Purpose: The Certificate in Public Health Ethics aims to provide students with the basic skills needed to think and act ethically in public health. Because public health is a diverse field, students can customize their Certificate courses to suit their particular area of interest. They may choose, for example, to focus on research ethics, political processes, or genomics. All students will also share in common the course Foundations in Public Health Ethics (EPID 880) and on-line training in research ethics.

Those who complete the Certificate will be well prepared to practice and promote the ethical practice of public health. Some will use the Certificate as a springboard to further studies of ethics, thereby advancing public health ethics as an academic discipline.

Eligibility: The Certificate in Public Health Ethics is open to students enrolled in a graduate degree program of the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Public Health. Students enrolled in other UNC-Chapel Hill schools or departments can apply by requesting an interview with Dr. Thomas, the Director of the Program in Public Health Ethics.

Requirements:

1. Passing grades in Certificate-approved graduate-level courses constituting a total of 9 credit hours.
   
   
1. The three-credit course, "Foundations in Public Health Ethics" (EPID 880), serves as the core or capstone for the Certificate and is a required component. The course is offered each fall semester.
   Optimally, students are to begin the Certificate with this course. If, however, they begin the Certificate in a semester when the course is not being offered, they are to complete four on-line modules on public health ethics and answer the discussion questions at the end of each module.
   
   
2. At least one other ethics-related course is to be taken within the UNC School of Public Health.
   
   
3. One course may be from the approved courses outside the School of Public Health, including courses at UNC, Duke University, or North Carolina State University. Other ethics-related courses not on the approved list will be considered, but students must obtain approval for the course from one of the Program faculty advisors before taking it.
   
   
2. Completion of the CITI on-line module in research ethics appropriate for your discipline.

Process:

1. Complete an application for the Certificate and meet with one of the faculty advisors for the Certificate (give the enrollment application to the Program advisor).
   
   
2. If you are not beginning the Certificate with EPID 880, Foundations of Public Health Ethics first, then complete the four on-line modules on public health ethics before taking any of the courses to be counted toward the Certificate.
   
   
3. Provide one of the faculty advisors for the Program in Public Health Ethics with the following documentation:
   
   
1. Written answers to the discussions questions from the four on-line modules (only for those who did not begin the Certificate with EPID 880).
   
   
2. Certificate of completion of the CITI module appropriate for your discipline.
   
   
3. Passing grades in courses approved for the Certificate.