College: College of Science and Health
Department: Nutrition and Public Health
Student Type: Graduate Semester
Degree: Master of Public Health (M.P.H.)
Campus: Lisle Campus

Introduction

The mission of the M.P.H. program at Benedictine University is to provide a high quality, competency-based, and accessible educational experience which prepares graduate students to enhance health in human populations through organized community effort within a global context. Our mission is accomplished by educating the future and current public health workforce; conducting research to address public health problems; and providing opportunities for community service. Benedictine University offers a generalist Master of Public Health degree based on the following competencies.

Competencies - What the Master of Public Health knows and can do

The overall approach:

• Apply Quality Improvement Techniques in Public Health.
• Critically evaluate peer-reviewed literature or other research reports and synthesize findings.
• Apply systematic methods to assess, prevent and control environmental hazards.
• Apply power-mapping techniques in health policy development.
• Identify the impact of the social determinants of health on public health topics and outcomes.

Evidence-based approaches to Public Health:

• Apply epidemiological methods to the breadth of settings and situations in public health practice.
• Select quantitative and qualitative data collection methods appropriate for a given public health context.
• Analyze quantitative and qualitative data using biostatistics, informatics, computer-based programming and software, as appropriate.
• Interpret results of data analysis for public health research, policy or practice.

Public Health and Health Care Systems:

• Compare the organization, structure and function of health care, public health and regulatory systems across national and international settings.
• Discuss the means by which structural bias, social inequities and racism undermine health and create challenges to achieving health equity at organizational, community and societal levels.

Planning & Management to Promote Health:

• Assess population needs, assets and capacities that affect communities’ health.
• Apply awareness of cultural values and practices to the design or implementation of public health policies or programs.
• Design a population-based policy, program, project or intervention.
• Explain basic principles and tools of budget and resource management.
• Select methods to evaluate public health programs.

Policy in Public Health:

• Discuss multiple dimensions of the policy-making process, including the roles of ethics and evidence.
• Propose strategies to identify stakeholders and build coalitions and partnerships for influencing public health outcomes.
• Advocate for political, social or economic policies and programs that will improve health in diverse populations.
• Evaluate policies for their impact on public health and health equity.

Leadership:

• Apply principles of leadership, governance and management, which include creating a vision, empowering others, fostering collaboration and guiding decision making.
• Apply negotiation and mediation skills to address organizational or community challenges.

Communication:

• Select communication strategies for different audiences and sectors.
• Communicate audience-appropriate public health content, both in writing and through oral presentation.
• Describe the importance of cultural competence in communicating public health content.

Interprofessional Practice:

• Perform effectively on interprofessional teams.
• Apply systems thinking tools to a public health issue.

Overview

The program is designed to meet the needs of a variety of students by offering a generalist M.P.H. degree, certificates in specialized areas, and dual degrees with master’s level programs. The M.P.H. degree is offered in both on-campus and online formats.  

M.P.H. Degree

The generalist M.P.H. 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, biological, behavioral and social aspects of public health, environmental health, provides a scientific and practical base for public health practice. Elective courses may be taken in a variety of areas such as health education, healthcare marketing, advanced biostatistics, emergency management, applied epidemiology, and health equity or in other relevant programs such as Psychology, Healthcare Administration, Management, and Global Health. 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, academic researchers, 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. 

Dual Degrees

Dual degree options prepare students to take leadership roles and pursue a myriad of career opportunities.

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.S. in Management and Organizational Behavior 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. in Management and Organizational Behavior program results in both the M.P.H. and the M.S. degrees.

Incomplete Policy

Students must complete at least 67% of the coursework with a grade of 80% or higher (a letter grade of “B”) to be eligible to request an incomplete for a class. Incomplete requests must be submitted at least 72 hours prior to the last class. Incomplete requests are by instructor approval only, for extraordinary circumstances outside of the student’s control.

