With Master’s in Public Health degree programs in Illinois, students learn how to work with the general public in a variety of different ways. You’ll learn the skills needed for those working as policy advocates to bring attention to diseases and make legal changes, but you’ll also learn how to create and implement new programs designed to help people living in the community. Illinois MPH programs can also provide you with some job experience through the use of a fieldwork placement. Whether you hope to work in Chicago or any other city in the state, Illinois programs can help you make connections in the industry.
University of Chicago
Degree Programs
One of the highest ranked colleges in Illinois is the University of Chicago. Founded in 1890, this university took over the operations of a former school called the Old University of Chicago. While the former school was only open to men, the new school catered to students of both sexes. Both U.S. News & World Report and ARWU rank the University of Chicago within the top 10 of all American colleges, and Forbes ranked it as one of the top 20 American schools. Also called Chicago and U of Chicago, this university ranks as one of the world’s best colleges too.
Master of Science in Public Health Sciences for Clinical Professionals
One of the top Master’s in Public Health degree programs in Illinois for practicing clinical professionals is this University of Chicago program. You must have some clinical experience or an advanced degree to enroll. This program features courses like clinical epidemiology, epidemiology and population health, health services research methods and biostatistical methods. Students must receive at least a B in all required classes. If you receive a lower grade, the university will put you on academic probation until you pass that course with a higher grade. If you cannot score higher, you may face expulsion from the university.
Accreditation
Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
Contact
5841 South Maryland Ave MC2000
Chicago, IL 60637 – 1447
(773) 702-2453
University of Illinois at Chicago
School of Public Health
Not far away from U of Chicago is the University of Illinois at Chicago. Though other colleges existed in the area prior to the 1960s, the University of Illinois school system took over the operations of the school and renamed it after it became part of that system. U of Illinois previously operated a two-year school in the city that operated in the late 1940s and provided opportunities for some of the military students using the GI Bill. Leading organizations that ranked UIC as one of the country’s best and world’s best schools include ARWU, Forbes and Washington Monthly.
MS in Public Health
The University of Illinois at Chicago is home to three of the top Master’s in Public Health degree programs in Illinois. You will need to pick a concentration when you enroll that determines the number of classes that you will need to take to graduate as well as some of the courses needed to graduate. Concentrations are available in general epidemiology, cancer epidemiology, occupational and environmental epidemiology, industrial hygiene or occupational safety. You’ll need to take 48 credits of required courses and up to 53 credits of courses in your concentration. The program features a concentration in community health as well.
MPH/MA in Anthropology
The MPH/MA in Anthropology program that UIC offers is a joint program that requires you apply for and receive acceptance letters from both programs. You will need to take up to 76 credits of courses, but the total amount required depends on which track you select. One option lets you do fieldwork and do a capstone project, but you can also enroll in the thesis track or a track that lets you do an extensive research project. All students will take classes like health education and health promotion, community assessment in public health and research methods in community health.
Public Health (Professional Programs)
UIC offers a professional public health program designed for working professionals and those who already have clinical experience. As an MPH student, you will need to choose a concentration in either community health sciences, environmental and occupational health sciences, health policy and administration or epidemiology and biostatistics. You must maintain a B grade point average to remain in the program. The university can expel you or put you on academic probation for any lower grades that you get. UIC also offers a Doctor of Public Health degree program designed for professionals that you can apply for in your final year.
Contact
5801 S Ellis Ave.
Chicago, IL 60637
(773) 702-1234
Accreditation
Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
University of Illinois at Springfield
Department of Public Health
The University of Illinois at Springfield, also known as UIS, is one several schools in he U of I system. Founded in the late 1960s as Sangamon State University, it functioned as a two-year senior college that offered courses designed for juniors and seniors. It also added a few graduate programs to its curriculum. The university officially became part of U of I in 1995 and changed its name to reflect that connection. U.S. News & World Report considers UIS as a regional college and ranked it as the eighth best college in the Midwest region of the country.
MPH General Option
If you aren’t quite sure what you want to study or how you will use your MPG degree, this UIS program is a good option because it lets you study more areas of public health. You will need to take one course from four different areas of study that include social detriments, analytical tools, advanced epidemiology and emerging issues as well as one other electives. This program features 28 hours of required public health courses too, including biostatistics for the health professional, community health research and environment and occupational health. There is also an internship that is worth four credits.
Environmental Health Concentration
UIS offers an environmental health concentration for those enrolled in its MPH degree program that is best for those with an interest in how environmental factors can affect the health of individuals. Though it features the same required classes as the general program, it includes two required courses on environmental risk assessment and environmental toxicology. You will also need to choose a concentration in environmental health policy, emergency planning or environmental risk assessment. The emergency planning concentration includes courses designed for those who currently work or want to work in a government agency like the Department of Homeland Security.
MPH Professional Option
If you have a medical degree from an accredited medical school and currently work in the field, you can enroll in this program, which is also open to those who are in medical residency programs in the country. This program can help you develop a better bedside manner as well as learn how to work with those from different cultures. It includes a core of six courses and two electives, but you’ll also need to do an internship and work with the university to choose where you want to work. Community health education and public health policy and administration are among the program’s required courses.
MPH/HMS Joint Degree
UIS offers several of the top joint Master’s in Public Health degree programs in Illinois that allow you to study two different subjects. Though this program can take up to four years to complete, it awards you both an HMA and MPH degree after you complete at least 68 hours of work. Core HMS courses that you will take include ethics and professional development, social policy and human services, interviewing and assessment skills in human services and critical perspectives in human services. The university requires that you do one internship for each program too.
MPH/MPA Joint Degree
Another of the joint degree programs that UIS offers awards you both a Master of Public Health and a Master of Public Administration, which teaches you how to handle all aspects of working in a health care facility. You will need to take the same MPH courses that you would take in one of the other programs as well as a course on either program development, analysis or evaluation. You will also take a capstone seminar and electives that equate to 30 credits. Some of the MPA courses that you must take include information for decision making and community planning and policy.
Accreditation
Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
Contact
One University Plaza
Springfield, Illinois 62703-5407
(217) 206-6600
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Department of Kinesiology and Community Health
Though the University of Illinois school system now consists of multiple campuses in the state, the original university in that system is the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. That is why this university also goes by the names of U of I and the University of Illinois. Some call it just Illinois too. Founded in 1867 as the Illinois Industrial University, it ranks as one of the state’s oldest colleges. U of I ranks among the top colleges in the United States on lists released by ARWU, Forbes, Washington Monthly and U.S. News & World Report. Four organizations rank it among the world’s best schools too.
Master of Public Health
One of the two Master’s in Public Health degree programs in Illinois that the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign offers is a standard Master of Public Health. This program trains students on how to act as public health professionals in the field, how to look at different factors when making health decisions and how to work with the community and public at large to solve issues and problems. U of I encourages students to take courses from different disciplines and departments and to take classes on epidemiology, community health and similar subjects. The university offers a joint MBA/MPH program too.
DVM-Master of Public Health Degree
The DVM-Master of Public Health degree that U of I offers is available through its Department of Kinesiology and Community Health and its Department of Veterinary Medicine. This program is suitable for those who want to work in food chain management and in similar industries to protect the general public. You will need to do both a capstone project and fieldwork. The university can help you complete fieldwork in a veterinary clinic, for a food company or in a local hospital. With the capstone project, you have the option to choose your own topic and hypothesis for your project.
Accreditation
Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
Contact
1206 S. Fourth Street
Champaign, IL 61820
(217) 333-2307
Though the cost of living is higher in some Illinois cities than others, you can graduate with a degree that helps you earn a living wage in any of these cities. Master’s in Public Health degree programs in Illinois train you for all that the future holds for you.
See also: Master’s in Public Health Degrees in Illinois (A-N)
