Public Health (Professional Program: DrPH)

Admission Requirements

  • Prior Degree and Experience Master's degree from an accredited school of public health or a master's degree in a related field. Students must also have three or more years of full-time paid professional experience in public health in a leadership position (or in mid- to senior-level management positions that demonstrate evidence of leadership potential).
  • Grade Point Average Admitted students typically have at least a combined undergraduate/graduate grade point average of 3.00/4.00. However, all applicants are given a holistic evaluation of their application. Applicants with less than a 3.00 are encouraged to apply if they believe that their application is strong in other areas.
  • Tests GRE is optional. 
  • Letters of Recommendation Three required, uploaded via the SOPHAS application.
  • Resume or CV Required, uploaded via the SOPHAS application.
  • Personal Statement Applicants will upload a 500-800 word statement focused on their interests/experiences in public health and the program they are applying to specifically, goals with the degree, and why they would be successful in the program. For students applying to research-focused programs, the personal statement should also address potential research interests.
  • Transcripts Domestic applicants must submit transcripts issued from the university for all undergraduate and post-baccalaureate work directly to SOPHAS. International applicants must upload all international transcripts directly into the UIC system after completing the Supplemental Application. International applicants may submit a course-by-course WES evaluation directly to SOPHAS, but it is not required and will not replace the upload requirement. Domestic students who have completed course work at foreign institutions must follow the instructions for international applicants for submitting those academic credentials. Students admitted to the UIC School of Public Health will need to provide sealed official transcripts to the UIC Office of Admissions prior to their second term at the university.  
  • Minimum English Competency Test Score for International Applicants
    • TOEFL iBT 80, with subscores of Reading 19, Listening 17, Speaking 20, and Writing 21, OR,
    • IELTS Academic 6.5, with 6.0 in each of the four subscores, OR,
    • PTE-Academic 54, with subscores of Reading 51, Listening 47, Speaking 53, and Writing 56.

Degree Requirements

  • Minimum Required Hours 96.
Required Courses
IPHS 512
Public Health Leadership Tools
IPHS 520
Foundations of Public Health a
IPHS 521
Personal Leadership
IPHS 522
Epidemiology for Transformational Leadership and Equity
IPHS 523
Approaches to Leadership, Antiracism and Equity, and Pedagogy for Transformational Systems Change
IPHS 524
Leadership Approaches to Strategic Development for Organizations and Communities
IPHS 526
Policy Change and Collaboration for Transformative Change and Equity
IPHS 528
Approaches and Tools for Leading Strategic Implementation
IPHS 529
Quantitative and Mixed Research Methods for Transformational Leadership
IPHS 530
Qualitative Methods for Transformational Leadership
IPHS 531
DrPH APE Proposal Seminar
IPHS 532
Systems Thinking for Transformational Change Leadership
IPHS 533
Qualitative Methods and Application for Transformational Leadership Practice
IPHS 534
Applied Research Design Seminar Scholarly-practice and Practice-based Research Design Seminar
IPHS 535
Implementation Science
IPHS 536
DrPH Integrated Learning Experience Proposal Seminar
Select one of the following (or an equivalent course):
IPHS 525
Quantitative Methods for Public Health Leadership Practice
BSTT 401
Biostatistics II
Electives
Select a minimum of 3 hours with the approval of student's program advisor
IPHS 540
Introduction to Appreciative Inquiry
Other approved elective, selected with approval of student''s program advisor.
Applied Practical Experience (APE)
IPHS 651
DrPH Applied Practice Experience
Disertation/Integrated Learning Experience
IPHS 699
Research in Public Health Sciences - DrPH (18 semester hours)
Individual focused hours for research in public health directed by a faculty member for the development and completion of their dissertation (Integrative Learning Experience - ILE) intended to prepare students to contribute to the evidence base of public health practice. For the ILE, students complete either a doctoral level applied research or a scholarly practice project to emphasize building evidence in and with community and practitioners for application and impact.
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Required for students without an MPH or as determined by the program.

  • Prior Master's Degree Credit Credit for up to 32 semester hours given for previous master's of public health (MPH) or related degree. Incoming students without an MPH may be required to take additional foundational, core MPH courses. Although required for completion of the degree, any credits earned to complete MPH core course deficiencies and/or the field practicum will not count toward the 96-semester-hour minimum requirement for the DrPH degree. It is the student’s responsibility to take and complete MPH-level courses at an accredited school of public health and request transfer of those credits to the UIC School of Public Health.
  • DrPH Field Experience Up to 5 semester hours may be completed. Required only for students without requisite experience upon matriculation.
  • DrPH Summer Institute All DrPH students will be required to attend an annual multi-day workshop in Chicago. Additional details are available on the School of Public Health website.

Non-Credit Training Requirements

Required Training
Title IX Training - Sexual Harassment
SPH Academic Integrity Tutorial