MPH Admission Requirements

The admissions process for the Master of Public Health program is twofold. Students must apply to the University at large, and also specifically to the MPH program.

The University requires a completed online application, application fee, and official transcripts. The University online application requires students to choose one of three options: (1) MPH (2) MPH- Environmental Health Concentration, or (3) MPH- Environmental Health Concentration ONLINE. The requirements for the MPH-Environmental Health on-campus and online programs are identical.  However, the elective options are more limited for the online program.

Click Here to link to the University Online Application

To be fully admitted to the MPH program, applicants must have:

• an overall GPA of 3.00 on a 4.0 scale
• an upper division undergraduate (300+) statistics or biostatistics course completed within the last three years with a grade of B or better;
• a minimum of 30 semester hours in the natural sciences;
• Students who take the TOEFL exam must achieve a score of 580 or better.

Applicants must submit the following docments to the MPH program office:

• A completed MPH program application;
• An essay outlining professional goals and identifying past academic work and/or employment related to these goals;
• three (3) letters of recommendation from employers, peers, or educators;
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores. Other aptitude tests - Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), Dental Aptitude Test (DAT), Law School Admission Test (LSAT), or the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) can be submitted. Applicants with post-baccalaureate degrees are exempted from submitting GRE scores.

Click Here for the MPH program application documents

 

Conditional admission can be granted on an individual basis to students who do not meet the qualifications but have experience in the public health or environmental health professions. Students must be fully admitted to the department by the completion of 12 semester hours of MPH course work.

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MPH Degree Requirements

The Master of Public Health degree requires successful completion of 48 semester hours of course work, 24 hours of which are required core courses, including a four-hour internship (Table A). For the MPH -Generalist option, the 24 hours of electives must taken from Table B . Students with extensive Public Health experience may petition the Academic Standards Committee to waive the internship and substitute four hours of elective credit.

For the MPH -Environmental Health Options, students should consult Tables C and D.  Students should consult with their advisers before registering for elective hours.

The closure experience is a comprehensive written examination with questions designed to test students’ ability to integrate the knowledge that they have gained from the core curriculum. A student must successfully complete the exam within one year after completing course work for the degree. Students who do not complete the examination during their final semester of study must enroll in MPH 583 (zero credit hours, one billable hour) until they pass the exam. Details about the procedure are provided in the MPH Student Handbook.

The table below outlines the MPH program core requirements:

 

TABLE A

Additional courses offered for the General MPH are listed on Table B.

Additional Courses for the MPH-Environmental Health Concentration

(On-campus and Online) option are listed on Tables C and D  

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MPH PROFESSIONAL OPTION

The MPH professional option provides an opportunity for physicians and others with earned doctorates and at least one year of health-related experience to earn a master of public health degree at UIS. The option requires completion of the 24 hours of core courses including the internship and 12 hours of general electives (36 hours total). Other applicants may be eligible for admission to this option and will be considered by the admissions committee on a case-by-case basis. Included are 1) those currently enrolled in a physician residency-training program, 2) those who are in the process of completing a doctoral-level health-related degree and who have at least one year of health-related experience, and 3) those who have an earned master’s degree in a health field and who have at least three years of health-related experience. Interested applicants should contact the UIS MPH program for information about the application process.

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JOINT MPH AND MPA OPTION

UIS departments of Public Health and Public Administration have an articulation agreement that allows interested students to obtain a master’s degree with a joint degree (MPA/MPH), in Public Health and Public Administration. The required courses are listed on the Joint Degree Summary Sheet (.pdf). Contact either department for details.

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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
• Environmental Health
• Epidemiology
• Risk Assessment

Click here for Graduate Certificate information

For More Information contact:
Public Health Program
College of Public Affairs & Administration
PAC 308
University of Illinois at Springfield
One University Plaza
Springfield, Illinois 62703-5407
Phone: (217) 206-6720
Fax: (217) 206-7807
email: MPH@uis.eduedu