PhD

Public Health

Study mode:On campus Study type:Full-time Languages: English
Foreign:$ 27.8 k / Year(s) Deadline: Feb 15, 2025
251–300 place StudyQA ranking:5349 Duration:4 years

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The DrPH is designed for working public health practitioners with significant management experience and demonstrated leadership potential. This program is modeled on action learning, and emphasizes engagement with faculty, colleagues, and peers. Students will acquire new analytic skills and perspectives while learning how to effect policy and drive change in a complex public health climate. UIC SPH is one of only two fully CEPH accredited schools of public health in the nation offering the DrPH degree at a distance.

  • 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.
Course List
Code Title Hours
Required Courses  

EPID 403

Introduction to Epidemiology: Principles and Methods  

BSTT 400

Biostatistics I a  

BSTT 401

Biostatistics II a  
   
a

BSTT 400 and BSTT 401 are not required for students in the Biostatistics concentration 

  • 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.

Biostatistics Concentration Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
Concentration Required Courses  

EPID 403

Introduction to Epidemiology: Principles and Methods  

BSTT 560

Large Sample Theory  

BSTT 561

Advanced Statistical Inference  

BSTT 562

Linear Models  

BSTT 595

Biostatistics Research Seminar (at least 1 semester hour)  
Electives  
Select 19 hours of electives with 12 hours from the following:  

BSTT 563

Generalized Linear Models  

BSTT 564

Missing Data  

BSTT 565

Computational Statistics  

BSTT 566

Bayesian Methods  

BSTT 567

Advanced Survival Analysis  
The remaining 7 hours may NOT include:  

BSTT 400

Biostatistics I  

BSTT 401

Biostatistics II  

BSTT 505

Logistic Regression and Survival Analysis  

BSTT 523

Biostatistics Methods I  

BSTT 524

Biostatistics Laboratory  

BSTT 525

Biostatistics Methods II  

Community Health Sciences Concentration Requirements

  • PhD students in Community Health Sciences must complete all of the SPH 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 400, and CHSC 480 or their equivalent. Advisor approval is necessary for elective course selection. PhD students pursuing a program in Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology have additional requirements.
Course List
Code Title Hours
Concentration Required Courses  

CHSC 550

Advanced Concepts in Community Health Sciences  

CHSC 551

Foundations of Public Health Inquiry  

Advanced analytic methods courses (6 hours) a

 

Advanced research methods courses (6 hours) a

 

CHSC 595

Seminar in Community Health Sciences (2 hours)  
Concentration  

Select 12 hours for the concentration

 
a

Students must select 6 credit hours each from an approved menu for both the advanced analytic methods and the advanced research methods course requirements. 

Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Concentration Requirements

  • PhD students concentrating in Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences must complete all of the SPH 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:
  1. Exposure Assessment
  2. Health Assessment
  3. Risk Assessment and Policy
  • Students should see their advisor for a list of courses in each area.

Epidemiology Concentration Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
Concentration Required Courses  
PhD students concentrating in Epidemiology must complete all of the SPH requirements for the PhD degree. In addition, students must take:  

EPID 404

Intermediate Epidemiologic Methods  

EPID 406

Epidemiologic Computing  

EPID 410

Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases  

EPID 411

Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases  

EPID 501

Advanced Quantitative Methods in Epidemiology  

EPID 591

Current Epidemiologic Literature  

EPID 595

Epidemiology Research Seminar  

BSTT 505

Logistic Regression and Survival Analysis  

BSTT 506

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 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 List
Code Title Hours
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:  

EPID 404

Intermediate Epidemiologic Methods  

EPID 406

Epidemiologic Computing  

EPID 410

Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases  

EPID 411

Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases  

EPID 501

Advanced Quantitative Methods in Epidemiology  

EPID 591

Current Epidemiologic Literature  

EPID 595

Epidemiology Research Seminar  

BSTT 505

Logistic Regression and Survival Analysis  

CHSC 514

Nutritional Epidemiology  

or HN 594

Special Topics in Human Nutrition

EPID 515

Cancer Epidemiology  

EPID 516

Advanced Cancer Epidemiology  

EPID 520

Genetics in Epidemiology  

EPID 554

Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology  

EPID 594

Advanced Special Topics in Epidemiology (Special Topics: Social Epidemiology or Surveillance Epidemiology)  

Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Concentration Requirements (Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences (EOHS) and Epidemiology (EPID) students only)

Course List
Code Title Hours
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:  

BSTT 505

Logistic Regression and Survival Analysis  

EPID 404

Intermediate Epidemiologic Methods  

EPID 406

Epidemiologic Computing  

EOHS 421

Fundamentals of Industrial Hygiene  

EPID 501

Advanced Quantitative Methods in Epidemiology  

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  

EOHS 563

Occupational Safety and Health Management Systems  

EPID/EOHS 571

Injury Epidemiology and Prevention  

EPID 410

Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases  

or EPID 411

Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases

EOHS 564

Geographic Information System Application in Public Health  

or UPP 461

Geographic Information Systems for Planning

EPID 595

Epidemiology Research Seminar  

or EOHS 595

PhD Seminar in EOHS
  • 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.

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 (GRE tests taken on or after August 1, 2011).
  • Minimum English Competency Test Score
    • TOEFL 550 (paper-based); 80, with subscores of Reading 19, Listening 17, Speaking 20, and Writing 21 (iBT Internet-based), 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.

Want to improve your English level for admission?

Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

  • ✔️ Flexible study schedule
  • ✔️ Experienced teachers
  • ✔️ Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

Enroll in the course

Scholarships

  • Teaching assistantships
  • Research assistantships 
  • Graduate assistantships
  • Global Education
  • SPH-Wide Student Scholarships and Awards
  • Hamilton Research Scholarship
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