Degree Requirements
The program requires a minimum of 96 semester hours of credit, including up to 32 credits transferred from a masters degree, and 32 credits for dissertation research. Students who waive courses must still accumulate 96 credits to graduate, but the total may be reached with additional research hours or methods courses.
With consent of the advisor, a student may replace a required course with a relevant substitute.
PhD Student Handbook
Masters Level Courses without an MPH in Epidemiology (16 - 18 semester hours) Heading link
- IPHS 520 – Foundations of Public Health (required for students without an MPH) (3 semester hours)
- BSTT 401 – Biostatistics II (4 semester hours)
- EPID 406 – Epidemiologic Computing (prerequisite for EPID 404) (3 semester hours)
- EPID 404 – Intermediate Epidemiologic Methods (4 semester hours)
Select one of the following courses:
- CHSC 510 – MCH Inequities and Responses I (4 semester hours)
- CHSC 511 – MCH Inequities and Responses II (4 semester hours)
- CHSC 543 – Maternal and Child Health Policy and Advocacy (3 semester hours)
Select one of the following courses:
- EPID 409 – The Epidemiology of HIV/AIDS (2 semester hours)
- EPID 410 – Introduction to Infectious Disease Epidemiology (2 semester hours)
- EPID 411 – Introduction to Chronic Disease Epidemiology (3 semester hours)
- EPID 550 – Public Health Surveillance (3 semester hours)
CHS Doctoral Theory and Methods Courses (9 semester hours) Heading link
- CHSC 550 – Advanced Theories and Topics in Community Health Sciences (3 semester hours)
- CHSC 551 – Advanced Research Methods for Community Health Sciences (3 semester hours)
- CHSC 552 – Advanced Analytic Methods for Community Health Sciences (3 semester hours)
CHSC 551 and 552 are only required courses for students in the community health sciences division. Students in the division of epidemiology and biostatistics are highly encouraged to take both courses.
MCH Epidemiology Courses (7 semester hours) Heading link
- EPID / CHSC 518 – Epidemiology of Pediatric Diseases (3 semester hours)
- EPID / CHSC 545 – Reproductive and Perinatal Health (plus lab) (3+1 semester hours)
Advanced Analytic Methods Courses (18 semester hours) Heading link
- BSTT 505 – Logistic Regression & Survival Analysis (prerequisite for EPID 501) (2 semester hours)
- EPID 500 – Applied Epidemiologic Methods (4 semester hours)
- EPID 501 – Advanced Quantitative Methods in Epidemiology (4 semester hours)
- PA 588 – Survey Data Reduction and Analysis (online only) (4 semester hours)
Select one of the following courses:
- BSTT 537 – Longitudinal Data Analysis (4 semester hours)
- EPSY 512 – Hierarchical Linear Models (4 semester hours)
Dissertation (32 semester hours) Heading link
- IPHS 599 – PhD Dissertation Research (32 semester hours)
Required Non-Credit Training Heading link
- Information Privacy & Security
- Human Subjects Research
- Title IX Training – Sexual Harassment
- SPH Academic Integrity Tutorial
MCH PhD Student Professional Development Heading link
CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND WORK LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT TRAINING
- Students will be required to attend 2 IPHS 595 seminars that focus on professional development and skills building.
LEADERSHIP TRAINING & COACHING
- Each MCH PhD student will be required to meet with an MCH Leadership Coach two (2) times throughout their academic career.
TEACHING/RESEARCH TRAINING
- UIC SPH Office of Research Services hosts several trainings throughout the year. Each PhD student is required to obtain experience in classroom teaching. The teaching experience for doctoral candidates should at minimum consist of planning, leading, and evaluating a minimum of two classroom sessions, which maybe online or in-class sessions. If students are clear that they will be pursuing a career in academe, they are encouraged to exceed this minimum.
- It is suggested that all MCH PhD students interested in a career in academe take the “Foundations of Teaching” course offered through the Graduate College (https://grad.uic.edu/programs/foundations-college-instruction/gc-593/), or an equivalent course.