General MPH Program

Program Highlights & Accreditation

The Master of Public Health (MPH) at Northeastern Illinois University is a 42-credit hour program offering broad, interdisciplinary training. It prepares students for work in diverse settings such as public and private healthcare organizations and businesses, health research facilities, social service and environmental health agencies, and government institutions dedicated to public health policy, programming, and services. A central focus of the program is on improving health equity and reducing health disparities among all populations. The program emphasizes reflective, collaborative, and personally and socially transformative practices to serve under-represented, under-resourced populations.

No specific program-level accreditation (e.g., CEPH) is mentioned in the provided context.

Delivery Modes

The MPH program is designed to accommodate working adults, offering both full-time and part-time study options. It is delivered in a hybrid format, incorporating both online and on-campus classes at urban locations accessible by car and public transportation.

Curriculum Overview

The MPH program requires 42 credit hours. Students gain insight and skills related to biostatistics, epidemiology, healthcare administration and leadership, health literacy and health communications, health promotion programming, social and behavioral health theory, policy and legislation, systems thinking, and environmental health.

The curriculum includes core courses, concentration-specific courses, and elective options (e.g., the Public Health Promotion concentration includes 6 credits of electives; the program generally offers over 100 elective options). Students can explore a wide range of public health topics related to sociology, gerontology, justice studies, human resource development, geographic information science, economics, and more.

Practical experience is integrated through research opportunities, an Internship (PH-480 Internship I), and a Capstone project (PH-490 Capstone).

Admissions Requirements

Applicants must meet the University Graduate Admissions requirements. Program-specific requirements for the MPH program include:

• Official transcripts.

• A minimum GPA of 2.75.

• Two letters of recommendation.

• An essay addressing three subject areas: 1) what public health means to you, 2) what areas of public health interest you, and 3) how a degree in public health will support or advance your career goals.

For detailed university graduate admission policies, refer to the Academic Catalog . For program-specific application information, including admission deadlines, contact the department or visit the Admissions website .

Cost & Financial Aid

Detailed information regarding tuition, fees, and financial aid can be found on the Northeastern Illinois University's Financial Aid page and the specific Tuition Information page . Students are encouraged to explore scholarship opportunities and complete the FAFSA for federal and state assistance.

Career & Practical Experience

Graduates are prepared for careers such as Healthcare Administrator, Health Educator, Public Health Researcher, and Policy Analyst. They can work in government institutions, non-profit and private organizations, K-12 schools and higher education, healthcare clinics, research centers, industry, and other settings.

The program emphasizes serving under-represented and under-resourced populations. Graduates are eligible to sit for the Community Health Education Specialist (CHES) certification exam, a nationally recognized credential for health educators.