Degree Requirements

Students in the onsite Comprehensive Program must complete the number of electives necessary to earn a minimum of 45 SH credits.  Students in the Professional Enhancement Program (PEP) must complete the number of electives necessary to earn a minimum of 42 SH credits. The PEP program is intended for students with a minimum of 3 years of full-time public health professional experience.  Full-time public health experience does not include clinical work, laboratory work, or research (apart from applied research).  If you feel you have sufficient background to justify PEP status, you must apply for that status at the same time you submit your initial program proposal.  PEP status will not be considered after your first semester in the program.  In order to apply for PEP status, you must provide an updated resume/CV to your faculty advisor.  If your faculty advisor agrees you are a candidate for PEP status, then you must write a statement reflecting how your public health background is consistent with the CHS divisional mission and goals.  Your faculty advisor will submit your statement and program proposal to the CHS Associate Director of Academic Services, who will provide it to the CHS Curriculum Committee and Division Director for review.  You will be notified if you qualify for PEP status at the beginning of your second term. Both programs are designed for completion in 2 years when enrolled full-time.

MPH Student Handbook

MPH Student Experiences Heading link

School-Wide Core Requirements (18-20 semester hours) Heading link

  • IPHS 401 – Determinants of Population Health (4 semester hours)
  • IPHS 403 – Public Health Systems, Policy and Management (4 semester hours)
  • IPHS 650 – Applied Practice Experience in Public Health (3 semester hours)
  • IPHS 698 – Integrative Learning Experience (1 semester hours)
  • IPHS 420 – Interprofessional Education (0 semester hours)

A total of six semester hours must be completed from the following courses:

  • IPHS 402 – Analytic and Research Methods in Public Health (onsite)  (6 semester hours)

or

  • IPHS 404 – Analytic and Research Methods in Public Health Part 1 (online)  (3 semester hours)
  • IPHS 405 – Analytic and Research Methods in Public Health Part 2 (online)  (3 semester hours)

Required Non-Credit Training Heading link

Three required trainings can be accessed through SPH Success on the UIC Blackboard site (uic.blackboard.com):

  • SPH and Campus Policies module
  • CITI Human Subjects Research
  • SPH Academic Integrity Tutorial

Required Student Title IX Training must be completed through the University of Illinois system website.

Divisional Core Requirements (15 semester hours) Heading link

Required Courses

  • CSHC 421 – Community Health 1: Assessing, Promoting and Improving Community Health (4 semester hours)
  • CHSC 422 – Community Health 2: Evidence-Informed Community Health Interventions (4 semester hours)
  • CHSC 423 – Community Health 3: Professional Development in Public Health Practice (4 semester hours)

Selective Course

Choose one of the following three courses:

  • CHSC 430 – Public Health Policy and Advocacy (3 semester hours)
  • CHSC 543 – MCH Policy and Advocacy (3 semester hours)

Concentrations Heading link

Onsite students must earn at least 9 hours in an approved concentration within CHS. Any additional courses needed to earn the minimum SH required for the MPH are to be approved by your faculty advisor; the onsite Comprehensive Program requires 45 total SH, and the Professional Enhancement Program requires 42 total SH.

Concentration Requirements

Students complete the concentration in Community Health Practice & Methods by taking any 9 SH of CHSC electives.

MCH, MCHEPI, and Global Health

Other concentrations in the division of community health sciences require a separate application, including maternal and child health and maternal and child health epidemiology.

Interested students are encouraged to pursue the Certificate in Global Public Health in addition to their CHS concentration.