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 Internet-based); 60, with subscores of Reading 19, Listening 17, Writing 21 (New Paper-Based—after August 2018); 550 (Institutional Testing Paper-Based—prior to August 2018), 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.
Course Title
Required Courses
BSTT 400
Biostatistics I a
EPID 403
Introduction to Epidemiology: Principles and Methods
IPHS 520
Foundations of Public Health
Additional Requirements
HIPAA Research Training
Human Subjects Research
Academic Integrity Tutorial
  • 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:
    1. Biostatistics
    2. Community Health Sciences
    3. Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences
    4. Epidemiology
    5. Health Analytics
    6. Health Policy and Administration

Biostatistics Concentration Requirements

Course Title
Concentration Requirements
BSTT 506
Design of Clinical Trials
or BSTT 507
 Sampling and Estimation Methods Applied to Public Health
BSTT 523
Biostatistics Methods I
BSTT 524
Biostatistics Laboratory
BSTT 525
Biostatistics Methods II
BSTT 535
Categorical Data Analysis
BSTT 536
Survival Analysis
BSTT 537
Longitudinal Data Analysis
BSTT 538
Biostatistical Consulting
BSTT 550
Biostatistical Investigations
STAT 401
Introduction to Probability
STAT 411
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 Requirements

Course Title
Concentration Requirements
MS students concentrating in Community Health Sciences must complete all of the SPH requirements for the MS degree. In addition, students must take:
CHSC 400
 (See Advisor)
CHSC 401
 (See Advisor)
BSTT 401
Biostatistics II
CHSC 446
Research Methods in Community Health
CHSC 480
 (See 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.

Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Concentration Requirements

  • MS students concentrating in Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences must complete all of the SPH requirements for the MS degree in addition to BSTT 401 and EOHS 405. 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 Requirements

Course Title
Concentration Requirements
MS students concentrating in Epidemiology must complete all of the SPH requirements for the MS degree. In addition, students must take:
EPID 404
Intermediate Epidemiologic Methods
EPID 406
Epidemiologic Computing
EPID 591
Current Epidemiologic Literature
EPID 595
Epidemiology Research Seminar
BSTT 401
Biostatistics II
Select one of the following:
BSTT 505
Logistic Regression and Survival Analysis
BSTT 506
Design of Clinical Trials
BSTT 507
Sampling and Estimation Methods Applied to Public Health
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.

Health Analytics Concentration Requirements

  • MS in Public Health students in the Health Analytics Concentration must complete the following courses to reach 48 hours: 
Course Title
Concentration Required Courses (32 hours)
BSTT 426
Health Data Analytics Using Python Programming
BSTT 494
Introductory Special Topics in Biostatistics
BSTT 523
Biostatistics Methods I
BSTT 525
Biostatistics Methods II
BSTT 527
Statistical Learning in Health Analytics
BSTT 528
Machine Learning in Health Analytics
BSTT 529
Health Analytics Investigations
BSTT 535
Categorical Data Analysis
STAT 401
Introduction to Probability
STAT 411
Statistical Theory
Electives (10 hours)
Recommended courses:
BSTT 536
Survival Analysis
BSTT 537
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 Requirements

  • MS students concentrating in Health Policy and Administration must complete all of the SPH 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.

Additional Course Requirements for Those Pursuing a Secondary Concentration

Cancer Epidemiology Secondary Concentration Requirements (Epidemiology (EPID) students only)

Course Title
Secondary Concentration Requirements
MS students concentrating in Cancer Epidemiology must complete all of the SPH and divisional requirements for the MS degree. In addition, students must take:
BSTT 505
Logistic Regression and Survival Analysis
EPID 515
Cancer Epidemiology
Select two of the following:
HN 594
Special Topics in Human Nutrition
EPID 516
Advanced Cancer Epidemiology
EPID 520
Genetics in Epidemiology
EPID 554
Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology
EPID 594
Advanced Special Topics in Epidemiology (Social Epidemiology)
EPID 594
Advanced Special Topics in Epidemiology (Surveillance Epidemiology)

Global Health Secondary Concentration Requirements (open to all on-site MS students)

  • Students earning an on-site 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 Requirements (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:
BSTT 401
Biostatistics II
EOHS 405
Environmental Calculations
EOHS 421
Occupational Health and Safety Practice
EOHS 425
Evaluation and Control of Physical Agents
EOHS 426
Evaluation and Control of Airborne Contaminants
EOHS 427
Evaluation and Control of the Psychosocial Work Environment
EOHS 428
Industrial Hygiene Laboratory I
EOHS 432
Air Quality Assessment and Management
EOHS 529
Applied Industrial Hygiene and Safety
EOHS 551
Occupational and Environmental Disease
EOHS 563
Occupational Safety and Health Management Systems

Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Secondary Concentration Requirements (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:
BSTT 401
Biostatistics II
EPID 404
Intermediate Epidemiologic Methods
EPID 406
Epidemiologic Computing
EOHS 421
Occupational Health and Safety Practice
EPID/EOHS 530
Current Topics in Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology
EPID/EOHS 535
Applied Methods in Occupational Epidemiology
EPID/EOHS 536
Applied Methods in Environmental Epidemiology
EOHS 551
Occupational and Environmental Disease
EOHS 556
Risk Assessment in Environmental and Occupational Health
EPID/EOHS 571
Injury Epidemiology and Prevention
EPID 410
Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases
or EPID 411
 Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases
BSTT 505
Logistic Regression and Survival Analysis (Epidemiology Students Only)

Occupational Safety Secondary Concentration Requirements (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:
BSTT 401
Biostatistics II
EOHS 405
Environmental Calculations
EOHS 421
Occupational Health and Safety Practice
EOHS 427
Evaluation and Control of the Psychosocial Work Environment
EOHS 428
Industrial Hygiene Laboratory I
EOHS 529
Applied Industrial Hygiene and Safety
EOHS 551
Occupational and Environmental Disease
EOHS 563
Occupational Safety and Health Management Systems
EOHS/EPID 571
Injury Epidemiology and Prevention
IE/EOHS 441
Ergonomics and Human Factors
IE 461/EOHS 460
Safety Engineering
Select one of the following:
EOHS 425
Evaluation and Control of Physical Agents
IE 446
Quality Control and Reliability
TSM 421 (Urbana campus course)

Public Health Informatics Secondary Concentration Requirements (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
BSTT 401
Biostatistics II
HPA 465
Health Information and Decision Support Systems
HPA 481
Development of Public Health Surveillance Information Systems
Selective Courses
A minimum of 16 hours from among the following:
HPA 436
GIS for Environmental and Public Health Professionals
HPA 480
Health Related Database Design and Analysis
HPA 483
Management of Communication Systems for Public Health Informatics Applications
HPA 485
Legal and Ethical Issues in Public Health Informatics
HPA 486
Survey of Public Health Information Systems
HPA 488
Public Health Information Systems Evaluation and Project Management
HPA 563
Web-Based Public Health Information Systems
HPA 564
Geographic Information System Application in Public Health
HPA 565
Datamining Applications in Public Health
Elective Courses
A minimum of 6 hours from among the following:
BHIS 509
Informatics for the Clinical Investigator
BHIS 527
Knowledge Management in Healthcare Organizations
BHIS 528
Consumer Health Informatics
HPA 400
HPA 444
Strategic Planning and Budgeting
HPA 445
Organizational Leadership in Public Health
HPA 455
Geographic Information Systems Integrative Project
HPA 486
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
  • 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.

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: