PhD 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 the ASAC-ABET Accredited MS Program in Industrial Hygiene, Occupational Safety, and Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology. Those interested in the ASAC-ABET Accredited MS Program in Industrial Hygiene must meet the criteria listed above. In addition, applicants should have a prior degree in the physical/life sciences or engineering fields with course work in physics, chemistry, biology, or mathematics. Relevant work experience or significant physical or life science or engineering course work may be considered for applicants with undergraduate degrees in other, nonscience fields.
- Grade Point Average At least 3.00/4.00.
- Tests Required GRE General. For GRE General tests, 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 PhD degree in the chosen area.
- Other Requirements: Applicants may submit their master’s thesis as evidence of their ability to plan and complete significant health-related research.
Degree Requirements
- Minimum Semester Hours Required 96 from the baccalaureate; 98 from the baccalaureate for the Cancer Epidemiology concentration. Students in the Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Concentration may be required to take 114 to 116 hours, depending on prior course work taken.
- Course Work At least 9 hours must be in 500-level didactic courses in the student’s major area. If a collateral area is required by the major, at least 6 hours must be in the collateral area at the 500-level.
School of Public Health Core Requirements
| Course | Title | |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| Foundations of Public Health | ||
| Introduction to Epidemiology: Principles and Methods | ||
| Biostatistics I a | ||
| Biostatistics II a | ||
| a | BSTT 400 and BSTT 401 are not required for students in the Biostatistics concentration |
- Additional Required Courses: Students must complete three noncredit trainings: HIPAA Research Training, Human Subjects Research, and Academic Integrity Tutorial.
- 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.
- Remaining courses and their distribution depend on the student’s area of concentration. PhD students are admitted into one of the following primary concentrations: Biostatistics, Community Health Sciences, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, Epidemiology, or Health Policy and Administration.
- Dissertation Required. Students must register in IPHS 599 for at least 32 semester hours.
- Other Requirements Students must obtain supervised experience in classroom teaching in at least one course for at least part of a semester.
Biostatistics Concentration
In addition to SPH Core Requirements, students must complete the following concentration requirements:
| Course | Title | |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Required Courses | ||
| Large Sample Theory | ||
| Advanced Statistical Inference | ||
| Linear Models | ||
| Biostatistics Research Seminar (at least 1 semester hour) | ||
| Electives | ||
| Generalized Linear Models | ||
| Missing Data | ||
| Computational Statistics | ||
| Bayesian Methods | ||
| Advanced Survival Analysis | ||
| The remaining 7 hours may NOT include BSTT 400, BSTT 401, BSTT 505, BSTT 523, BSTT 524 and BSTT 525. | ||
Community Health Sciences Concentration
- PhD students in Community Health Sciences must complete all of the SPH Core Requirements for the PhD degree. Students must select 12 hours for their concentration. The student will be tested in the concentration area as part of the preliminary examination. Additional compensatory courses are required if the equivalent course work was not completed at the master’s degree level. These compensatory courses are: EPID 403, CHSC 446, BSTT 400, BSTT 401, CHSC 421, CHSC 422, or their equivalent. Advisor approval is necessary for elective course selection. PhD students pursuing a program in Maternal and Child Health or Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology have additional requirements.
| Course | Title | |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Required Courses | ||
| Advanced Theories and Topics in Community Health Sciences | ||
| Advanced Research Methods for Community Health Sciences | ||
| Advanced Analytic Methods for Community Health Sciences | ||
Advanced analytic methods courses (3-6 hours) a | ||
Advanced research methods courses (3-6 hours) a | ||
| Doctoral Laboratory in Community Health Sciences Research Development b | ||
| Seminar in Community Health Sciences (2 hours) | ||
| Secondary Concentration | ||
Select 12 hours for the secondary concentration | ||
| a | Students must select 3-6 semester hours each from an approved menu for both the advanced analytic methods and the advanced research methods course requirements, for a total of 9 hours of advanced analytic and research methods. |
| b | Students must enroll for one hour of CHSC 593 every semester they are in the program, for at least 6 hours in total. Students who are otherwise eligible to register for 0 hours will also be eligible to register for CHSC 593 for 0 hours. |
Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Concentration Requirements
- PhD students concentrating in Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences must complete all of the SPH Core Requirements for the PhD degree.
