Public HealthPhotos of Students and Faculty

Graduate Certificates

The Public Health program offers five graduate certificates for specialized study in public health. These certificates may be taken by either degree or non-degree seeking students interested in advanced preparation in Community Health, Emergency Preparedness and Homeland Security (On campus or online), Environmental Health, Epidemiology, and Risk Assessment (On campus or online).

These competency-based graduate certificates are designed to provide continuing education opportunities for professionals without formal public health training, for mid-career professionals, and for those interested in life-long learning. Applicants include non-degree seeking health professionals and professionals interested in enhancing their competencies and/or skills in these areas of specialty. Students in a degree program may also apply for one or more of the graduate certificates as part of their degree.

Entrance requirements

Individuals who have bachelor's degrees from accredited colleges and universities are eligible to apply to the certificate programs. Background in the natural sciences demonstrated by transcript credit is desirable. Full admission will be based on an overall GPA of 3.00 on a 4-point scale.

Candidates who are not currently UIS students must apply to UIS and to the MPH program as certificate program students. Students who are currently enrolled as majors at UIS must apply to the graduate certificate program of their choice through the Office of Admissions.

Upon admission to the graduate certificate program, each student will be assigned a faculty adviser within the appropriate area of specialty. Candidates must file an advising sheet with:

Lenore Killam,
Certificate Coordinator
PAC 308

Certificate candidates may decide to apply these courses toward a full degree. Applicants must meet all department requirements before acceptance into a degree program.

Completion of Certificate Requirements

Candidates for the graduate certificates administered by the Master of Public Health Department will be expected to complete each certificate course with a grade of B or better. Each certificate will allow for one C grade if it is balanced by an A grade in another course.

Fees

In addition to the appropriate tuition, there is a $10.00 fee at the time of program completion to cover administrative costs. Students must submit $10.00 to the

Bursar Office, PAC 184

and provide a copy of the receipt to

Bud Price , PAC 309

For Additional Information

Full-text course descriptions can be found online at www.uis.edu/UIS catalog/index.html. For information about enrolling in the graduate certificate programs, please contact Lenore Killam, Graduate Certificate Coordinator, at

or consult with your advisor.

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Graduate Certificate in Community Health Education (20 Hrs.)

Students completing this certificate shall be able to apply the theoretical foundations of health education to communicate effectively with various audiences in the community. The certificate requires successful completion of course work in each of these areas:

  • MPH 441
    Human Well Being (4 Hrs.)
  • MPH 506
    Community Health Research (4 Hrs.)*
  • MPH 508
    Program Evaluation for Health Professionals (4 Hrs.)
  • MPH 531
    Public Health Policy (4 Hrs.)
  • MPH 561
    Community Health Education (4 Hrs.)

Total 20 credit hours

*Note prerequisite: Upper Division Statistics/Biostatistics

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Graduate Certificate in Epidemiology (20 Hrs.)

Students completing this certificate will develop the analytic skills to quantitatively relate epidemiological theories necessary for specialized roles in public health practice. The certificate requires successful completion of course work in each of these areas:

  • MPH 503
    Biostatistics for the Health Professional (4 Hrs.)
  • MPH 511
    Foundations of Epidemiology (4 Hrs.)
  • MPH 512
    Epidemiology of Infectious and Chronic Diseases (4 Hrs.)
  • MPH 575 Economics of Public Policy (4 Hrs.) OR
  • MPH 514 Analytical Epidemiology                                  
  • ENS 404                                                                   Fundamentals of GIS (4 Hrs.)

Total 20 credit hours

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Environmental Health Graduate Certificate (16 hours.)

Students completing this certificate will have the basic skills necessary to understand the scope, values, goals and potential of environmental health and protection. This certificate helps prepare students who plan to sit for the Licensed Environmental Health Practitioner exam requirement. The certificate requires successful completion of course work in each of these areas:

  • MPH 449
    Environmental Toxicology (4 Hrs.)
  • MPH 511
    Foundations of Epidemiology (4 Hrs.)
  • MPH 521
    Environmental and Occupational Health (4 Hrs.)
  • MPH 527
    Environmental Risk Assessment (4 Hrs.)

