What can I do with a graduate degree in health education? What does it cost to go to SIU? What type of financial support is available? How long will it take? Where is Carbondale? What is Carbondale like? Where is the Health Education Program located on campus? What type of money do graduates make? Is the program accredited? What is the relationship of faculty with students?
Are there many papers? Many tests? Who do I contact if I have questions?
What are the research interests of the faculty?
When should I start looking for off-campus housing?
How will SIU prepare me for future professional opportunities?
What are the GRE requirements?
What is the average class size?Specific Questions for MPH students:
How do we find practicum sites?
After finishing can I continue into the PhD program?
Are there some undergraduate classes that I should take to prepare for the MPH?
What are the job opportunities in Southern Illinois?
How is the MPH different than an MS?
Are there any Graduate Assistantships available for first year MPH students?What can I do with a graduate degree in health education?
Students who graduate from our PhD program typically enter the university scene as professors. There are hundreds of Saluki Alums teaching and serving as administrators throughout the country (and world!). You can click the alum link to get a view of some of our more recent graduates. The average starting salary for an assistant professor is around $50,000 for the academic year of 2006-2007. This is based on a 9 month contract. Summer school or other additional activities can enhance that salary.
Students in the Master of Public Health (MPH) program will be trained in Community Health Education. Once completed these students will work in a variety of settings, including local, state and federal public health programs (i.e., Health Departments, CDC). Other work settings can include private and social agencies, clinical settings, or worksite settings. The MPH was approved in 2003 and our first cohort of students graduated in Spring, 2007.
The MSEd in Coordinated School Health is designed for individuals interested in school health initiatives. These could include school teachers, curriculum coordinators, or administrators.
What does it cost to go to SIU?
Despite rising college costs throughout the country, SIU is still a bargain. One can click the tuition and fee link to see the current charges. It should be noted that fees include complete health care coverage, use of all facilities (including the phenomenal recreation center), and all access to various computer labs. Fees also help pay for the campus-wide wireless system available to all faculty and students.
It should also be noted that Carbondale is a low cost-of-living community. Housing, entertainment, and other expenses are well below the national norm.
What type of financial support is available?
First, to be considered for any of the following, you must be admitted into one of our Health Education graduate programs.
SIU supports its students well. Whether it be through an assistantship, fellowship, or financial aid, students can receive the support they need to complete their graduate studies. The department has state-funded assistantships called TAs (teaching assistantships) who teach the HED 101 course to incoming freshmen. The deadline to apply for these assistantships are April 1.
Research Assistantships are often available to students pending the research funding that faculty may receive. It is not unusual for faculty to receive funding mid-semester or mid-year, so it's important to keep in contact with faculty if you are seeking such assistantships. Research Assistantship works 20 hours per week (50% assistantship) or 10 hours a week (25% assistantship).
External Graduate Assistantships have been created through our collaboration with various local health agencies. Southern Illinois Healthcare (the largest hospital system in Southern Illinois) has funded several assistantships over the past few years. These are community-based assistantships where students work various populations in helping SIH meet their outreach goals. Students are asked to complete the Research Assistantship application form, however SIH has the final say in their hiring process.
Other Fellowships/Assistantships are available throughout the campus. Faculty will help stir students in the right direction. In addition, the Graduate School offers a variety of options.
The MPH takes 2 years of full-time study. Part-time will obviously take longer. The sequence can be found by clicking here. The program requires 43 semester hours (40 of which are required).
The PhD will take about 3 years of full-time study, however, we have had students who are working full-time and taking classes on a part-time basis. The PhD, by the nature of it being a PhD, has flexible numbers. Most students generally take about 75-80 hours (24 are dissertation hours).
Carbondale is the largest city in southern Illinois. Carbondale is located 100 miles SE of St. Louis, 6 hours from Chicago, 1 hour from Paducah, Kentucky, 3 hours from Nashville TN and 8.5 hours north of New Orleans. It is nestled in the Shawnee National Forrest and is surrounded by beautiful lakes, streams, golf courses, and parks. It is hot and humid during the summer and mild during the winter. There are typically just a few days a year when it snows (and most of the time it is gone within 24 hours). April/May and September/October are particularly stunning months where the temperature remains in the 70s/80s, but without the humidity.
Carbondale, and southern Illinois, is often referred to as Little Egypt. The southern-most town in the state (on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers) is called Cairo (care-ro). The mascot for SIU is the Saluki...a sleek hunting dog that the Egyptians have used for centuries.
For a map of Carbondale, click here.
Carbondale is a small cosmopolitan community of approximately 25,000 people. Couple with the university's 20,000 student population, the community swells to over 45,000 during the academic year. Carbondale is a true college town, where the community has embraced the students. Surrounding Carbondale are numerous small towns that also cater to the university and to university students. Shopping and restaurants are located offering an eclectic selection of foods. Some of the countries' finest barbeque/pulled pork can be found in our region. Southern Illinois also is the home to many wineries, most of whom provide regular entertainment on weekends.
Carbondale has excellent public schools (noted by the many awards that they have received). There are numerous family-oriented activities and events throughout the year. Crime is low along with the cost of living.
Carbondale also prides itself on its diversity. The university provides the community with a wide variety of individuals, values, and thoughts.
Where is the Health Education Program located on campus?
The Health Education Program has its main office in Pulliam 307. Pulliam Hall is the former campus school renovated in the early 1990s to hold various academic departments in the College of Education & Human Services. Pulliam is noted for its famous clock tower, which is reflected in the university's logo. Find the clock tower and you've found the home for health education. Click here for a map of the campus.
