ACTION ITEM

Master of Public Health (MPH) Program

Summer Orientation for the MPH Program will take place in person on June 11th, 9:00-4:00pm in the Robert H Lurie Research Center, Lurie Hughes Auditorium (303 E. Superior Street). Please RSVP HERE by June 1st. 

Master of Science in Biostatistics (MSB) Program

Summer Orientation for the MSB Program will take place in person on June 13th, 9:00-3:00pm in the Department of Preventative Medicine, Stamler Conference Room (680 N Lakeshore Drive, 14th Floor). Please RSVP HERE by June 1st. 

Master of Science in Epidemiology (MSE) Program

Summer Orientation for the MSE Program will take place in person on June 12th, 9:00-2:00pm in the Magnificent Mile Conference Room, 633 St Clair St., 20th Floor (American College of Surgeons). Please RSVP HERE by June 1st. 

ACTION ITEM

All students are issued a Wildcard (Northwestern University ID). Please submit a photo online for your Wildcard by Friday, August 23, 2024.

The Wildcard Office is located at 345 E. Superior Street, 15th Floor, Chicago, IL 60611.

You will need to either book an appointment to pick up your Wildcard or request for it to be mailed. Please visit the Wildcard Office for step by step instructions.

***Part-Time Students don't need to complete this item***

ACTION ITEM

All full-time, non-MD students, receive a U-Pass (included in the required student activity fee) which provides unlimited rides on the CTA while school is in session.

Your photo submission (see previous item) to the Wildcard Office by Monday, May 22, 2024 ensures that your U-Pass will be ready. 

U-Pass needs to be opted in every quarter. You will receive a message from the Graduate School asking you to opt in for summer quarter. Please ensure that you respond by May 22nd to ensure that your U-Pass will be ready.  

MD/MPH Students: you will receive your U-Pass through the Feinberg School of Medicine.

ACTION ITEM

Once you've accepted the offer of admission, The Graduate School Admissions Office will send an email with your Northwestern NetID activation details.

Activate your NetID as soon as you receive it, then set up your university email account. Your Northwestern email address will be used for all academic correspondence from faculty, student account notices and communications from The Graduate School and university.

ACTION ITEM

Once you have been matriculated as a student in The Graduate School (typically 2 weeks before the start of a quarter), log into CAESAR to enter your Emergency Contact information in your student profile.

All new students will have a hold on their account until these details are entered. Instructions for updating Emergency Contact details are found here: https://www.northwestern.edu/ses/students/emergency-information/registration-hold.html 

Summer 2024 New Students: Be sure to remove your hold before the start of Summer Quarter on Monday, June 17, 2024.

ACTION ITEM

Students enrolled half-time (2.0 or 2.5 course units a quarter) or full-time (3.0 or more units a quarter) must submit proof of immunization to the University Health Service within one month of accepting admission. If a student enrolls in two courses and does not have an up-to-date health record, a $100 fee is assessed and a registration hold is placed on the student account. The health record form and submission instructions are found on the Health Service website.

ACTION ITEM

All degree-seeking students are required to carry health insurance that meets minimal criteria. The Northwestern University Student Health Insurance Plan (NU-SHIP) is the designated student insurance option that meets mandated requirements. 

Degree-seeking students will be automatically enrolled in and billed for this coverage plan unless they waive coverage during open enrollment periods. Note that there are two coverage periods/ open enrollment periods the first year when students start in summer quarter. 

To complete the online waiver in CAESAR, refer to the instructions on the NU-SHIP webpage and have details about your existing insurance coverage available. 

Summer 2024 Start Students - You will need to enroll TWICE

FIRST ENROLLMENT

Coverage Period: 9/1/2023-8/31/2024

Open Enrollment: 7/1/2023-10/1/2023

SECOND ENROLLMENT

Coverage Period: 9/1/2024-8/31/2025

Open Enrollment: 7/1/2024-10/1/2024

ACTION ITEM

Students, faculty, and staff are required to follow policies, protocols, and guidance designed to protect everyone's health.

For more information regarding vaccination requirements and other guidelines, please visit COVID-19 and Campus Update

 

ACTION ITEM

Please complete the following surveys by June 7th. 

