New Student Onboarding
Dear Incoming Students,
Welcome to our Program in Public Health (PPH). We’re so excited that you’ve chosen to start your educational journey with us!
We’ll lead you through a series of onboarding activities prior to the summer quarter’s start, detailed on this web page. Please complete all of these activities prior to your in-person orientation on June 11th and 13th (more details below).
Important dates for summer quarter and beyond are found in Northwestern’s academic calendar.
For additional questions, please contact these team members:- Onboarding and Program Logistics - Sheila Pojani, Program in Public Health Manager
- MPH Program Structure and Content - Andrew Naidech, MPH Program Director
- MSB Program Structure and Content - Kwang-Youn Kim, MSB Program Director
- MSE Program Structure and Content - Elizabeth Hibler, MSE Program Director
Again, welcome! We’re delighted you’ve joined our program. As you know, there’s never been a better time to pursue a graduate degree in public health.
Take care and see you soon,
The Program in Public Health Team
*Please refer to the action items and resources below as you prepare for the upcoming orientation*
Orientation Information
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 fill out this form before June 1st. Orientation is MANDATORY.
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 Robert H Lurie Research Center, Lurie Searle Auditorium (303 E Superior Street). Please fill out this form before June 1st. Orientation is MANDATORY.
Master of Science in Epidemiology (MSE) Program
Summer Orientation for the MSE Program will take place in person on June 13th, 9:00-3:00pm in the Simpson Querrey Biomedical Research Center, Conference Room 1M-209. Please fill out this form before June 1st. Orientation is MANDATORY.
University ID-Wildcard
ACTION ITEM
All students are issued a Wildcard (Northwestern University ID). Please submit a photo online for your Wildcard by Wednesday, May 22, 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.
U-Pass
***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 Wednesday, 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 to ensure that your U-Pass will be ready.
MD/MPH Students: you will receive your U-Pass through the Feinberg School of Medicine.
Activate Your NetID
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.
Remove Your Emergency Contact Hold
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.
Submit Your Health Record Information
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.
Waive or Accept Student Health Insurance
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: 6/20/2024-8/31/2024
Open Enrollment: 5/20/2024-7/3/2024
SECOND ENROLLMENT
Coverage Period: 9/1/2024-8/31/2025
Open Enrollment: 7/1/2024-10/1/2024
COVID-19 Campus Expectations
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
Surveys
MS in Biostatistics- Calculus Resources
***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
Virtual Campus Tour
To familiarize you with our campus, please watch the following 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*
Student Handbook
Please review the student handbooks and complete the acknowledgement:
Financial Aid
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.
Course Schedules
All incoming students will register for classes AFTER attending orientation.
MPH Plans of Study
Below you will find MPH plans of study separated by concentration:
MPH Community Health Research & Evaluation Full Time
MSB Plans of Study
MSE Plans of Study
MPH Competencies
Please review the PPH Competencies:
D1. Graduate-Level Professional Foundational Public Health Knowledge (MPH, MSB, MSE)
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 & Evaluation Concentration
CHRE1. Describe the factors that influence the health and wellbeing of communities.
CHRE2. Engage communities as partners in health research, intervention, and evaluation.
CHRE3. Apply relevant theories and methods to conduct community health research.
CHRE4. Design, implement, and evaluate evidence-based community health interventions.
CHRE5. Translate and disseminate research findings in collaboration with communities.
CHRE6. Optimize health equity across communities through centering minoritized voices.
Data Science Concentration
DS1. Critically Evaluate quantitative data and methodology in public health communications.
DS2. Achieve proficiency in the use of a software package that promotes sharing of data, analysis, and methods.
DS3. Use data to create and test hypotheses relevant to public health.
DS4. Formulate tests of health disparities in data related to public health.
DS5. Explain ethical challenges in the interpretation of data related to public health.
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)
CHRE1. Describe the factors that influence the health and wellbeing of communities.
CHRE2. Engage communities as partners in health research, intervention, and evaluation.
CHRE3. Apply relevant theories and methods to conduct community health research.
CHRE4. Design, implement, and evaluate evidence-based community health interventions.
CHRE5. Translate and disseminate research findings in collaboration with communities.
CHRE6. Optimize health equity across communities through centering minoritized voices.
DS1. Critically Evaluate quantitative data and methodology in public health communications.
DS2. Achieve proficiency in the use of a software package that promotes sharing of data, analysis, and methods.
DS3. Use data to create and test hypotheses relevant to public health.
DS4. Formulate tests of health disparities in data related to public health.
DS5. Explain ethical challenges in the interpretation of data related to public health.
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.
MPH 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.
MSB Competencies
Please review the MS in Biostatistics Competencies:
D1. Graduate-Level Professional Foundational Public Health Knowledge (MPH, MSB, MSE)
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.
MSB Concentration Competencies
Concentration in Population Health Analytics
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.
Concentration in Statistical Bioinformatics
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.
Concentration in Statistical Methods and Practice:
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.
MSE Competencies
Please review the MS in Epidemiology Competencies:
D1. Graduate-Level Professional Foundational Public Health Knowledge (MPH, MSB, MSE)
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 Epidemiology Competencies
EP1. Critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of study designs (e.g., cross-sectional, cohort, case-control, randomized experiments) and the appropriate measure of association for a given study design
EP2.Describe the causes of random and non-random error in research studies, including information bias,
selection bias, and confounding
EP3. Conduct epidemiologic analysis using classical statistical methods such as linear, logistic, Cox, and/or Poisson regression models
EP4. Demonstrate knowledge of ethical and regulatory requirements for research
EP5. Describe molecular techniques commonly used in epidemiologic studies