Frequently Asked Questions

Question:  How will the on-line classes work?
Courses will be accessed via the Internet, using Blackboard – the e-Education platform used by the University of Illinois.  Presentations, readings, assignment instructions, discussion forums, the grade center, announcements and other supplements are provided via the Blackboard software.  On-line courses are taught by faculty members of the School of Public Health’s Division of Community Health Sciences and Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics.  Semesters are 16 weeks in length.   

Question:  How will the in-person classes work?
In-person courses are taught by public health professionals, including faculty from the Department of Family and Community Medicine at Rockford and individuals from the Rockford area serving as adjunct faculty.  Classes meet one night a week for three hours on the College of Medicine campus in Rockford, Illinois.  Semesters are 16 weeks in length.   

Question: How many courses may I enroll in each semester?
We recommend that you take one course each semester. This program is designed to meet the needs of working professionals who may, in addition to full-time jobs, have other responsibilities as well. The program allows the student to take these demanding graduate level courses over a period of time. Some individuals may choose to take two courses a semester. Most courses will involve 10 or more hours to complete readings and assignments in any given week of the course.

Question: When will I earn my certificate?
The Public Health Practice Campus Certificate at Rockford will be awarded to students upon successful completion of all required courses.  Students must attain a 3.00 (out of 4.00) cumulative grade point average to earn the Public Health Practice Campus Certificate at Rockford.  Students will receive a certificate of completion from UIC School of Public Health. 

Question:  What is the cost of the program?
Tuition and fees for the Rockford certificate program is assessed at the graduate level tuition rate set by the University Of Illinois Board Of Trustees annually.  Assessment is based upon student level, residency status, curriculum/college and total number of hours enrolled for the term.  Tuition and fees are subject to change without notice any time prior to the first day of instruction.  For more information go to   http://www.uic.edu/depts/oar/grad/tuition_grad.html

Question:  Will the courses in the Certificate program transfer to a degree program? 
Once accepted into a degree program within the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health, students may request to transfer coursework taken in the certificate program.  Most course credits would likely be transferable to other schools of public health.       

Question:  Do I need to take the GRE to be accepted into the certificate program?
No. GRE scores are not an admission requirement for the Rockford certificate program.