Public Health Sciences

Admission Requirements Degree Requirements

Mailing Address:
School of Public Health (MC 923)
1603 West Taylor Street
Chicago, IL 60612-4394

Campus Location: 1149 SPHPI

Program Codes:
20FS1634MS (Biostatistics MS)
20FS1634PHD (Biostatistics PhD)
20FS1635MS (Community Health Sciences MS)
20FS1635PHD (Community Health Sciences PhD)
20FS1636MS (Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences MS)
20FS1636PHD (Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences PhD)
20FS1637MS (Epidemiology MS)
20FS1637PHD (Epidemiology PhD)
20FS1638MS (Health Policy and Administration MS)
20FS1638PHD (Health Policy and Administration PhD)

Telephone: (312) 996-6620
E-mail:  sefurner@uic.edu
Web Site: http://www.uic.edu/sph/
Dean of the School: Paul Brandt-Rauf
Director of Graduate Studies: Sylvia Furner

The School of Public Health offers work leading to the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Public Health, participates with the College of Nursing in offering the MS in Nursing/MPH joint degree program, participates with the College of Medicine in offering the Medical Scientist Training Program, and also participates with the Department of Anthropology in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in offering the MA in Anthropology/MPH in Global Health. Master’s and doctoral students may apply into one of five primary concentrations.  Secondary concentrations are also available as noted in parenthesis: Biostatistics; Community Health Sciences (including Maternal and Child Health -PhD only); Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences (including Industrial Hygiene, Hazardous Substances Management, Occupational Safety, and Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology); Epidemiology (including Cancer Epidemiology, and Occupational and Epidemiology); and Health Policy and Administration.  Other secondary concentrations include: Global Health offered by the School of Public Health and available to all master’s students; and interdepartmental concentrations in Gender and Women’s Studies, Survey Research Methodology, Violence Studies, and Women’s Health.

 

The School of Public Health also offers programs leading to the Master of Public Health and Doctor of Public Health, and participates with other academic units in offering the MBA/MPH, MD/MPH, and DVM/MPH joint degree programs; and a coordinated JD/MPH with IIT Kent College of Law. These professional degree programs are not part of the Graduate College.

Admission Requirements

In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, applicants must meet the following program requirements:

Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy

  • Baccalaureate Field A major in the biological, physical, or social sciences is preferred. Students applying to the primary concentration in Environmental and Occupational Health must have completed a full year of general chemistry, at least one semester of organic chemistry, and mathematics through differential and integral calculus; a course in human physiology is also required for those interested in a secondary concentration in Industrial Hygiene, Hazardous Substances Management, or Occupational Safety.
  • Grade Point Average At least 3.00/4.00.
  • Tests Required GRE General. The combined verbal and quantitative scores must be at least 1000.
  • Minimum English Competency Test Score
    • TOEFL 550 (paper-based); 213 (computer-based); 80, with subscores of Reading 19, Listening 17, Speaking 20, and Writing 21 (iBT Internet-based), OR,
    • IELTS 6.5, with subscores of 6.0 for all four subscores.
  • Letters of Recommendation Three required.
  • Personal Statement Required; the statement should address the applicant’s intended research, career goals, and reason for pursuing the MS or PhD degree in the chosen area.
  • Other Requirements: Generally, applicants to the PhD program must have a master’s degree. Applicants may submit their master’s thesis as evidence of their ability to plan and complete significant health-related research.


MPH/MA in Anthropology

To be admitted to the joint degree program, applicants must meet the admissions criteria of both programs and be admitted to each through separate applications. Consult the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for information on the admission requirements of the MA in Anthropology. Consult the School of Public Health Catalog for information on the admission requirements of the MPH program. Joint degree students must take their MPH training in either Community Health Sciences or Epidemiology.


MPH/MS in Nursing

To be admitted to the joint program, applicants must meet the admissions criteria of both programs and be admitted to each through separate applications. Consult the College of Nursing section for information on the admission requirements of the MS in Nursing program. Consult the School of Public Health Catalog for information on the admission requirements of the MPH program. Joint degree students must take their MPH training in Community Health Sciences (CHS).

