All degree-seeking students in the School of Public Health are eligible to apply for financial aid. The Office of Student Affairs can provide assistance in applying for various types of financial aid. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is required for many financial aid programs, can be obtained from the Office of Student Affairs. UIC's Federal School Code for the FAFSA is 001776.

Except where otherwise noted, to obtain additional information about financial aid, contact Ms. Gwendolyn Slaughter, Office of Student Affairs, at 312-996-6628. The Office of Student Affairs for the School of Public Health is located on the SPHPI ground floor, east wing, at 1603 West Taylor Street, Chicago, Illinois 60612-4394. Additional financial information is available from the university's Office of Student Financial Aid, Room 1800, Student Services Building, 1200 West Harrison Street, Chicago, Illinois 60607-7162, 312-996-3126.

Public Health Traineeships

Limited to citizens and permanent residents of the United States, public health traineeships are awarded to students in accredited public health programs. The awards are generally for one academic year; continuation depends on satisfactory academic performance, financial need, and availability of funds. Applicants must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as early as possible to receive priority consideration.

Maternal and Child Health Traineeships

Students admitted to the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Program within the Community Health Sciences Division are eligible to apply for MCH traineeships and assistantships. Selection is competitive, based on academic background, performance, MCH experience, and need. Research assistantships usually qualify the student for a tuition waiver as well as providing a monthly stipend. For further information, contact Jennifer Bowe, Maternal and Child Health Program, at 312-413-5625, or Rebecca Fields, MPH, Community Health Sciences, at 312-996-8940, or view the MCH Program website at www.uic.edu/sph/mch.

NIOSH-funded Traineeships

Traineeships and assistantships are available through the federally funded Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety Education and Research Center, a NIOSH-funded Education and Research Center. The center supports training in the following areas:

1. Occupational Medicine – The UIC School of Public Health offers a two-year, fully accredited residency program in occupational medicine. The program is open to physicians with MD or DO degrees who have completed an internship in the U.S. and are eligible for licensure in Illinois. The Cook County Hospital Department of Medicine offers a four-year program combining occupational medicine and internal medicine. Physicians in both programs are awarded the MPH degree upon completion of the SPH program, in addition to board eligibility in occupational medicine. For further information, contact Linda Forst, MD, MPH, UIC Program Director, at 312-413-0369, or Rachel Rubin, MD, MPH, Cook County Hospital Program Director, at 312-633-5310.

2. Industrial Hygiene – The program is based within the Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Division in the School of Public Health. Traineeship awards are restricted to applicants accepted into the MS and/or PhD degree programs. To qualify, students must be citizens or resident aliens of the United States. Applicants must have chemistry through organic; a year of college calculus; and a course in human physiology. For further information, contact Richard A. Wadden, PhD, CIH, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Division, at 312-996-0811.

3. Hazardous Substances Academic Training – The program is based within the Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Division in the School of Public Health. Traineeship awards are restricted to applicants accepted into the MS degree program. To qualify, students must be citizens or resident aliens of the United States. Applicants must have chemistry through organic; a year of college calculus; and a course in human physiology. For further information, contact Richard A. Wadden, PhD, CIH, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Division, at 312-996-0811.

4. Occupational Health Nursing – The master's degree program is designed for registered nurses who wish to pursue leadership roles as managers of occupational health programs or as occupational health nurse practitioners. The program leads to an MS in nursing sciences with a concentration in occupational health nursing. The PhD program prepares nurse researchers in the field of occupational health. For further information, contact Karen Conrad, PhD, College of Nursing, at 312-996-7974.

Graduate Tuition Waivers

Offered only to MS and PhD students, graduate tuition waivers cover tuition and service fee only. Early submission of requests is recommended. Waivers (made each semester) are awarded on the basis of availability of funds, after a competitive review.

Graduate College Fellowships

Available only to MS and PhD students, Graduate College fellowships cover stipends, tuition, and fees and are awarded on a competitive basis. Please see the Graduate College website at http://www.uic.edu/depts/grad for additional information.

Graduate College Diversity Fellowship

The goal of the Graduate College's Diversity Fellowship program is to increase the excellence and diversity of the student body. Graduate students from historically underrepresented racial and ethnic minority groups who have been admitted to a PhD program are eligible for nomination. Applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States. The Graduate College will assist academic programs with supporting these students by providing matching funds for the first and fourth years of the fellowship program. Funding for years two and three has to be provided by the academic program.

Diversity Fellows receive a stipend of $15,000 or $1,250 per month for up to one twelve-month academic year and a tuition and service fee waiver. (Note: Some colleges have an additional tuition differential that may not be waived. Students should check with Dr. Sylvia Furner, the SPH Director of Graduate Studies, for details. The general, HMO, and health service fees must be paid by the student.)

Students admitted to a PhD program are eligible for up to four years of support, two from the Graduate College and two from the academic program. The two years funded by the academic program may come in the form of teaching and research assistantships. This may result in a reduction in total funding in years two and three, especially if the student held an assistantship concurrent with the fellowship in years one and four. Students should request clarification about this situation from Dr. Sylvia Furner, the SPH Director of Graduate Studies. Please see the Graduate College website at http://www.uic.edu/depts/grad/awards/diversityfellow for additional information.

Other Sources of Financial Aid

A variety of other sources of financial aid are available to students enrolled in the School of Public Health. These sources include National Direct Student Loans, Illinois Guaranteed Loans, Illinois General Assembly Scholarships, Illinois Veterans Scholarships, the university's Minority Academic Partnership Plan, Health Education Assistance Loans, and University Short-Term (emergency) Loans. Interested students should apply at the university's Office of Student Financial Aid, at 312-996-3126.

For information on special funds established by the School of Public Health, such as the Loretta Pratt Lacey Memorial Scholarship Endowment Fund, contact Ms. Gwendolyn Slaughter at 312-996-6628.

Research Assistantships

Research assistantships are often available for degree-seeking students who choose to work. Students must be registered for a minimum of eight semester hours. These assistantships also include tuition and service fee waiver.