New Student Survey (all students)

MPH Students ONLY: Self-Assessment of MPH Competencies

***MS in Biostatistics Students Only***

ACTION ITEM: REVIEW

Probability and Statistics Inference courses are required for two of the three possible MS in Biostatistics Concentrations: (1) The Concentration in Statistical Bioinformatics, and (2) The Concentration in  Statistical Methods and Practice. We highly recommend building (or rebuilding) calculus muscle memory, especially if it has been a while!

The following resources may be helpful to you:

1. Four-Part Coursera University of Pennsylvania Calculus Course, taught by Robert Ghrist

    Calculus: Single Variable

    Part 1-Functions

    Part 2-Differentiation

    Part 3-Integration

    Part 4- Applications

2. Calculus (Barron's College Review Series) 1st Edition

3. Paul's Online Notes

To familiarize you with our campus, please watch the following virtual campus tour:

Virtual Campus Tour

*Please note that you will need to sign in using your NU email and password in order to watch the campus tour video*

Campus Map

Please review the student handbooks and complete the acknowledgement:

MPH Student Handbook

MS Student Handbook

Student Handbook Acknowledgement

MD/MPH and DPT/MPH students—if you will be applying for financial aid, please review the instructions provided by the Chicago Graduate Financial Aid Office

MS, MPH (full-time & part-time) and APHP--If you will be applying for financial aid, through The Graduate School, please review the instructions provided by the Evanston Graduate Financial Aid Office

For information regarding tuition rates and other fees please visit Student Financial Services.

 

All incoming students will register for classes AFTER attending orientation.

Summer 2024 Schedule

Fall 2024 Schedule

Below you will find MPH plans of study separated by concentration:

MPH Community Health Research Part Time

MPH Generalist Part Time

MPH Global Health Part Time

MD/MPH Dual Degree 

Below you will find MS in Biostatistics plans of study.

Plans of Study

Please review the PPH Competencies:

D1. Graduate-Level Professional Foundational Public Health Knowledge (for MPH, MS)

D1.1. Explain public health history, philosophy and values

D1.2. Identify the core functions of public health and the 10 Essential Services

D1.3. Explain the role of quantitative and qualitative methods and sciences in describing and assessing a population’s health

D1.4. List major causes and trends of morbidity and mortality in the US or other community relevant to the school or program

D1.5. Discuss the science of primary, secondary & tertiary prevention in population health, including health promotion, screening, etc

D1.6. Explain the critical importance of evidence in advancing public health knowledge

D1.7. Explain effects of environmental factors on a population’s health

D1.8. Explain biological and genetic factors that affect a population’s health

D1.9. Explain behavioral and psychological factors that affect a population’s health

D1.10. Explain the social, political and economic determinants of health and how they contribute to population health and health inequities

D1.11. Explain how globalization affects global burdens of disease

D1.12. Explain an ecological perspective on the connections among human health, animal health and ecosystem health (eg, One Health)

 

D2. MPH Foundational Competencies

D2.1. Apply epidemiological methods to the breadth of settings and situations in public health practice

D2.2. Select quantitative and qualitative data collection methods appropriate for a given public health context

D2.3. Analyze quantitative and qualitative data using biostatistics, informatics, computer-based programming and software, as appropriate

D2.4. Interpret results of data analysis for public health research, policy or practice

D2.5. Compare the organization, structure and function of health care, public health and regulatory systems across national and international settings

D2.6. 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

D2.7. Assess population needs, assets and capacities that affect communities’ health

D2.8. Apply awareness of cultural values and practices to the design, implementation, or critique of public health policies or programs

D2.9. Design a population-based policy, program, project or intervention

D2.10. Explain basic principles and tools of budget and resource management

D2.11. Select methods to evaluate public health programs

D2.12. Discuss the policy-making process, including the roles of ethics and evidence

D2.13. Propose strategies to identify stakeholders and build coalitions and partnerships for influencing public health outcomes

D2.14. Advocate for political, social or economic policies and programs that will improve health in diverse populations

D2.15. Evaluate policies for their impact on public health and health equity

D2.16. Apply leadership and/or management principles to address a relevant issue

D2.17. Apply negotiation and mediation skills to address organizational or community challenges

D2.18. Select communication strategies for different audiences and sectors

D2.19. Communicate audience-appropriate (i.e., non-academic, non-peer audience) public health content, both in writing and through oral presentation

D2.20. Describe the importance of cultural competence in communicating public health content

D2.21. Integrate perspectives from other sectors and/or professions to promote and advance population health

D2.22. Apply a systems thinking tool to visually represent a public health issue in a format other than standard narrative

 

MPH Concentration Competencies

Community Health Research Concentration

CHR1. Describe behavioral, social, and cultural factors that contribute to the health and well-being of communities.