Degree Requirements

In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, students must meet the following program requirements:

Master of Science

  • Minimum Semester Hours Required 48; 50–51 for the Epidemiology concentration; 50 for the Cancer Epidemiology concentration; 53–56 for the Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology concentration; 58 for the Industrial Hygiene concentration; 63 for the Occupational Safety concentration; and 63 for the Hazardous Substances Management concentration.
  • Course Work At least 32 semester hours must be in courses other than IPHS 598, and at least 9 semester hours must be at the 500-level (requirements for the Biostatistics concentration are described below). No more than 4 hours of IPHS 596 may be applied to the degree.
  • Required Courses: EPID 403 and BSTT 400. Remaining courses and their distribution depend on the student’s area of concentration. MS students are admitted into one of the  following primary  concentrations: Biostatistics, Community Health Sciences, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, Epidemiology, or Health Policy and Administration.  
  • Biostatistics Concentration Requirements: EPID 403; BSTT 430 or 440, 523, 524, 525, 535, 536, 537, 538, 550; STAT 401, 411; and a minimum of 7 semester hours of electives with at least one course selected from the SPH core courses not given in the Epidemiology and Biostatistics Division: CHSC 400, EOHS 400, HPA 400, or CHSC 401.
  • Community Health Sciences Concentration Requirements: MS students concentrating in Community Health Sciences must complete all of the SPH requirements for the MS degree. In addition, students must take CHSC 400, CHSC 401, BSTT 401, CHSC 446, and CHSC 480.
  • Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Concentration Requirements: MS students concentrating in Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences must complete all of the SPH requirements for the MS degree in addition to BSTT 401 and EOHS 405. Students must also complete the division core of 12 semester hours in EOHS courses, choosing at least one course in each of the following three areas: Exposure Assessment and Measurement, Health Assessment, and Intervention Strategies. Students should see their advisor for a list of courses in each area.
  • Epidemiology Concentration Requirements: MS students concentrating in Epidemiology must complete all of the SPH requirements for the MS degree. In addition, students must take: EPID 404, 406, 591, 595; BSTT 401; and one course from BSTT 402, 430, or 440.
  • Health Policy and Administration Concentration Requirements: MS students concentrating in Health Policy and Administration must complete all of the SPH requirements for the MS degree. In addition, 25 hours of course work relevant to the disciplinary area of Health Policy and Administration are taken in consultation with the faculty advisor.

Additional course requirements for those pursuing a secondary concentration: 

  • Cancer Epidemiology Concentration Requirements: MS students concentrating in Cancer Epidemiology must complete all of the SPH requirements for the MS degree. In addition, students must take: EPID 404, 406, 591, 595; BSTT 401, BSTT 505; EPID 515; 2 courses from: CHSC 514, HN 594—Nutritional Epidemiology, EPID 516, EPID 520, EPID 554, EPID 594—Special Topics: Social Epidemiology, or EPID 594—Special Topics: Surveillance Epidemiology.
  • Global Health Concentration Requirements: Students earning an MS in Public Health degree in any of the primary concentrations may also enroll in the Concentration in Global Health. Students in the Global Health Concentration program must satisfy school-wide and divisional requirements in addition to the following: IPHS 409—Global Public Health I (3 hours), IPHS 410—Global Public Health II (3 hours), and an elective (3 hours). Taking a cross-disciplinary approach to public health, the Global Health Concentration draws upon course work and other resources throughout UIC that will help GH students to deepen their knowledge and understanding of the challenges, issues, and skills required to successfully address health problems globally. Selection of an elective should be made with the help of the student’s academic advisor; and is subject to the offering department’s approval. MS students in the GH Concentration must focus their research thesis (IPHS 598, 8 or 16 hours, as required by the student’s divisional concentration) on a global health related topic either outside the U.S. or domestically through an appropriate alternative venue. In addition, as feasible, students in the concentration are strongly encouraged to select topics of global health relevance when completing all course assignments for their program. Competency in a foreign language is also highly recommended but not required for the program. With proper planning, courses may be used to satisfy both the Global Health Concentration and divisional requirements. 
  • Hazardous Substances Management Concentration Requirements: MS students concentrating in Hazardous Substances Management must complete all of the SPH requirements for the MS degree. In addition, students must take: BSTT 401; EOHS 405, 428, 529, 431, 438, 424, 440, 455, 523, 570, 584, 421, 482, and either EOHS 408 or 556.
  • Industrial Hygiene Concentration Requirements: MS students concentrating in the ASAC-ABET-Accredited Program in Industrial Hygiene within the Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Division must complete all of the SPH and EOHS requirements for the MS degree. In addition, students must take the following courses for a total of 58 semester hours for the MS degree. Additional requirements (if not selected to meet the division core requirements) include the following: EOHS 405, 421, 424, 428, 431, 438, 482, 523, 529, 570, 584; either EOHS 455 and 554 or EOHS 551.
  • Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Concentration Requirements: MS students concentrating in Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology must complete all of the SPH requirements for the MS degree. In addition, students must take the following courses for a total of 53–56 semester hours for the MS degree: BSTT 401; EPID 404, 406, 591; EOHS 556; EPID/EOHS 554, EPID/EOHS 530, EPID/EOHS 535, EPID/EOHS 571; EOHS 421  Selectives: EOHS 411 or 431;  EPID 410 or 411; EOHS 455 or 551. In addition, Epidemiology students must take BSTT 505; EOHS students must take EOHS 405.
  • Occupational Safety Concentration Requirements: MS students concentrating in Occupational Safety must complete all of the SPH requirements for the MS degree. In addition, students must take: BSTT 401, IE 461/EOHS 460, IE/EOHS 441, EOHS 463, IE 446, EOHS/EPID 571; EOHS 421, 482, 551, 405, 428, 529, 424; and one of the following: TSM 421—Agricultural Safety & Injury Prevention, which is taken through UIUC, EOHS 584, EOHS 570, EPID/EOHS 408.
  • Comprehensive Examination Required only for Biostatistics students.
  • Thesis, Project, or Course-Work-Only Options Thesis or course work only. No other options available.
  • Thesis: Thesis required for all areas except Biostatistics. Thesis students must earn at least 16 hours in IPHS 598; students in the Epidemiology, Cancer Epidemiology, and Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology concentrations must earn at least 8 hours in IPHS 598.
  • Course Work Only: Only for Biostatistics students. Comprehensive examination required.  


