Nursing and Health Studies

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Chair: Brigid Lusk

Graduate Faculty

Karen Baldwin, assistant professor, Ph.D., University of Illinois, Chicago
Virginia Cassidy, professor, Ed.D., Northern Illinois University 
James R. Ciesla, associate professor, Ph.D., University of South Carolina
Sarah Conklin, associate professor, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania
Sharon Coyer, associate professor, Ph.D., Loyola University 
Carolinda Douglass, associate professor, Ph.D., RAND Graduate School of Policy Studies
Patricia G. Fox, professor, Ph.D., University of Illinois, Chicago
Judith Hertz, associate professor, Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin 
Arlene Keddie, assistant professor, Ph.D., University of Texas Health Science School of Public Health
Jinsook Kim, assistant professor, Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles
Daniel Klein, associate professor, Ph.D., Southern Illinois University
Ayhan A. Lash, professor, Ph.D, University of Chicago
Brigid Lusk, professor, Ph.D., University of Illinois, Chicago
Diana Mertens, supportive professional staff, Dr.P.H., University of Illinois, Chicago
Donna Munroe, associate professor, Ph.D., University of Southern California 
Angela M. Odoms-Young, assistant professor, Ph.D., University of Illinois
William A. Oleckno, Distinguished Teaching Professor, emeritus, H.S.D., Indiana University
Donna Plonczynski, assistant professor, Ph.D., University of Illinois, Chicago
Judith Popovich, associate professor, D.N.Sc., Rush University
Julie Robertson, professor, Ed.D., Northern Illinois University
Jeanette Rossetti, assistant professor, Ed.D., Northern Illinois University
Maribel Valle, assistant professor, Ph.D., University of Illinois, Chicago

The School of Nursing and Health Studies offers programs of graduate study leading to a Master of Science (M.S.) in nursing, a Master of Public Health (M.P.H.); two post-master’s certificates of graduate study—family nurse practitioner and nursing education; and two certificates of graduate study–health education and public health. The school also offers the opportunity for simultaneous enrollment in the M.S. in nursing and M.P.H. degree programs to qualified graduate students.

The M.S. in nursing specialization prepares students for certification as adult nurse practitioners, family nurse practitioners, and clinical nurse specialists. Students can also select the nursing education specialization to prepare for roles in academic and practice settings or the community health nurse specialist field of clinical study to prepare for leadership roles in health promotion and disease prevention focused on populations and communities. The M.S. in nursing is fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

The M.P.H. curriculum prepares students for leadership positions in health services management and health promotion. A generalist focus is also available for qualified health care professionals. Students learn skills in leadership, problem solving, and planning and promoting change in public health and health care systems. The M.P.H. program is fully accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), an independent accrediting agency for schools of public health, as well as community health education and community health/preventive medicine programs located outside of schools of public health. The Council on Education for Public Health is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. The M.P.H. program is also an institutional member of the Association of Teachers of Preventive Medicine (ATPM), Council of Graduate Programs in Preventive Medicine and Public Health, a professional organization whose purpose is to set standards for the academic preparation of students in the fields of public health, disease prevention, and health promotion.

Grading Policies for Master’s Degree and Certificate Students

Students must earn a minimum grade of B in each clinical specialty course. Clinical specialty courses include NURS 617, NURS 618, NURS 619, and NURS 619A; in addition, NURS 625, NURS 626, NURS 678, and NURS 679 for specialization as an adult nurse practitioner, or specialization as an adult clinical nurse specialist, and NURS 674, NURS 675, NURS 677, NURS 678, and NURS 679 for specialization as a family nurse practitioner, and NURS 617 or NURS 671, NURS 640, NURS 641, NURS 642, NURS 643, and NURS 644 for specialization as a nurse educator.

Any clinical or education specialty course in which a grade of C or lower is earned must be repeated and a grade of B or higher earned prior to progressing in program course work. Students who earn two grades of C in the same clinical specialty course or any combination of clinical specialty courses will be dismissed from the graduate and certificate programs.

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