Academic Honesty Policy

All courses in the M.P.H. program adhere to the University’s Academic Honesty Policy. Violations of the policy, as described in the University policy, will result in a grade of zero (0) points for the assignment for the first violation, and will result in a grade of “F” for the course for the second violation.

Student Type: Graduate Quarter
Campus: Lisle Campus

Students may not enter the M.P.H. program on quarters after the Spring 2021 term. Where possible, existing quarter M.P.H. students were converted to semester M.P.H. students as of Summer 2021.

Existing students should refer to original catalog of entry for appropriate academic requirements. Public Health academic advisors can clarify appropriate quarter to semester course requirements. Quarter credits convert at a 3 quarter credits to 2 semester credits ratio. Required courses and earned credits will be applied at the 3:2 ratio. Partial credits are not rounded up.

Quarter Dual Degrees

Dual degree options prepare students to take leadership roles and pursue a myriad of career opportunities. Dual degree programs generally require 98 quarter credit hours.

Admission to the M.P.H. Degree Program

Application to the M.P.H. program can be done online at www.ben.edu/apply.

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. (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.
• Applicants with an undergraduate GPA between 2.750 and 2.999 are recommended to submit an additional letter of recommendation and/or a professional work portfolio.
• Applicants with an undergraduate GPA below 2.750 must undergo additional review by the Public Health Admissions Committee. Pending review, the applicant may be admitted on a Conditional Basis (see below), or the applicant may be placed under further review through one or more of the following methods:
  • A personal interview with the Public Health Admissions Committee (can be done in person or via video conference)
  • Submit an additional essay (instructions to be provided by the Public Health Admissions Committee)
  • Submit a comprehensive portfolio (instructions to be provided by the Public Health Admissions Committee)
• A student admitted Conditionally must successfully pass their first 3 courses (PBHL 5501 Introduction to Public Health, PBHL 5507 Health Behavior Theory, and PBHL 5504 Introduction to Epidemiology (OR PBHL 5502 Introduction to Biostatistics, if taken before PBHL 5504 Introduction to Epidemiology)) with grades of “A” or “B” and no repeated courses in order to be fully matriculated into the program.
• Students must earn a grade of “B” or better in all core (foundation) courses. 
• Any grade below a “B” in a core class is considered a failing grade and will not count towards the M.P.H.
• The program must be completed within six years.
• Applicants may be required to take a language/writing skills assessment. Students will be required to complete successfully one or more adult discourse graduate courses during the first term of enrollment based on the assessment.

Admission to the Public Health Certificate Programs

Applicants must demonstrate proof of a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university and must meet with an M.P.H. program advisor prior to registering and upon completion of the certificate courses. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.000 in certificate-applicable coursework is required to receive a certificate, with no grade lower than “C.” For more information on Certificate program admissions please visit the General Admission Information page.  For available Public Health Certificate programs.

Admission to the Dual Degree Programs

Dual degree options prepare students to take leadership and pursue a myriad of career opportunities. Applicants must meet the requirements for the M.P.H. degree program and also the requirements for the second degree program.

Curriculum

The M.P.H. degree requires 43 semester hours which includes 21 semester hours of foundation (core) courses; 15 semester credit hours of elective courses; and 7 semester credits hours of capstone-level courses, including 4 semester credit hours of a supervised internship/practicum Pass/Fail experience (240 contact hours). It is the responsibility of the student to secure a site for the field placement internship/practicum.