CHR2. Describe the role and importance of community and stakeholder engagement in community health research, intervention, and evaluation.

CHR 3. Apply program planning, assessment, and evaluation principles and develop logic models to create and evaluate community health programs and interventions.

CHR 4. Use relevant theories, methods, and research principles for designing and conducting community health research.

CHR 5. Translate and disseminate research findings in collaboration with diverse stakeholders.

Epidemiology Concentration

EPI1. Critique the feasibility of study design as it pertains to sampling, data collection, and resource requirements

EPI2. Assess biological mechanisms of disease by applying knowledge of behavioral sciences and human and environmental biology

EPI3.  Critique the validity of epidemiologic data, findings, and publications by applying knowledge of epidemiologic principles and methods.

EPI4.  Describe molecular techniques commonly used in epidemiologic studies

EPI5. Formulate and apply plans for data cleaning and management using statistical analysis software

Global Health Concentration

GLO1. Critique major global public health priorities and the reasons for their prioritization

GLO 2. Apply demographic, epidemiologic and anthropologic methods to assess health disparities at local and global levels.

GLO 3. Develop systems to monitor progress toward targets, objectives, and goals and evaluate programs and their operational components.

GLO 4. Operate in partnership with local, national and international organizations engaged in the health and social sectors.

GLO 5. Apply systems thinking to promote integrative global health across different disciplinary domains and organizational levels.

Generalist Concentration (Students in this concentration choose 5 competencies from this list)

CHR1. Describe behavioral, social, and cultural factors that contribute to the health and well-being of communities.

CHR 2. Describe the role and importance of community and stakeholder engagement in community health research, intervention, and evaluation.

CHR3. Apply program planning, assessment, and evaluation principles and develop logic models to create and evaluate community health programs and interventions.

CHR4. Use relevant theories, methods, and research principles for designing and conducting community health research.

CHR5. Translate and disseminate research findings in collaboration with diverse stakeholders.

EPI1. Describe molecular techniques and laboratory resources commonly used in epidemiologic studies

EPI2. Evaluate current knowledge of causes of disease to guide epidemiologic practice

EPI3. Assess biological mechanisms of disease by applying knowledge of behavioral sciences and human and environmental biology.

EPI4. Critique the validity of epidemiologic data, findings, and publications by applying knowledge of epidemiologic principles and methods

EPI5. Formulate and apply plans for data cleaning and management using statistical analysis software

GLO1. Critique major global public health priorities and the reasons for their prioritization

GLO2. Apply demographic, epidemiologic and anthropologic methods to assess health disparities at local and global levels.

GLO 3. Develop systems to monitor progress toward targets, objectives, and goals and evaluate programs and their operational components.

GLO4. Operate in partnership with local, national and international organizations engaged in the health and social sectors.

GLO5. Apply systems thinking to promote integrative global health across different disciplinary domains and organizational levels.

MSB2. Use computer-based statistical analysis package(s) to manage data;

MSB3. Develop visualized data using computer-based statistical analysis package(s);

MSB4. Analyze data employing computer-based statistical analysis package(s);

MSB5. Implement sample size and power calculations for a range of experimental designs;

MSB8. Calculate epidemiological measures of association between risk factors and disease;

MSB11. Apply ethical and regulatory standards to human subjects research.

 

Joint Degree Concentration Competencies

MD/MPH Joint Degree Concentration

MD1. Demonstrate knowledge about behavioral, environmental, socioeconomic, organizational and cultural dynamics that can affect individual, community, public or global health.   

