MS in Public Health
Admission Requirements
In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, applicants must meet the following program requirements:
- Baccalaureate Field
- A major in the biological, physical, or social sciences is preferred.
- Students applying to the primary concentration in Environmental and Occupational Health must have completed a full year of general chemistry, at least one semester of organic chemistry, and two semesters of calculus; one course in human physiology is also required for those interested in a secondary concentration in Occupational Safety.
- Those interested in the ASAC-ABET Accredited MS Program in Industrial Hygiene must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited school, including completed course work in college-level mathematics, biology, general and organic chemistry, and physics.
- Students applying to the concentration in Health Analytics must have completed four math courses in algebra and calculus courses.
- Exceptions may be granted for applicants with relevant work experience or high-level academic achievements. Exceptions may be admitted with an individually documented plan of study to compensate for deficiencies, although applicants are strongly encouraged to satisfy all deficiencies prior to matriculation. Applicants are invited to consult with the Industrial Hygiene program director about possible deficiencies.
- Grade Point Average At least 3.00/4.00.
- Tests Required GRE General. For GRE General Tests, the combined verbal and quantitative scores must be at least 300.
- Minimum English Competency Test Score
- TOEFL 80, with subscores of Reading 19, Listening 17, Speaking 20, and Writing 21 (iBT Test); 60, with subscores of Reading 19, Listening 17, Writing 21 (revised Paper-Delivered Test), OR,
- IELTS 6.5, with subscores of 6.0 for all four subscores, OR,
- PTE-Academic 54, with subscores of Reading 51, Listening 47, Speaking 53, and Writing 56.
- Letters of Recommendation Three required.
- Personal Statement Required; the statement should address the applicant’s intended research, career goals, and reason for pursuing the MS degree in the chosen area.
Degree Requirements
In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, students must meet the following program requirements:
- Minimum Semester Hours Required 48; 50–51 for the Epidemiology concentration; 50 for the Cancer Epidemiology concentration; 51 for the Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology concentration; 52 for the Industrial Hygiene concentration; and 53 for the Occupational Safety concentration.
- Course Work At least 32 semester hours must be in courses other than IPHS 598, and at least 9 semester hours must be at the 500-level (requirements for the Biostatistics concentration are described below). No more than 4 hours of IPHS 596 may be applied to the degree.
- Comprehensive Examination Required only for Biostatistics students.
- Thesis, Project, or Course-Work-Only Options Thesis or course work only. No other options available.
- Thesis: Thesis required for all areas, except Biostatistics. Thesis students must earn at least 8 hours in IPHS 598.
- Course Work Only: Only for Biostatistics students. Comprehensive examination required.
Core Requirements
| Course | Title | |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core Courses | ||
| Biostatistics I a | ||
| Introduction to Epidemiology: Principles and Methods | ||
| Foundations of Public Health | ||
| Additional Requirements | ||
HIPAA Research Training | ||
Human Subjects Research | ||
SPH Academic Integrity Tutorial | ||
| a | BSTT 400 is not required for students in the Biostatistics or Health Analytics concentrations. |
Concentration Requirements
Remaining courses and their distribution depend on the student’s primary (and secondary, where applicable) area of concentration. MS students select from one of the following primary concentration areas:
- Biostatistics
- Community Health Sciences (admission is suspended)
- Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences
- Epidemiology
- Health Analytics
- Health Policy and Administration
Biostatistics Concentration
In addition to core requirements, students must complete the following concentration requirements:
| Course | Title | |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Requirements | ||
| Design of Clinical Trials | ||
or BSTT 507 | Sampling and Estimation Methods Applied to Public Health | |
| Biostatistics Methods I | ||
| Biostatistics Laboratory | ||
| Biostatistics Methods II | ||
| Categorical Data Analysis | ||
| Survival Analysis | ||
| Longitudinal Data Analysis | ||
| Biostatistical Consulting | ||
| Biostatistical Investigations | ||
| Introduction to Probability | ||
| Statistical Theory | ||
| Electives | ||
| A minimum of 8 semester hours of electives. Students are strongly encouraged to complete at least one course recommended by the Director of Graduate Studies which provides a broad introduction to public health. | ||
Community Health Sciences Concentration
Admission to the concentration is suspended.
Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Concentration
In addition to core requirements, students must complete the following concentration requirements:
| Course | Title | |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Requirements | ||
| Biostatistics II | ||
| Environmental Calculations | ||
| Students must also complete the division core of 12 semester hours in EOHS courses, choosing at least one course in each of the following three areas: (1) Exposure Assessment, (2) Health Assessment, (3) Risk Assessment and Policy | ||
• Students should see their advisor for a list of courses in each area. | ||
• Students are strongly encouraged to complete at least one course recommended by the Director of Graduate Studies which provides a broad introduction to public health. | ||
Epidemiology Concentration
In addition to core requirements, students must complete the following concentration requirements:
| Course | Title | |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Requirements | ||
| Intermediate Epidemiologic Methods | ||
| Epidemiologic Computing | ||
| Current Epidemiologic Literature | ||
| Epidemiology Research Seminar | ||
| Biostatistics II | ||
| Logistic Regression and Survival Analysis | ||
or BSTT 506 | Design of Clinical Trials | |
or BSTT 507 | Sampling and Estimation Methods Applied to Public Health | |
| Students may use their electives to pursue a course of study in one of the following optional concentrations; or may customize their program of study by selecting from a broad range of course work to meet their career goals and interests. All students must complete sufficient elective hours to bring their total program of study to a minimum of 50 semester hours. | ||
Health Analytics Concentration
- In addition to core requirements, students must complete the following concentration requirements to reach 48 hours:
| Course | Title | |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Required Courses (32 hours) | ||
| Health Data Analytics Using Python Programming | ||
| Introductory Special Topics in Biostatistics | ||
| Biostatistics Methods I | ||
| Biostatistics Methods II | ||
| Statistical Learning in Health Analytics | ||
| Machine Learning in Health Analytics | ||
| Health Analytics Investigations | ||
| Categorical Data Analysis | ||
| Introduction to Probability | ||
| Statistical Theory | ||
| Electives (10 hours) | ||
| Recommended courses: | ||
| Survival Analysis | ||
| Longitudinal Data Analysis | ||
One additional elective | ||
- Students will complete MS Public Health with Health Analytics concentration through course work only. The course BSTT 529 measures the main competency of Health Analytics concentration. This course includes a comprehensive investigation of either a large or sparse or complex health data set that will require application of numerous health analytics methods with emphasis on public health research applications. A final comprehensive written report is needed to complete the program. At least two faculty members from the division will evaluate the final report.
Health Policy and Administration Concentration
- MS students concentrating in Health Policy and Administration must complete all of the core requirements for the MS degree. In addition, 25 hours of course work relevant to the disciplinary area of Health Policy and Administration are taken in consultation with the faculty advisor.
- Students are strongly encouraged to complete at least one course recommended by the Director of Graduate Studies which provides a broad introduction to public health.
Secondary Concentrations
Cancer Epidemiology Secondary Concentration
- Epidemiology (EPID) students only
| Course | Title | |
|---|---|---|
| Secondary Concentration Requirements | ||
| Students electing the Cancer Epidemiology concentration must complete the School-wide course requirements as well as 35 SH of the following courses: | ||
| Logistic Regression and Survival Analysis | ||
| Cancer Epidemiology | ||
| Select two of the following: | ||
| Special Topics in Human Nutrition | ||
| Advanced Cancer Epidemiology | ||
| Genetics in Epidemiology | ||
| Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology | ||
| Advanced Special Topics in Epidemiology (Social Epidemiology) | ||
| Advanced Special Topics in Epidemiology (Surveillance Epidemiology) | ||
Global Health Secondary Concentration
- Open to all onsite MS students
Students earning an onsite MS in Public Health degree in any of the primary concentrations may also enroll in the Concentration in Global Health. Students in the Global Health Concentration program must satisfy school-wide and divisional requirements in addition to the following: IPHS 409, IPHS 410 and an elective (3 hours). Selection of an elective should be made with the help of the student’s academic advisor; and is subject to the offering department’s approval. MS students in the GH Concentration must focus their research thesis (IPHS 598, 8 or 16 hours, as required by the student’s divisional concentration) on a global health related topic either outside the U.S. or domestically through an appropriate alternative venue. In addition, as feasible, students in the concentration are strongly encouraged to select topics of global health relevance when completing all course assignments for their program. Competency in a foreign language is also highly recommended but not required for the program. With proper planning, courses may be used to satisfy both the Global Health Concentration and divisional requirements.