Total 16 credit hours

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Graduate Certificate in Environmental Risk Assessment (16 Hrs.)

Risk assessment is a frequently used tool in environmental health analysis. The environmental risk assessment sequence offers a certificate for students who wish to acquire a level of competency in this science. The sequence of course work is technically oriented to provide students with the professional education necessary to perform risk assessment operations in their workplaces. Students learn to relate risk assessment methodologies, procedures, and results to environmental policies.

Courses taken for the certificate represent a statement of competency in the student's area of academic focus within the environmental health curriculum.

To receive a certificate, students must take the following four courses for a total of 16 credit hours. They must also earn a B or better in each course. The risk assessment sequence is offered every other year, beginning in the fall term of odd years. The courses must be completed in sequence.

  • MPH 527
    Environmental Risk Assessment (4 Hrs.)
  • MPH 528
    Risk Assessment – Air, Land, Water (4 Hrs.)
  • MPH 529
    Risk Practicum (4 Hrs.)
  • MPH 575
    Economics for Public Policy (4 Hrs.)

Total 16 credit hours

Students may want to continue with the additional risk/decision theory course

  • MPH 526
    Risk Management and Communication (4 Hrs.)

Sponsored, risk-based research opportunities at state and federal facilities are available for those seeking independent research experiences. Full-text course descriptions can be found online at www.uis.edu/UIScatalog/index.html.

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Graduate Certificate in Emergency Preparedness and Homeland Security (20 Hrs.)

The Graduate Certificate in Emergency Preparedness and Homeland Security (EPHS Certificate) is a 20 hour interdisciplinary certificate program administered by the Master of Public Health Department. Courses for the certificate are offered by all College of Public Affairs and Administration programs: Criminal Justice, Environmental Studies, Legal Studies, Political Studies, Public Administration, and Public Health.

The EPHS Certificate provides professional educational to the administrators of governmental agencies and others who need to enhance their skills and abilities in the area. Among this audience will be law enforcement and fire department administrators, public health professionals, health care providers and people in private industry. This unique program provides post-baccalaureate education for administrators rather than training for first responders or professional education for individuals just entering the workforce.

To be eligible for admission, students must have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or better, or have an undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or better with documentation of substantial professional experience in the field of emergency preparedness or homeland security.

The three required core courses for the certificate provide students with the opportunity to gain substantial graduate-level expertise in risk assessment, risk communication and program evaluation. Two elective courses will allow students to extend these skills to one or two disciplinary areas. The electives have been chosen to include courses on salient issues of public policy influenced by recent challenges in emergency preparedness and homeland security.

Core Course Requirements:

  • MPH 526
    Risk Management and Communication (4 Hrs.)
  • MPH 527
    Environmental Risk Assessment (4 Hrs.)
  • PAD 533 Program Evaluation (4 Hrs.) OR
  • MPH 508 Program Evaluation for Health Managers

Elective Courses:

Students must take at least two four-hour electives from a list of 400 and 500-level courses from participating departments. Students may select the electives, in consultation with their advisor, from the following courses:

  • CRJ 416
    Law Enforcement Challenges: Terrorism (3 Hrs.)
  • CRJ 447
    Investigative Concepts & Analysis (3 Hrs.)
  • LES 522
    Health Care Law, Patient Privacy and HIPAA (4 Hrs.)
  • LES 551
    Administrative Law (4 Hrs.)
  • MPH 449
    Environmental Toxicology (4 Hrs.)
  • MPH 471
    Emerging Diseases (4 Hrs.)
  • MPH 478
    Crisis in Environmental Health (4 Hrs.)
  • PAD 536
    Intergovernmental Relations (4 Hrs.)
  • PSC 420
    National Security Issues & the US Constitution (4 Hrs.)
  • PSC 470
    Terrorism (4 Hrs.)
  • PSC 476
    International Politics of the Middle East (4 Hrs.)

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