MD2. Demonstrate knowledge of epidemiology, biostatistics and the principles of primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention of disease to make medical decisions

MD3. Describe healthcare finance and delivery in various healthcare systems, and demonstrate the ability to effectively call on system resources to provide care that is of optimal value. 

MD4. Construct clinical and research questions and apply information to solve them. Retrieve, analyze and critically appraise literature. 

MD5. Facilitate difficult health care conversations with patients and colleagues. Display awareness of barriers including language, health literacy and psychosocial needs.

 

DPT/MPH Joint Degree Concentration

DPT1. Apply public health theories to the practice of population-oriented physical therapy

DPT2. Analyze key USA historical events and how they have shaped and influenced the intersection of population health and physical therapy.

DPT3. Understand the contribution that health systems, government, and community structures contribute to the intersection of population health and physical therapy.

DPT4. Apply public health resource management principles to the delivery of population-oriented physical therapy services.

DPT5. Identify opportunities for the integration of technological and measurement advancements into population-oriented physical therapy practice.

 

Please review the MS Competencies:

D1. Graduate-Level Professional Foundational Public Health Knowledge:

D1.1. Explain public health history, philosophy and values

D1.2. Identify the core functions of public health and the 10 Essential Services

D1.3. Explain the role of quantitative and qualitative methods and sciences in describing and assessing a population’s health

D1.4. List major causes and trends of morbidity and mortality in the US or other community relevant to the school or program

D1.5. Discuss the science of primary, secondary & tertiary prevention in population health, including health promotion, screening, etc

D1.6. Explain the critical importance of evidence in advancing public health knowledge

D1.7. Explain effects of environmental factors on a population’s health

D1.8. Explain biological and genetic factors that affect a population’s health

D1.9. Explain behavioral and psychological factors that affect a population’s health

D1.10. Explain the social, political and economic determinants of health and how they contribute to population health and health inequities

D1.11. Explain how globalization affects global burdens of disease

D1.12. Explain an ecological perspective on the connections among human health, animal health and ecosystem health (eg, One Health)

MS in Biostatistics Competencies:

MSB1. Apply classic methods for continuous and categorical data analysis, including regression and other appropriate statistical approaches;

MSB2. Use computer-based statistical analysis package(s) to manage data;

MSB3. Develop visualized data using computer-based statistical analysis package(s);

MSB4. Analyze data employing computer-based statistical analysis package(s);

MSB5. Implement sample size and power calculations for a range of experimental designs;

MSB6. Interpret results of a health research study, including the relation to findings from other studies, potential biological or social mechanisms, study limitations, and public health implications;

MSB7. Communicate written and oral findings in a scientifically sound manner;

MSB8. Calculate epidemiological measures of association between risk factors and disease;

MSB9. Apply methods and strategies to evaluate and reduce bias in health research;

MSB10. Use criteria to distinguish between association and causality; and

MSB11. Apply ethical and regulatory standards to human subjects research.

Population Health Analytics Concentration Competencies:

PHA1. Design an epidemiologic study to address a question of interest;

PHA2. Describe practical considerations for the conduct of health research studies;

PHA3. Access publicly available data resources for population health research;

PHA4. Critically review the scientific literature, synthesize findings across studies, and make appropriate recommendations based on current knowledge; and

PHA5. Develop a clear description of the rationale, methods, results, and overall interpretation of an epidemiologic investigation.

Statistical Bioinformatics Concentration Competencies:

SB1. Develop computer files of high-dimensional data for analysis using high performance computing data management techniques;

SB2. Determine and execute appropriate statistical analyses, in particular techniques relevant to bioinformatics, to address a study question;

SB3. Access publicly available databases for bioinformatics research;

SB4. Develop statistical and bioinformatics analysis results in written, graphical and verbal format in response to an analysis request; and

SB5. Identify theoretical underpinnings of advanced statistical models.

Statistical Methods and Practice Concentration Competencies:

SMP1. Develop computer files of raw data for analysis using data management and statistical analysis software;

SMP2. Execute appropriate statistical analyses to address a study question;

SMP3. Apply classic methods for the analysis of time-to-event and clinical trial data;

SMP4. Develop statistical analysis results in written and verbal format in response to an analysis request; and

SMP5. Identify theoretical underpinnings of advanced statistical models.