FAQ
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What are the main differences between the MPH degree and other degrees in the Department of
Kinesiology and Community Health?
The MPH degree provides the basis for a career in public health practice. It is a professional degree,
along the lines of a degree in nursing, law, or business. For example, the MPH degree does not require a
research thesis. The MPH degree requires a practicum experience which provides worksite experience in public
health. The MPH degree requires an integrative experience, where the student integrates information learned
from different courses in the curriculum and applies it to a public health practice issue. Tuition waivers are
generally not available to students in professional degree programs, and are not available in the MPH program.
In comparison, the Ph.D. degree and the available masters degrees are research degrees. They generally require
courses on research methods, and a research thesis or dissertation. Research degrees generally do not require a
practicum. Tuition waivers are available to graduate students in many research degree programs at the University
of Illinois.
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Can I get an MPH and work part-time or full time?
Yes, if your employer allows flexible work hours and you live with commuting distance of campus. Courses
are scheduled in large part according to availability of university classrooms and facilities. If you are
considering obtaining an MPH degree and and do not have much flexibility in your work hours, you should explore
MPH degrees around the country which are specially designed for non-residence students, sometimes called "extended
degree" programs.
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If I enroll in another graduate degree program in KCH, can I later switch to the MPH degree program?
No. Students will generally not be allowed to transfer into the MPH program from one of the other graduate
degree programs in KCH.
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Can I do the MPH program simultaneously with another graduate degree program?
A student can obviously complete two degrees sequentially at the University of Illinois. Currently, the MPH
program does not facilitate getting two degrees simultaneously (sometimes called a "joint degree"), such as an
MPH MSW (Masters of Public Health-Masters of Social Work). We recommend that a student interested in getting
two degrees simultaneously first apply and be admitted to one of them. Subsequently, on a case-by-case basis,
the student can apply to the other degree program, and at that time, make a proposal for how the student would
accomplish the work of the two degrees. To have an accredited MPH program, the requirements for the MPH must be
the same for students getting only an MPH degree, as for students getting an MPH simultaneously with another degree.
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Is the MPH accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)?
This new MPH program will apply for accreditation from CEPH. According to CEPH policy, a new MPH program cannot
receive accreditation until it has graduated at least one class of MPH students, and accreditation is not retroactive
to students who graduate prior to the date of accreditation. MPH graduates are eligible for the new national
examination in public health if they have graduated from an MPH program within three years of CEPH accreditation.
We anticipate all graduates of this MPH program will be eligible for the national examination. Further information
on accreditation is available at the CEPH web site.
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