AFRO-NETS> A new Online Public Health Informatics Degree Program

["Dr. Edward Mensah" <dehasnem@UIC.EDU>]

A new Online Public Health Informatics Degree Program
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The School of Public Health at the University of Illinois at Chicago, 
is offering a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree specializing in 
public health informatics (PHI). This program is focused on the study 
of the application of information management techniques to improve 
the practice of public health. All courses in the program are deliv-
ered via the Internet.

For further information please see the message below.

Thanks, 
Edward Mensah, PhD
Associate Professor
Principal Investigator of the Informatics Program
Health Policy and Administration Division
School of Public Health
University of Illinois at Chicago
1603 West Taylor Street
Chicago Illinois, 60612 USA
Tel: +1-312-996-3001
mailto:dehasnem@uic.edu


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University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health Health Pol-
icy and Administration

The School of Public Health is offering a Master of Public Health 
(MPH) degree specializing in public health informatics (PHI). This 
program is focused on the study of the application of information 
management techniques to improve the practice of public health. All 
courses in the program are delivered via the Internet.

The program is a cooperative effort between the UIC School of Public 
Health and School of Biomedical and Health Information Sciences. The 
courses in the program will provide core competencies in public 
health information systems and management. The program consists of 14 
didactic courses plus a field experience and capstone experience men-
tored over the Internet. Because this program is delivered solely 
online, students must have access to Internet and email communica-
tion.

The three-year online program was developed in response to the need 
for professionals who can manage public health information and sur-
veillance systems and play leadership roles in the central public 
health function of information gathering, analysis and dissemination. 
The target audiences for the program are public health administra-
tors, health information professionals, managed care organization 
analysts and health officials.

?Information is the most important product of a public health agency. 
We lack enough trained professionals who understand both public 
health and information management. I am glad to see the University of 
Illinois take a leadership role in filling this need.? 
John Lumpkin, MD, MPH Director of Illinois Department of Public 
Health

This unique online informatics program will allow you to earn your 
graduate degree from anywhere in the country from a fully accredited 
school of public health. All online courses are taught by the same 
faculty that teach the traditionally delivered courses. The online 
courses employ frequent student and faculty interaction, an emphasis 
on group study using Internet communications, online examinations and 
the use of online library resources. The program is designed to allow 
busy professionals to continue working while earning their degree in 
an exciting new field of public health.

?Combining the core School of Public Health courses with the basic 
courses from the Health Information Management graduate curriculum 
creates a broadbased understanding of health issues and a familiar-
ity with the essentials of the burgeoning field of health informat-
ics.? 
Claire Dixon, PhD Former President, American Health Information Man-
agement Association UIC School of Public Health


Program Description

Students are expected to take five courses per year (two in the fall 
and spring semesters and one in the summer semester) in order to com-
plete the 48 semester hour program in three years. There are no elec-
tives in the program and students are expected to move through the 
program in cohort groups.

PHI Curriculum

Public Health Core Courses:
Biostatistics I
Public Health Concepts and Practice
Principles of Epidemiology
Principles of Management in Public Health
Principles of Environmental Health Sciences
Behavioral Sciences in Public Health

Informatics Courses:
Health Information and Decision Support Systems
Health Care Data
Legal and Social Issues of Health Informatics
Health Care Information Systems
Management of Health Care Communication Systems
WEB Based Public Health Informatics
Applications of Geographic information Systems in Public Health
Analytical Methods in Public Health

The program will culminate in a field practicum and capstone experi-
ence.

Tuition and Fees

The informatics program has a tuition rate of US$ 450 per credit hour 
and an administrative fee of US$ 40 per course for both residents and 
non-residents for the academic year 2002 - 2003. For a normal course 
load of 6 to 7 credit hours in the fall and spring semesters and 3 
credit hours in the summer semester, the following expenses would be 
incurred: Fall or spring semester US$ 2,780 - 3,230 Summer semester 
US$ 1,390

Student Support

UIC provides online registration, academic counseling and library 
services. Online orientations to the UIC Internetbased course deliv-
ery systems, CourseInfo and WebBoard, are provided as well as tele-
phone and online technical support to help you easily become accus-
tomed to distance learning tools and techniques. Faculty advisers are 
readily available to answer any questions during telephone office 
hours or through email.

More Information

Please visit our website at http://www.uic.edu/sph to download an ap-
plication as well as review admission requirements and application 
instructions. To apply to the informatics program applicants must 
complete the School of Public Health MPH application and check the 
Health Policy and Administration (HPA) program preference. Applica-
tions will be accepted until April 15, 2002. Please attach a note to 
your application that you wish to be considered for the online public 
health informatics degree. 

If you have any questions please call 
Aimee Wiebel, the Academic Coordinator for HPA
Tel: +1-312-996-3818
or 
mailto:PHI@uic.edu
http://www.uic.edu/sph

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