sh)
CHSC 432 Analytic Methods in Public Health (3 sh)
CHSC 480 Health Education and Promotion (3 sh)
CHSC 494 Media and Community Health Care (3 sh)
HPA 494 U.S. Health and Public Health System (3 sh)
A practicum is required of all students and is the equivalent value of 3 semester hours.
For further information, contact Vicki Weidenbacher-Hoper at 815-395-5854 or vweide1@uic.edu.
For updated information on faculty, please check the School of Public Health website at http://www.uic.edu/sph/faculty/.