Community Health
Head of the Department: Wojtek Chodzko-Zajko
Director of Graduate Studies: Les Carlton
Community Health Office
127 Huff Hall
1206 South Fourth Street
Champaign, IL 61820
(217) 333-6877
Email: tcandler@illinois.edu
Major: Community Health
Degrees offered: M.S.P.H., M.S., Ph.D.
Major: Public Health
Degrees offered: M.P.H.
Major: Rehabilitation
Degrees offered: M.S.
Medical Scholars Program: Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Community Health and Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) through the Medical Scholars Program
Graduate Degree Programs
The Community Health Program in the Department of Kinesiology and Community Health offers programs of study leading to the Master of Science in Community Health, Master of Science in Rehabilitation, Master of Science in Public Health (M.S.P.H.), Master of Public Health (M.P.H.), and Doctor of Philosophy in Community Health degrees.
The M.S. in Community Health has specializations in epidemiology and health policy and administration. The M.S.P.H. program is not currently accepting applications, and individuals interested in pursuing a Master’s degree in public health are encouraged to apply to the M.P.H. degree program. The M.P.H. degree is a professionally focused degree designed to prepare students for a career in public health practice. The M.P.H. degree offers specializations in health policy and administration, and prevention and chronic disease risk reduction. The Ph.D. program is designed to prepare graduates for positions of leadership in teaching, research, and service in universities, industries, and private and government agencies in the United States and in other countries. Opportunities are available for graduate students who desire to concentrate in other public health areas through an intercampus program with the School of Public Health at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Admission
Applications for all degrees except the Master of Public Health (MPH) are due on January 15 for fall admission. Applications for Spring semester are also considered (due October 1). Applications for the Master of Public Health (MPH) degree are only accepted for Fall admission, and are accepted until May 1.
The Graduate College admission requirements apply for all applicants. Candidates for admission to master’s degree programs should have a grade point average of at least 3.0 (A = 4.0) for the last 60 semester hours of their undergraduate degree work (excluding fieldwork, student teaching, and physical activity courses). In addition, satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) are required. Applicants should have a bachelor’s degree in a health or disability-related discipline and/or a strong background in social and biological sciences and quantitative methods. A statement of education and career goals, and three letters of recommendation are required. All degree programs with the exception of the Master of Public Health (MPH) require one example of professional writing with the date of its completion.
Admission requirements for the Ph.D. program include the following: a grade point average of at least 3.0 (A = 4.0) for the last 60 hours of undergraduate degree work (excluding fieldwork, student teaching, and physical activity courses), a GPA of 3.6 for master’s degree work with thesis, and acceptable scores on the Graduate Record Examination. Candidates are encouraged to have a personal interview with the coordinator of graduate studies or other representative of the department. Preference is given to students who have had at least two years of professional experience.
Applicants for all degrees whose native language is not English, or who have not obtained a university degree from an institution in a country where the native language is English, are required to submit the results of the TOEFL or IELTS as evidence of English proficiency. Applicants submitting TOEFL scores must obtain a minimum score of 600 on the paper-based, 250 on the computer-based, or 100 on the internet based (iBT) Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Applicants submitting IELTS scores must obtain a 6.5 on all sub-sections. Applicants whose native language is not English and who are seeking a teaching assistantship must provide evidence of spoken English language proficiency by meeting minimum score requirements specified by the University (see www.grad.illinois.edu/admissions/taengprof.htm).
Degree Requirements
*For additional details and requirements refer to the department's Graduate Handbook and the Graduate College Handbook.
Master of Science, Community Health
| Required Courses: | Epidemiology Specialization- Required Hours | Health Policy and Administration Specialization- Required Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CHLH 429, 474, 510 | 12 | 12 |
| CHLH 469, 527, 574, 578 | 16 | |
| CHLH 456, 550 | 8 | |
| Specialized coursework from approved list | 12 | |
| Thesis Hours Required– CHLH 599 (min/max applied toward degree): | 4 | 4 |
| Total Hours | 32 | 48 |
Minimum Hours Required Within the Unit: |
28 | 20 |
Minimum 500-level Hours Required Overall: |
12 (8 within the unit) | 24 (12 within the unit) |
| Other Requirements:* | ||
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 | 3.0 |
The specializations in Epidemiology and Health Policy & Administration require completion of 12 hours of core courses, which are intended to provide overall knowledge of the public health field and the tools necessary for successful functioning as a health specialist.
