Department of Public Health

Department Chairperson: Carolyn Rodgers, Ph.D., MSPH, MHS, MCHES®, NASM-YES & GPTS

Phone:(773) 995-3931

Location:BHS 217

Department Overview

The Department of Public Health offers a fully online four-year Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health (BSPH) degree and fully online 42 credit hour Master of Public Health (MPH) degree. The mission of the department is consistent with the university’s mission to recruit and graduate culturally and economically diverse public health professions.

The department also aims to produce graduates who are responsible, service-oriented, discerning, and informed global citizens.

The Bachelor of Science degree program draws heavily from a sound knowledge of liberal arts, the medical sciences, communications, social determinants of health, and the core disciplines of public health (biostatistics, epidemiology, environmental and occupational health, health policy and administration, and social and behavioral sciences). The curriculum is a model of interdisciplinary education because it entails courses from various departments within and outside of the College of Health Sciences. The curriculum permits the close interaction of students enrolled in other health sciences disciplines (pre-occupational therapy, nursing, and health information administration), thereby enhancing the students’ ability to function together as members of a health and wellness team. The program focuses on general and urban health, emphasizing social determinants of health, health inequities, health promotion, and education, data analytics and health policy and management..

Mission Statement

The mission of the Department of Public Health at Chicago State University (CSU) is to provide an accessible, competency-based, high-quality education and experience to prepare culturally diverse undergraduate and graduate students to improve health and well-being and address health equity and disparities in communities by utilizing innovative, integrative, interdisciplinary, and inclusive academic approaches.

Vision Statement

The Department of Public Health at CSU seeks to be recognized nationally and internationally for individuals interested in practicing public health to serve communities better. Our faculty consists of experienced professionals who consistently support students and create a welcoming and professional environment through service, teaching, and scholarship. This prepares graduates of the program to impact their community and the field of public health.

Values

The values of the BSPH and MPH Program align with those of the University and the College of Health Sciences to include:

Equity
Diversity
Social Justice
Life-long learning
Personal, professional, and academic integrity
Leadership

Public Health Opportunities in the Community

Graduates of the public health program are educated to enter the job market as health educators, fitness consultants, health administrators, project managers, consumer information directors, and community outreach coordinators who are trained to promote healthy lifestyles through behavior modification, physical activity, and proper nutrition to prevent chronic and infectious diseases such as obesity, high blood pressure, cancer, HIV, or heart disease. Our graduates are also able to serve as advocates for improving health policies that can address such issues as violence, substance abuse, and access to health care.

Admissions Requirements for Masters in Public Health

The multi-faceted nature of the public health profession allows prospective students from diverse backgrounds (nurses, nutritionists, rehabilitation scientists, pharmacists, social and liberal arts scientists, social workers, psychologists, attorneys, engineers and physicians) to enter the field of public health. The MPH program at Chicago State University admits diverse students from different educational backgrounds. To accommodate the anticipated diverse student group, the MPH curriculum will consider the academic background and life experiences of the individual student.

Prospective students seeking admission to the MPH program must meet the standards of academic ability and work experience. The Admission Committee will place emphasis on the qualifications and credentials of the students to succeed in public health education and practice. A holistic review of each applicant will be used in evaluating the admission requirements.

Applications to the MPH program must be made through the University Office of Graduate Admissions, including paying the application fee and submitting original transcripts of the candidate’s undergraduate and graduate course work.

Application materials are recieved twice. For a fall admissions application materiasls must be received by July 15th or for Spring admissions application materials must be recieved by December 17th. Admission is only available for students entering in the fall or Spring semesters as we do not admit over the summer. Early application submission is encouraged; applicants may apply to the program up to 12 months prior to the desired start date.

Minimum admission requirements for the MPH program:

A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited university (or international equivalency) with a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 on a 4.0 scale, for the final 60 semester credit hours of undergraduate and/or graduate education, is required. Evidence that the baccalaureate degree has been conferred is required prior to enrollment. Applicants who attended an accelerated degree program that bypassed the baccalaureate must have evidence that the accelerated degree has been conferred or the equivalency of a baccalaureate has been attained.
A curriculum vitae/resume.
Personal statement describing past education, experience, and current professional career objectives.
Two letters of recommendation from persons qualified to assess the candidate’s academic work, clinical, public health, and professional experiences or leadership potential in public health are required.

Courses taken prior to admission to the MPH program must be approved at the time of admission if they are to be counted towards the degree. These courses must have a grade of B or better. Both the department and the Office of Graduate Admissions must grant approval. To gain approval, an extra original transcript must accompany the application and be submitted to the Office of Graduate Admissions.

Upon admission into the program, a faculty advisor will be assigned to each student based on his or her specialty. The advisor will monitor the student’s performance each semester. Attention will be given to course grades and related measures of achievements.

Master of Public Health (MPH) Student Learning Outcomes

Following the completion of the Master of Public (MPH) degree in Public Health, the graduates will:

Utilize acceptable evidence-based intervention strategies for preventive health practices.
Evaluate the health effects of exposure to hazardous and toxic substances.
Determine community health indicators and evaluate factors in the home and workplace that may cause disease, dysfunction, human suffering, and premature death.
Assess the relative effectiveness of different public health interventions.
Design and evaluate health promotion and disease prevention.
Apply instructional and research skills in the prevention of disease and the promotion of health and wellness.

Graduation Requirements

To be awarded an MPH degree; students must successfully complete all academic work by the semester they wish to graduate. Capstone fieldwork experience or a thesis must also be completed. Specific requirements to be fulfilled by the graduating students include:

Academic Performance: Cumulative grade point average of 3.00 on a 4.0 scale in all required and elective courses.
Practicum: Three credits for students who elect the practicum option aimed at developing the skills and competencies through service experience in a health profession or health-related organization and to apply concepts and theories learned in the classroom. The practicum will be arranged in one block spanning over one semesters (a minimum of 180 hours) and must be successfully completed. Prior to the experience, the practicum coordinator will discuss with each student their career interest, needs, and geographic constraints to determine the placement site.
Thesis Proposal and Defense: Students who select the research option will submit their thesis to the faculty mentor and a copy must be submitted to the chairperson two weeks before defense date. The student must successfully defend the thesis. Students who elect the thesis option must complete a Research Paper to include an introduction, literature review, methodology/results, and conclusion, and minimum across 5 competencies of 15-20 pages.
Project Presentation: Each student must successfully complete their capstone fieldwork experience and/or thesis and present it at the public forum.
Grade Format: Letter (A-F) grades are awarded in theory courses. “Satisfactory” or “Unsatisfactory” grades are awarded only for the capstone, thesis and practicum experiences.

Progression and Probation Policy

The following academic progress and probation policy will be enforced in the MPH program:

Students must maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average to demonstrate satisfactory academic progress and good academic standing. A student is placed on probation if the cumulative grade point average falls below 3.0 for any term. After being placed on probation, a student must attain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 within the next two terms or be dismissed from the graduate program.

No more than two grades of C can be earned in any of the MPH courses. More than two grades of Care grounds for dismissal. A course in which a D was obtained must be repeated to obtain a grade of C or better.

Students cannot obtain more than six credit hours of course work with a grade of D or F, whether the grade is part of the MPH program or not. More than 6 credit hours with grades of D or F will result in dismissal from the program. Where a student has two or more grades of Incomplete outstanding, the student should be reviewed for probationary status.

Programs

Master of Public Health

Public Health, M.P.H.