Professional Enhancement Program (PEP)

Program Overview and Structure

Experienced professionals interested in focusing their Master of Public Health along either a Management or Technical Track should explore this option. This MPH program is earned upon the completion of 44 credit hours rather than the 51 credit hours required for the comprehensive MPH. It is appropriate for MDs, clinicians and others with a professionally-relevant master’s or doctoral degree and equivalent professional experience of at least three years. 

The MPH PHI program includes online public health and informatics courses and two signature components:

• Public Health Core Courses – An introduction to the many disciplines within the field, including Community Health Sciences, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Principles of Public Health Management.
• Informatics Courses – An in-depth look at Management or Technical topics in public health informatics.
• Field Practicum – Students work with an approved health agency under the guidance of UIC academic advisors and field practicum supervisors. This is an opportunity to immediate apply your education to enhance your current career.
• Capstone Project – Students synthesize and integrate knowledge acquired in coursework and other learning experiences to address a practical informatics problem in an agency or organization. Frequently, the field practicum can be utilized as the experience for the capstone.

MPH PHI PEP Management Track Competencies

The MPH PHI PEP curriculum is designed to deepen understanding of population health and develop expertise in public health informatics. Furthermore, graduates from the management track develop specific information systems management skills to support public health efforts, trained to:

• Advise management in the use of information systems
• Manage a portfolio of information systems and associated human resources
• Develop information management policies for public health agencies
• Assure that information needs of project or program users and stakeholders are satisfied
• Assure that informatics solutions meet patient privacy, confidentiality, security requirements

MPH PHI PEP Technical Track Competencies

The MPH PHI PEP curriculum is also designed to deepen understanding of population health and develop expertise in public health informatics. With this concentration, however, graduates will specifically be trained to:

• Develop and implement public health information systems and applications that meet user and stakeholder information needs, and that are interoperable with other relevant information systems
• Integrate public health system requirements into information systems development, procurement and implementation
• Develop and manage informatics solutions that assure confidentiality, privacy, confidentiality, and security while maximizing the availability of information for public health
• Oversee the implementation of data and information usage to produce new knowledge sources (data mining, GIS and interactive website development) for decision making

Program Timing and Requirements

All courses are taught online with no required campus visits. Students must maintain a 3.0 (out of 4.0) cumulative average for all coursework. 

The PEP consists of 44 credit hours, as specified below. This MPH may be earned in as few as eight semesters, and must be completed over a maximum period of five years (fifteen semesters). 

* PEP Management Track students choose one of these three elective courses

Additional PHI Program Options

Students interested in the Master of Public Health without the prerequisite degree or experience may apply to the Comprehensive MPH PHI. Those interested in an abbreviated course of study may apply for either of the following:

• PHI Certificate Program – A five course program totaling 17 credit hours
• Credit Non-Degree (CND) Program – An opportunity to register for up to 12 credit hours that may be transferable into the MPH or certificate program

Next Steps

Interested in learning more? Submit a request to receive additional UIC Public Health Informatics online program information, including program updates, upcoming events and application deadlines.

Once you’re ready to take the next step and enroll in our distinguished PEP program, please visit our Admissions page.