A student must complete a minimum of 24 semester credit hours of coursework at Benedictine University at the 5000 level or above. This requirement is known as the academic residency requirement. For students in dual degree programs, the residency requirement is the equivalent of 48 semester credit hours.  Courses designated as core (foundation) and capstone courses, as identified in the course catalog, require a grade of a “B” or better to apply toward graduation/certificate requirements. Elective courses require a “C” or better to apply toward graduation and/or certificate requirements.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Core (Foundation) Courses
PBHL 5501	Introduction to Public Health	3
PBHL 5502	Introduction to Biostatistics	3
PBHL 5504	Introduction to Epidemiology	3
PBHL 5505	Health Systems, Law and Policy.	3
PBHL 5506	Leadership and Management in Health Organizations	3
PBHL 5507	Health Behavior Theory	3
PBHL 6500	Research Methods in Public Health	3
Capstone and Internship Experience
PBHL 6898	Community Health Analysis	3
PBHL 6899	MPH Internship/Practicum	4
Elective Courses
Select fifteen credits of the following (5 courses):		15
PBHL 6009	Social Determinants of Health
PBHL 6050	Emergency and Crisis Management
PBHL 6101	Advanced Epidemiology
PBHL 6110	Applied Linear Models
PBHL 6112	Categorical Data Analysis
PBHL 6201	Health Communication and Marketing
PBHL 6203	Public Health Program Planning and Evaluation
PBHL 6301	Strategic Planning and Improvement in Health Organizations
PBHL 6302	Health System Finance
PBHL 6304	Health Ethics, Law, and Regulation
PBHL 6409	Applied Epidemiology
PBHL 6411	Biological Aspects of Public Health
PBHL 6501	Environmental Health
PBHL 6502	Public Health Grant Writing
PBHL 6503	Global Health
PBHL 6691	Special Topics in Public Health
NUTR 5561	Maternal and Child Nutrition
NUTR 5581	Obesity Prevention and Management
NUTR 5583	Science of Sports Nutrition
NUTR 5585	Complementary Nutrition Therapies
Total Hours		43

Certificate Programs - Required Courses

Health Management and Policy Certificate

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
PBHL 5505	Health Systems, Law and Policy.	3
PBHL 6050	Emergency and Crisis Management	3
PBHL 6301	Strategic Planning and Improvement in Health Organizations	3
PBHL 6302	Health System Finance	3
PBHL 6304	Health Ethics, Law, and Regulation	3
Total Hours		15

Health Education and Promotion Certificate

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
PBHL 5507	Health Behavior Theory	3
PBHL 6009	Social Determinants of Health	3
PBHL 6203	Public Health Program Planning and Evaluation	3
Select two of the following:		6
PBHL 6201	Health Communication and Marketing
PBHL 6501	Environmental Health
PBHL 6502	Public Health Grant Writing
Total Hours		15

Epidemiology Certificate

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
PBHL 5502	Introduction to Biostatistics	3
PBHL 5504	Introduction to Epidemiology	3
PBHL 6500	Research Methods in Public Health	3
PBHL 6101	Advanced Epidemiology	3
PBHL 6409	Applied Epidemiology	3
Total Hours		15

Data Analytics Certificate

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
PBHL 5502	Introduction to Biostatistics	3
PBHL 5504	Introduction to Epidemiology	3
PBHL 6500	Research Methods in Public Health	3
PBHL 6110	Applied Linear Models	3
PBHL 6112	Categorical Data Analysis	3
Total Hours		15

Public Health Nutrition Certificate

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
PBHL 6500	Research Methods in Public Health	3
NUTR 5561	Maternal and Child Nutrition	3
NUTR 5581	Obesity Prevention and Management	3
NUTR 5583	Science of Sports Nutrition	3
NUTR 5585	Complementary Nutrition Therapies	3
Total Hours		15

Faculty

Students in the Masters of Public Health program will achieve the following student learning outcomes (SLO):

Student Learning Outcome 1:  Demonstrate the ability to apply evidence-based approaches to Public Health.

Student Learning Outcome 2:    Demonstrate an understanding of Public Health and health care systems.

Student Learning Outcome 3:    Demonstrate the ability to apply basic planning and management to promote health.

Student Learning Outcome 4:  Demonstrate the ability to use policy to promote health.

Student Learning Outcome 5:  Demonstrate the ability to apply cross cutting skills in leadership, communication, interprofessional practice, and systems thinking.