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Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) (2011-12)

Introduction

The broad mission of public health is to "enhance health in human populations, through organized community effort" (Council on Education for Public Health, 1978) and to fulfill "society‟s interest in assuring conditions in which persons can be healthy" (The Future of Public Health, 1988).

Public health engages both private and public organizations and individuals in accomplishing this mission. Responsibilities encompass preventing epidemics and the spread of disease, protecting against environmental hazards, preventing injuries, encouraging healthy behavior, helping communities to recover from disasters, and ensuring the quality and accessibility of health services.

The core functions of public health include assessment, policy development, and assurance that public health services are provided to the community (The Future of Public Health, 1988).

Environmental health, occupational health and safety, mental health, and substance abuse are integral parts of public health. Service providers, such as managed care organizations, hospitals, nonprofit corporations, schools, faith organizations, and businesses, also are an integral part of the public health infrastructure in many communities (Healthy People 2010).

Overview

The program is designed to meet the needs of a variety of students by offering a generalist MPH degree, certificates in specialized areas, and dual degrees with master‟s level programs in business administration, information systems, organizational behavior, and nutrition and wellness. On campus MPH students may take some classes online with the consent of the on campus advisor. Online students may take some courses on campus with the consent of the online advisor.

M.P.H. Degree

The generalist MPH degree prepares students to be public health practitioners who draw on knowledge and skills from a variety of disciplines. The foundation (core) coursework in biostatistics, epidemiology, management, policy, behavioral and social aspects of public health, environmental health, and biology, provides a scientific and practical base for public health practice. Elective courses may be taken in a variety of areas such as health education, finance, law, and information technology or in other programs such as psychology, business, information systems, nutrition and wellness. The M.P.H. degree can be applied in a variety of settings and

positions. A few examples are administration of private health organizations, social service or public health agencies at the local, state, national, and international levels; managers, planners, evaluators or practitioners in community or workplace health promotion programs; and epidemiologists working on cancer surveillance or in the pharmaceutical industry. Current and future health professionals in medicine, nursing, dentistry, or pharmacy find the M.P.H degree provides them with a broader perspective and additional skills to complement their primary discipline.

Curriculum

The M.P.H. degree requires 66 quarter hours which includes 48 quarter credit hours of foundation (core) courses; 12 quarter credit hours of elective courses; and an internship/capstone Pass/Fail experience of 6 quarter credit hours (240 contact hours).

A student must complete a minimum of 32 quarter credit hours of coursework at Benedictine University at the 500 level or above. This requirement is known as the academic residency requirement. For students in dual degree programs, the residency requirement is 64 quarter credit hours.

Courses designated as foundation (core) courses, as identified in the course catalog, require a grade of a „B‟ or higher to apply toward graduation/certificate requirements. Elective courses require a "C" or higher to apply toward graduation and/or certificate requirements.

Core (Foundation) Courses:

MPH 511 Biostatistics* 4

MPH 601 Behavioral and Social Aspects of Public Health 4

MPH 602 Public Health System 4

MPH 603 Ethical and Political Issues 4

MPH 604 Epidemiology* 4

MPH 605 Environment Health 4

MPH 606 Methods of Research in Public Health* 4

MPH 607 Community Health Analysis* 4

MPH 609 Cultural Context of Health 4

MPH 610 Health Policy 4

MPH 611 Public Health Biology 4

MPH 662 Management of Health Services Organizations 4

Total MPH Program Core (Foundation) credits 48

Certificate Programs: Required Courses

HEALTH MANAGEMENT & POLICY CERTIFICATE

(16 credit hours required)

MPH 602 Public Health System 4

MPH 610 Health Policy 4

MPH 662 Management of Health Services Organizations 4

Select one of the following courses:

MPH 671 Finance in Public Health & Health Care Delivery Systems or

MPH 664 Marketing in Public Health

MPH 686 U.S. Health Care Delivery System or

MPH 692 Health Law 4

DISASTER MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATE

(16 credit hours required)

MPH 650 Principles and Practices of Emergency Response and Recovery 4

MPH 654 Psychology and Sociology of Disasters 4

MPH 656 Hazard Assessment and Preparedness Planning 4

MPH 657 Disaster Management in Public Health 4

HEALTH EDUCATION & PROMOTION CERTIFICATE

(16 credit hours required)

MPH 601 Behavioral and Social Aspects of Public Health 4

MPH 609 Cultural Context of Health 4

MPH 632 Public Health Education Methods 4

MPH 634 Public Health Education Programs and Skills

MPH 664 Marketing in Public Health or 

MPH 688 Media, Technology, and Public Health 4

Dual Degrees

Dual degree options prepare students to take leadership roles and pursue a myriad of career opportunities. Dual degree programs generally require 96 quarter credit hours.

