General MPH Program

Program Highlights & Accreditation

The Master of Public Health (MPH) General program at the University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) provides students with a comprehensive understanding of public health principles, preparing them to address complex health challenges in diverse populations. The program focuses on essential topics such as epidemiology, biostatistics, public health policy, environmental health, and health education.

The MPH Program at UIS has received full accreditation from the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), an independent agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for accrediting Schools and Programs of Public Health.

Delivery Modes

The program is offered in both online and on-campus formats, providing flexibility for students, including working professionals.

Curriculum Overview

The MPH-General program requires a minimum of 48 credit hours. This includes 32 hours of core coursework and 16 hours of concentration courses. Core courses cover foundational public health areas such as Introduction to Public Health (MPH 501), Biostatistics (MPH 503), Research Methods in Public Health (MPH 506), Epidemiology (MPH 511), Introduction to Environmental Health (MPH 521), Public Health Policy (MPH 531), Public Health Education (MPH 561), and an Internship (MPH 581).

Concentration courses allow students to deepen their expertise. These include a required course in Social Determinants of Health (MPH 541), and selections from Advanced Epidemiology (e.g., MPH 512, MPH 513, MPH 514) and Advanced Public Health Policy (e.g., MPH 508, MPH 575, MPH 585).

The program's closure requirement is the MPH Comprehensive Examination (MPH 579), a case-study based exam testing the integration of knowledge and skills. An internship (MPH 581, 4 credit hours) provides practical experience. Students must complete all core courses (except the internship) prior to taking the comprehensive exam.

Admissions Requirements

The general application process involves reviewing admission requirements, completing the application, sending official transcripts, submitting required statements/writing samples, and paying the application fee. For specific admission requirements for the MPH program, applicants are advised to contact the Office of Admission.

The non-refundable application fee for graduate programs is $60 for domestic students and $75 for international students. International students requiring an F-1 visa should review additional information on the International Applicants site.

Career & Practical Experience

The MPH program prepares graduates for a wide range of career opportunities in various fields. Potential career paths include:

• Academic Policy Advisor

• Biostatistician

• Community Health Specialist

• Health Policy Analyst

• Emergency Preparedness Coordinator

• Public Health Educator

• Research Project Coordinator

A core component of the curriculum is the internship (MPH 581), providing students with hands-on practical experience. UIS also offers a Career Pathfinder tool to help explore career options.