- The EOHS concentration requires that PhD students complete EOHS 595 (registering for four semesters/one hour each semester) and one graduate-level course in qualitative or quantitative methods chosen in consultation with their advisor.
- In addition, students must complete the division core, choosing at least one course in each of the following three areas:
- Exposure Assessment
- Health Assessment
- Risk Assessment and Policy
- Students should see their advisor for a list of courses in each area.
Epidemiology Concentration
In addition to SPH Core Requirements, students must complete the following concentration requirements:
| Course | Title | |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Required Courses | ||
| Intermediate Epidemiologic Methods | ||
| Epidemiologic Computing | ||
| Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases | ||
| Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases | ||
| Advanced Quantitative Methods in Epidemiology | ||
| Current Epidemiologic Literature | ||
| Epidemiology Research Seminar | ||
| Logistic Regression and Survival Analysis | ||
| Design of Clinical Trials | ||
or BSTT 507 | Sampling and Estimation Methods Applied to Public Health | |
Health Policy and Administration Concentration Requirements
- PhD students in Health Policy and Administration must complete all of the SPH Core Requirements for the PhD degree. No additional course requirements are specified. In addition, a minimum of 21 hours of course work relevant to the disciplinary area of Health Policy and Administration is taken in consultation with the faculty advisor.
Additional Course Requirements for Those Pursuing a Secondary Concentration
Cancer Epidemiology Concentration Requirements (Epidemiology (EPID) students only)
| Course | Title | |
|---|---|---|
| Secondary Concentration Required Courses | ||
| PhD students concentrating in Cancer Epidemiology must complete all of the SPH requirements for the PhD degree. In addition, students must take: | ||
| Intermediate Epidemiologic Methods | ||
| Epidemiologic Computing | ||
| Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases | ||
| Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases | ||
| Advanced Quantitative Methods in Epidemiology | ||
| Cancer Epidemiology | ||
| Advanced Cancer Epidemiology | ||
| Genetics in Epidemiology | ||
| Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology | ||
| Current Epidemiologic Literature | ||
| Advanced Special Topics in Epidemiology (Special Topics: Social Epidemiology or Surveillance Epidemiology) | ||
| Epidemiology Research Seminar | ||
| Logistic Regression and Survival Analysis | ||
| Special Topics in Human Nutrition | ||
Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Concentration Requirements (Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences (EOHS) and Epidemiology (EPID) students only)
| Course | Title | |
|---|---|---|
| Secondary Concentration Required Courses | ||
| PhD students concentrating in Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology must complete all of the SPH requirements for the PhD degree. In addition, students must take: | ||
| Logistic Regression and Survival Analysis | ||
| Intermediate Epidemiologic Methods | ||
| Epidemiologic Computing | ||
| Occupational Health and Safety Practice | ||
| Advanced Quantitative Methods in Epidemiology | ||
| 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 | ||
| Occupational Safety and Health Management Systems | ||
| Injury Epidemiology and Prevention | ||
| Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases | ||
or EPID 411 | Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases | |
| Geographic Information System Application in Public Health | ||
or UPP 461 | Geographic Information Systems for Planning and Policy | |
| Epidemiology Research Seminar | ||
or EOHS 595 | PhD Seminar in EOHS | |
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 (PhD students)
- Women's Health (PhD students)
Medical Scientist Training Program
The UIC School of Public Health has particularly strong programs in epidemiology, biostatistics, prevention research, community health, health systems management, occupational and environmental safety and health, and quantitative methods. Application to the PhD program is normally made at the time of application to the College of Medicine; however, applicants will also be considered during their first two years of medical training. Students must apply to the Medical Scientist Training Program and to the College of Medicine and indicate in their application that they are interested in one of the divisions of the UIC School of Public Health. Criteria for admission to the program include academic excellence, prior research experience, potential for independent and creative research, and commitment to a career in academic medicine. Students receive a stipend throughout their years of study. For more information, contact:
Linda Forst, Senior Associate Dean, SPH
(312) 996-1374
lforst@uic.edu
or the Medical Scientist Training Program: Larry Tobacman, MD, Director
(312) 413-1010
lst@uic.edu
or Roberta Bernstein, Coordinator
(312) 996-7473
roberta@uic.edu