The M.P.H./M.B.A. dual degree adds to the M.P.H. program the comprehensive business core of the Master of Business Administration program. The M.P.H./M.B.A. program results in both the M.P.H. and the M.B.A. degrees.

The M.P.H/M.I.S. combines the generalist M.P.H. curriculum and the Master of Information Science for professionals who will be responsible for managing information resources and providing decision support in health organizations. The M.P.H./M.I.S. program results in both the M.P.H. and the M.I.S. degrees. (Not offered online)

The M.P.H./ M.O.B. dual degree program enhances the M.P.H. curriculum with coursework focusing on organizational management and human resource skills. The M.P.H./M.S.M.O.B. program results in both the M.P.H. and the M.S.M.O.B. degrees. (Not offered online)

The M.P.H. / M.S.N.W. dual degree integrates an applied foundation in nutrition and health risk assessment, motivation, intervention, with community health processes. The M.P.H./M.S.N.W. program results in both the M.P.H. and the M.S.N.W. degrees. (not offered online)

Starting the Program

ADMISSION TO THE MPH DEGREE PROGRAM

Application to the MPH program can be done online at www.ben.edu Graduate Application, through the Benedictine University Admissions Office, or through the MPH Program Office.

Applicants for the M.P.H. program must submit, as a minimum, the following:

An official transcript demonstrating successful completion of the bachelor‟s degree or higher conferred by a regionally accredited institution of higher education or recognized formal institution.

Two letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with the applicant‟s professional or academic work, excluding family or personal friends.

For international applicants: a minimum TOEFL test score of 600 on paper-based test or a score of 250 on the computer-based test or 80 on the internet-based test. (Minimum score may vary as ETS revises the exam) or degree confirmation from an institution of higher learning whose language of instruction is English.

Essay describing the candidate‟s career path.

GRE, MAT, GMAT, LSAT, DAT or other graduate professional exams. Professional licensure exams may not be used.

Applicants with an undergraduate GPA 3.5+ or a graduate degree are exempt from the exam requirement.

Applicants with an undergraduate GPA between 2.75 and 3.5 may be admitted conditionally without consideration of graduate professional exam scores. For conditional admission to convert to regular admission: the student must complete each of the following courses with a B or better:

MPH 511 Statistics

MPH 602 Health Care Systems

MPH 601 Behavioral and Social Aspects of Health

Applicants with an undergraduate GPA below 2.75 must submit graduate professional exam scores and if admitted will be a conditional admission and must complete each of the following courses with a B or better:

MPH 511 Statistics

MPH 602 Health Care Systems

MPH 601 Behavioral and Social Aspects of Health

ADMISSION TO PUBLIC HEALTH CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS

Applicants must demonstrate proof of a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university and must meet with a MPH Program Advisor prior to registering and upon completion of the certificate courses. A minimum grade point average of 3.0 in certificate applicable coursework is required to receive a certificate.

ADMISSION TO DUAL DEGREE PROGRAMS

Applicants must meet the requirements for the MPH Degree Program and also the requirements for the second degree program.

Faculty

Georgeen Polyak, Ph.D.

Department Chair and Assistant Professor, Public Health

Ph.D., University of Illinois

M.S., University of St. Francis

M.S., Northern Illinois University

B.A., Lewis University

Susan Bailey, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Public Health

Ph.D., M.A., University of North Carolina

B.A., University of Vermont

Elizabeth Bormann, MPH

Instructor, Public Health

MPH, Northern Illinois University

B.S., Northern Illinois University

Alan Gorr, Ph.D.

Dean, College of Education and Health Services; Professor, Public Health

Ph.D., University of Iowa

M.P.H., University of Illinois at Chicago

M.A., University of Toronto

B.A., University of Iowa

Date in parenthesis indicates the year person joined the Benedictine University faculty.

Lecturers

Barbara Bellar, M.D., J.D.

Julia Dyer, M.D., M.P.H.

Michael Fagel, Ph.D.

Shannon Homolka, M.B.A.

Bette Lawrence-Water, M.S.

Suzet McKinney, M.P.H.

Shefali Mookencherry, M.P.H.

Sharon Miller, M.P.A., A.R.R.T., N.M.T.

Judith Munson, J.D.

Alisa Ostebo, M.P.H., C.H.E.S.

Lisa Rinehart, J.D., B.S.N.

Joseph Roche, M.Ed.

Steven Seweryn, M.P.H.

David Szablewski, M.P.H.

Jewell Thompson, M.A.