What type of money do graduates make?
A person entering the university setting as a professor (as an assistant professor) averaged $50,000 for the academic year of 2006-2007. This is based on a 9 month contract. Summer school or other additional activities can enhance that salary. These dollars are obviously contingent on the location of the university and the requirements of the job.
MPH students will also have a variety of salaries, much of it depending on location and the type of agency. Federal, state, and clinical settings pay higher, with starting salaries between $35,000 to $45,000. Local health departments and private agencies (i.e., American Cancer Society) may have starting salaries around $30,000. However, one may have substantially higher salaries in urban areas (i.e., St. Louis, Chicago).
The University has numerous accreditations, most notably the North Central Accreditation. The College also is accredited by the National Council Association of Teacher Education (NCATE) of which the health education program is part of. There is no existing accrediting body solely for the PhD in Health Education. The MPH has been approved by the Council for Education in Public Health (CEPH) to initiative their self-study for its accreditation (it should be noted that all new MPH programs must graduate a cohort before they can receive accreditation). The MPH program is well on its way with the self-study and should have a site visit and decision in Spring, 2009. Upon accreditation all previous graduates will be considered a graduate of an accredited program.
What is the relationship of faculty with students?
Probably one of the biggest strengths that SIU has from the many other fine doctoral institutions is the strong mentoring that we provide our students. But, don't take our word...talk to our alums. We take great pride in showing off our graduate students to the outside world, whether it be in professional journals, professional conferences, or through our discussion with colleagues throughout the country.
Are you on the semester or quarter system?
SIU is on a semester basis. We have a 15 week Fall semester (starts around the third week of August) and a 15 week spring (starts mid-January). We also have a variety of summer session lengths (i.e., 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 8 weeks).
What are the research interests of the faculty?Research interests are diverse. You can click to the department website to get more information. Note that faculty are willing and able to work with you whatever your research interests are.
When should I start looking for off-campus housing?Obviously the sooner the better. Go to the SIUC website to help provide you some direction.
How will SIU prepare me for future professional opportunities?You will be exposed to nationally recognized professors, be delivered a rigorous, accredited based curriculum, and will be given ample opportunity to work with faculty on your research interests. In addition, and probably one of the most important, you'll become part of the Saluki Tradition which includes hundreds of alums in health education.
What are the GRE requirements?The Health Education program does not require the GRE nor any other standardized testing. Faculty prefer to rely on your departmental essay, a review of your past performances, and comments from your references.
The university does, however, require international students to complete a TOEFL test.
Who do I contact if I have questions?
Contact:
Dr. Mark J. Kittleson
Graduate Director
Professor, Health Education
307 Pulliam
475 Clocktower Drive
SIUC
Carbondale, IL 62901-4632
618-453-1841 (office)
618-453-1829 (fax)
618-203-3339 (cell)
618-529-3339 (home)
kitt@siu.edu
www.kittle.siu.edu
What are courses like? Are there many papers? Tests?It depends on the class. One can expect to do a lot of reading and writing. Most courses have some type of project (individual, group, or both). Most have tests, but almost most of the courses rely on a combination of tests, projects, in-class activities and participation.
How do we find practicum sites?
As you move into your second year of study, you'll work closely with your advisor in preparing for your practicum. Each semester we provide a list of approved practicum sites in southern Illinois, St. Louis metro area, Springfield and Chicago. (Note that this list is just starting to be prepared). The practicum and it's supervisor must meet strict guidelines, thus you need to keep an open-line of communication between you and your advisor should you want to go outside the approved circle of practicum sites.
After finishing can I continue into the PhD program?
The MPH will prepare students to enter the workforce or pursue higher education (i.e., the doctoral program). The faculty will also work with you to select the best doctoral program to meet your needs--and that may mean going elsewhere.
Are there some undergraduate classes that I should take to prepare for the MPH?
The nature of the MPH is that it invites individuals from diverse backgrounds. Thus it is not unusual to see people from a variety of social sciences enter into the program. The MPH at SIU does not require any prerequisites.
What are the job opportunities in Southern Illinois?
Southern Illinois is a rural area. Like most rural areas if one restricts their options to one geographical area they reduce their chances of employment. The MPH was approved by the Illinois Board of Higher Education to address a missing need for the entire state--MPH trained individuals in Community Health Education. Thus, while the job market may be minimal in southern Illinois, it is strong in other areas throughout the state and throughout the country.
How is the MPH different than an MS?
The MPH is more recognizable among those individuals in public health. Since the early 1940s, we offered an MS in Health Education. Recently this was more of an MS in Community Health Education. Although we felt our students were well trained, they often had difficulties demonstrating to employers that they were as qualified as individuals with MPHs. Since our new MPH was approved in 2003 we have done away with our MS in Community Health Education.
Are there any Graduate Assistantships available for first year MPH students?
The department has numerous Teaching Assistantships available for graduate students. These are extremely competitive, but MPH students are certainly encouraged to apply--especially those that have had prior work/teaching experience. In addition, the Health Education program has worked hard to identify external assistantships for our graduate students. These external sites allow students to gain real-world experience, while having the pay and tuition-waiver of a graduate assistant. One must first be admitted to the program and then complete the Graduate Assistantship application forms prior to April 1.
What is the average class size?
Most classes for either the PhD or MPH will range between 15-20 students. Of course, certain classes tend to be very popular from disciplines throughout the campus and some may have between 25-30 (i.e., Women's Health, Stress Management are two very popular courses).