MPH/MA in Anthropology

  • Minimum Semester Hours Required 71–76.
  • Course Work Required Courses:
  • Anthropology and Global Heath Core (12 hours): ANTH/IPHS 415, 416, and 516.
  • Anthropology Core (18 hours): ANTH 500, 501, 502, 503, and 595.
  • School of Public Health Core (20 hours): CHSC 400, BSTT 400, HPA 400, EPID 403, EOHS 400, IPHS 650, IPHS 698.
  • Students must select one of the following two areas in Public Health: Community Health Sciences or Epidemiology.
  • Community Health Sciences Core (15 hours): CHSC 431, 433, 446, 480, and one of the following: CHSC 527, CHSC 543, or HPA 430.
  • Epidemiology Core (18 hours): EPID 404, 406, 410, 411, 591; BSTT 401.
  • Electives: 6–8 credit hours chosen in consultation with graduate advisors.
  • Comprehensive Examination None.
  • Thesis, Project, or Course-Work-Only Options Field experience and capstone project required. No other options available.
  • Other Requirements Students in the joint program will have two advisors, one from the Department of Anthropology faculty in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and one from the Community Health Sciences or Epidemiology program in the School of Public Health.


MPH/MS in Nursing 

  • Minimum Semester Hours Required 54–59.
  • Course Work Required Core Courses: BSTT 400 or NURS 525; NURS 526, 527, 528, 529, and 597 or 598.
  • Concentration Core: NUSP 503, 504, 505, and 507; CHSC 400, 401, 431, 433, and 480; EPID 400; EOHS 400; IPHS 650 and 698; choose one of the following: CHSC 527, CHSC 543, or HPA 430.
  • Comprehensive Examination None.
  • Thesis, Project, or Course-Work-Only Options Thesis or project required. No other options available.
  • Thesis: Students must earn 5 hours in NURS 598.
  • Project: Students must earn 3 hours in NURS 597.