Industrial Hygiene Secondary Concentration
- Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences (EOHS) students only
| Course | Title | |
|---|---|---|
| Secondary Concentration Requirements | ||
| MS students concentrating in the ASAC-ABET-Accredited Program in Industrial Hygiene within the Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Division must complete all of the SPH requirements for the MS degree. In addition, students must take: | ||
| Biostatistics II | ||
| Environmental Calculations | ||
| Occupational Health and Safety Practice | ||
| Evaluation and Control of Physical Agents | ||
| Evaluation and Control of Airborne Contaminants | ||
| Evaluation and Control of the Psychosocial Work Environment | ||
| Industrial Hygiene Laboratory I | ||
| Air Quality Assessment and Management | ||
| Applied Industrial Hygiene and Safety | ||
| Occupational and Environmental Disease | ||
| Occupational Safety and Health Management Systems | ||
Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Secondary Concentration
- Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences (EOHS) and Epidemiology (EPID) students only
| Course | Title | |
|---|---|---|
| Secondary Concentration Requirements | ||
| MS students concentrating in Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology must complete all of the SPH requirements for the MS degree; and must adhere to divisional requirements as stipulated in their individual program of study. In addition, students must take the following courses for a total of 51 semester hours for the MS degree: | ||
| Biostatistics II | ||
| Intermediate Epidemiologic Methods | ||
| Epidemiologic Computing | ||
| Occupational Health and Safety Practice | ||
| Current Topics in Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology | ||
| Applied Methods in Occupational Epidemiology | ||
| Applied Methods in Environmental Epidemiology | ||
| Occupational and Environmental Disease | ||
| Risk Assessment in Environmental and Occupational Health | ||
| Injury Epidemiology and Prevention | ||
| Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases | ||
or EPID 411 | Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases | |
| Logistic Regression and Survival Analysis (Epidemiology Students Only) | ||
Occupational Safety Secondary Concentration
- Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences (EOHS) students only
| Course | Title | |
|---|---|---|
| Secondary Concentration Requirements | ||
| MS students concentrating in Occupational Safety must complete all of the SPH requirements for the MS degree. In addition, students must take: | ||
| Biostatistics II | ||
| Environmental Calculations | ||
| Occupational Health and Safety Practice | ||
| Evaluation and Control of the Psychosocial Work Environment | ||
| Industrial Hygiene Laboratory I | ||
| Applied Industrial Hygiene and Safety | ||
| Occupational and Environmental Disease | ||
| Occupational Safety and Health Management Systems | ||
| Injury Epidemiology and Prevention | ||
| Ergonomics and Human Factors | ||
| Safety Engineering | ||
| Select one of the following: | ||
| Evaluation and Control of Physical Agents | ||
| Quality Control and Reliability | ||
TSM 421 | (Urbana campus course) | |
Public Health Informatics Secondary Concentration
- Online MS - Health Policy and Administration (HPA) students only
| Course | Title | |
|---|---|---|
| Secondary Concentration Requirements | ||
| MS students concentrating in Public Health Informatics must complete all of the SPH requirements for the MS degree. In addition, students must take the following: | ||
| Required Courses | ||
| Biostatistics II | ||
| Health Information and Decision Support Systems | ||
| Development of Public Health Surveillance Information Systems | ||
| Selective Courses | ||
| A minimum of 16 hours from among the following: | ||
| GIS for Environmental and Public Health Professionals | ||
| Health Related Database Design and Analysis | ||
| Management of Communication Systems for Public Health Informatics Applications | ||
| Legal and Ethical Issues in Public Health Informatics | ||
| Survey of Public Health Information Systems | ||
| Public Health Information Systems Evaluation and Project Management | ||
| Web-Based Public Health Information Systems | ||
| Geographic Information System Application in Public Health | ||
| Datamining Applications in Public Health | ||
| Elective Courses | ||
| A minimum of 6 hours from among the following: | ||
| Informatics for the Clinical Investigator | ||
| Knowledge Management in Healthcare Organizations | ||
| Consumer Health Informatics | ||
| Strategic Planning and Budgeting | ||
| Organizational Leadership in Public Health | ||
| Geographic Information Systems Integrative Project | ||
| Survey of Public Health Information Systems | ||
| Students are strongly encouraged to complete at least one course recommended by the Director of Graduate Studies which provides a broad introduction to public health. | ||
| Noncredit Training | ||
HIPAA Research Training and Investigator Training 101 | ||
Interdepartmental Concentrations
Students earning a graduate degree in this department may complement their courses by enrolling in select concentrations after consulting with their graduate advisor. Interdepartmental concentrations available for this degree include:
- Gender and Women's Studies (students with a primary concentration in Community Health Sciences)
- Survey Research Methodology (students with a primary concentration in Community Health Sciences)
- Violence Studies (MS and PhD students)
- Women's Health (MS and PhD students)