Admissions Requirements
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 must be received by July 15 each year for the fall semester enrollment. Full-time admission is only available for courses starting in the fall semester. Part-time options are available for fall or spring. Part-time application deadline is October 15 each year. Early application 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. A limited number of applicants with a GPA of 2.90 - 2.99 may be granted conditional admission. Conditional admission status is removed when the student achieves a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better. 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 educational background, experience, and current professional career objectives.
Three letters of recommendation, at least two from persons qualified to assess the candidate’s academic work, clinical, public health, and professional experiences or leadership potential in public health. Recommendations from family members are not accepted.
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.
Student Learning Outcomes
Following completion of the Master of Public Health (MPH) program, the graduates will be able to:
- 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 programs.
- 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 in which they wish to graduate. Capstone fieldwork experience or a thesis must also be completed. Specific requirements to be fulfilled by the graduating students include the following:
- Academic Performance: Cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in all required and elective courses.
- Comprehensive Written Exam: Successful completion of a comprehensive written exam to assess knowledge of the core courses in public health. Three opportunities are provided to pass the exam with a minimum of a B grade.
- Practicum: Six credits for students who elect the practicum option aimed at developing 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 two blocks spanning over two semesters (a minimum of 360 hours) and must be successfully completed. Prior to the experience, the practicum mentor will discuss with each student his or her career interest, needs, and geographic constraints to determine the placement site.
- Thesis Proposal and Defense: Students who select the research option will submit his or her 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 minimum of 180 hours of fieldwork.
- Project Presentation: Each student must successfully complete his or her capstone fieldwork experience or thesis and present it at the COHS Research Day.
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.
Student 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.
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