Doctor of Philosophy 

  • Minimum Semester Hours Required 96 from the baccalaureate; 98 from the baccalaureate for the Cancer Epidemiology concentration. Students in the Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Concentration may be required to take 117 to 126 hours, depending on prior course work taken.
  • Course Work At least 9 hours must be in 500-level didactic courses in the student’s major area. If a collateral area is required by the major, at least 6 hours must be in the collateral area at the 500-level.
  • Required Courses: EPID 403, BSTT 400 and 401. BSTT 400 and 401 are not required for students in the Biostatistics concentration. Remaining courses and their distribution depend on the student’s area of concentration. PhD students are admitted into one of the following primary concentrations: Biostatistics, Community Health Sciences, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, Epidemiology, or Health Policy and Administration.  
  • Biostatistics Concentration Requirements: EPID 403; BSTT 560, 561, 562; at least 1 semester (1 hour) of BSTT 595; 19 semester hours of electives with 12 hours selected from BSTT 563, 564, 565, 566, and 545. The remaining 7 elective hours may not include BSTT 400, 401, 402, 410, 523, 524, or 525.
  • Community Health Sciences Concentration Requirements: PhD students in Community Health Sciences must complete all of the SPH requirements for the PhD degree. In addition, students must take theory courses CHSC 550 and CHSC 551. They must select 6 credit hours each from an approved menu for both the advanced analytic methods and the advanced research methods course requirements. Two credits of CHSC 595—Doctoral Seminar are also required. Students must select 12 hours for their concentration. The student will be tested in the concentration area as part of the preliminary examination. Additional compensatory courses are required if the equivalent course work was not completed at the master’s degree level. These compensatory courses are: EPID 403, CHSC 446, BSTT 400, BSTT 401, CHSC 400, and CHSC 480. Advisor approval is necessary for elective course selection. PhD students pursuing a program in Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology have additional requirements.
  • Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Concentration Requirements: PhD students concentrating in Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences must complete all of the SPH requirements for the PhD degree, and EOHS 557. In addition, students must complete the division core, choosing at least one course in each of the following three areas: Exposure Assessment and Measurement, Health Assessment, and Intervention Strategies. Students should see their advisor for a list of courses in each area.
  • Epidemiology Concentration Requirements: PhD students concentrating in Epidemiology must complete all of the SPH requirements for the PhD degree. In addition, students must take: EPID 404, 406, 410, 411, 501, 591, 595; BSTT 505, and BSTT 506 or 507.
  • Health Policy and Administration Concentration Requirements: PhD students in Health Policy and Administration must complete all of the SPH requirements for the PhD degree. No additional course requirements are specified. In addition, a minimum of 21 hours of course work relevant to the disciplinary area of Health Policy and Administration is taken in consultation with the faculty advisor.


Additional course requirements for those pursuing a secondary concentration: 

  • Cancer Epidemiology Concentration Requirements: PhD students concentrating in Cancer Epidemiology must complete all of the SPH requirements for the PhD degree. In addition, students must take: EPID 404, 406, 410, 411, 501, 591, 595; BSTT 505; CHSC 514 or HN 594—Nutritional Epidemiology; EPID 515, 516, 520, 554; EPID 594—Special Topics: Social Epidemiology or EPID 594—Special Topics: Surveillance Epidemiology.
  • Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Concentration Requirements: PhD students concentrating in Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology must complete all of the SPH requirements for the PhD degree. In addition, students must take: EPID 404, 406, 501, 591; EPID/EOHS 554, EPID/EOHS 530, EPID/EOHS 535, EPID/EOHS 571; EOHS 421, 556; BSTT 505; EOHS 411 or 431; EPID 410 or 411; EOHS 455 or 551; EOHS 564 or UPP 508; EPID 595 or both EOHS 405 and EOHS 557.
  • Dissertation Required. Students must register in IPHS 599 for at least 32 semester hours.
  • Other Requirements Students must obtain supervised experience in classroom teaching in at least one course for at least part of a semester.       

 

Interdepartmental Concentration in Gender and Women’s Studies

Students earning a graduate degree in this department may complement their courses by enrolling in a concentration in Gender and Women’s Studies after consulting with their graduate advisor. See Gender and Women’s Studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for more information.

Interdepartmental Graduate Concentration in Survey Research Methodology

Students earning a graduate degree in this department may complement their courses by enrolling in a concentration in Survey Research Methodology after consulting with their graduate advisor. See Interdepartmental Graduate Concentration in Survey Research Methodology in the Graduate College section for more information.

Interdepartmental Graduate Concentration in Violence Studies

Students earning a graduate degree in this department may complement their courses by enrolling in a concentration in Violence Studies after consulting with their graduate advisor. See Violence Studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section or the Jane Addams College of Social Work section for more information.

Interdepartmental Graduate Concentration in Women’s Health

Students earning a graduate degree in this department may complement their courses by enrolling in a concentration in Women’s Health after consulting with their advisor. See Interdepartmental Graduate Concentration in Women’s Health in the College of Nursing section for more information.

Medical Scientist Training Program

The UIC School of Public Health has particularly strong programs in epidemiology, biostatistics, prevention research, community health, health systems management, occupational and environmental safety and health, and quantitative methods. Application to the PhD program is normally made at the time of application to the College of Medicine; however, applicants will also be considered during their first two years of medical training. Students must apply to the Medical Scientist Training Program and to the College of Medicine and indicate in their application that they are interested in one of the divisions of the UIC School of Public Health. Criteria for admission to the program include academic excellence, prior research experience, potential for independent and creative research, and commitment to a career in academic medicine. Students receive a stipend throughout their years of study. For more information, contact Sylvia E. Furner, PhD, Senior Associate Dean, SPH, (312) 996-5013, sefurner@uic.edu; or the Medical Scientist Training Program: Larry Tobacman, MD, Director, (312) 413-1010, lst@uic.edu; or Roberta Bernstein, Coordinator, (312) 996-7473, roberta@uic.edu.

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