Students entering the Epidemiology specialization will be expected to have completed undergraduate coursework in data collection and processing, including issues of measurement and questionnaire design, computerization, descriptive health measures, and statistical analysis through regression. Courses must have been completed with grades of B or better. Deficiencies in these areas will require additional coursework, as necessary, for successful completion of the Master of Science degree.
The specialization in Health Policy and Administration generally takes two years, depending upon prior education and experience. Students entering the program are expected to have completed undergraduate coursework in economics, social sciences, and data collection and processing, which includes issues of measurement, questionnaire design, computerization, descriptive health measures, and statistical analysis through regression. Courses must have been completed with grades of B or better. Deficiencies in these areas will require additional coursework, as necessary, for successful completion of the degree.
Master of Science, Rehabilitation
| Required Courses: | Thesis Option -Required Hours | Non-thesis Option - Required Hours |
|---|---|---|
| REHB 401, 402, 501, 585 | 16 | 16 |
| Specialization coursework from approved list | 20-23 | 20-23 |
| Thesis Hours Required– REHB 599 (min/max applied toward degree): | 8 | |
| Total Hours | 48 | 40 |
Minimum Hours Required Within the Unit: |
26 | 26 |
Minimum 500-level Hours Required Overall: |
12 (8 within the unit) | 12 (8 within the unit) |
| Other Requirements:* | ||
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 | 3.0 |
Candidates for the M.S. in Rehabilitation may choose to complete the CORE accredited counseling program, for which a minimum of 48 hours must be completed. Students entering the program will be expected to have completed an undergraduate degree in a rehabilitation-related discipline and/or have a strong background in the social and biological sciences, and a course in introductory statistics. A full-time student can complete the program in three or four semesters. As with all programs, the Graduate College allows students to petition to transfer up to 12 hours of coursework completed prior to admittance to the department. Any approved graduate courses taken on campus in the summer immediately prior to admission count toward the degree and do not have to be transferred.
Master of Science in Public Health
| Required Courses: | Required Hours |
|---|---|
| CHLH 429, 469, 474, 510, 540, 550, 585 | 28 |
| Electives, at least 4 hours from another dept | 16 |
| Thesis Hours Required – CHLH 599 (min/max applied toward degree): | 4 |
| Total Hours | 48 |
Minimum Hours Required Within the Unit: |
28 |
Minimum 500-level Hours Required Overall: |
12 (8 in the unit) |
| Other Requirements:* | |
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 |
The program generally takes two years, depending upon prior education and experience. The program includes 26 hours of required courses that are intended to provide an overall knowledge of the public health field and the tools necessary for successful functioning as a community health education specialist; hours of fieldwork experience in the summer; and a thesis. Students entering the program are expected to have completed undergraduate course work in data collection and processing, including issues of measurement and questionnaire design, computerization, descriptive health measures, and statistical analysis through regression. Courses must have been completed with grades of B or better. Deficiencies in these areas will require additional course work, as necessary, for successful completion of the degree. A non-thesis option is available with permission from the department.
Master of Public Health
| Required Courses: | Required Hours |
|---|---|
| CHLH 458, 469, 540, 590 | 15 |
| CHLH 594 Epidemiology | 4 |
| CHLH 594 Chronic Disease Prevention and Control | 4 |
| CHLH 594 Seminar in Public Health | 4 |
| CHLH 594 Public Health Practicum | 4 |
| CHLH 594 Special Project in Public Health | 4 |
| Electives, at least 2 courses (6 hours min) in chronic disease prevention and control | 13 |
| Total Hours | 48 |
Minimum Hours Required Within the Unit: |
35 |
Minimum 500-level Hours Required Overall: |
22 |
| Other Requirements:* | |
| Minimum GPA: | 2.75 |
The MPH degree program generally takes two years and requires a minimum of 48 hours. The program includes five required core courses in the core content areas of public health, one required core course in chronic disease prevention and control, two additional courses in the area of chronic disease prevention and control, a practicum, and a special project in public health. The practicum may need to occur in the summer between the first and second years. There is no thesis requirement. Students are required to do a project in public health that integrates knowledge across required and elective courses, and is generally done in the final semester of study. The students are encouraged, but not required, to take electives outside the department. Students entering the program are expected to have completed sufficient undergraduate coursework in mathematics or statistics, so that they are able to successfully complete coursework in biostatistics and epidemiology. Applications are accepted only for fall admission. The program has rolling admissions, with applications accepted until May 1.
Doctor of Philosophy
| Required Courses: | Required Hours |
|---|---|
| Advanced quantitative methods at the 500 level | 4 |
| CHLH 591 | 2 |
| Two courses in an area of specialization | 8 |
| Minor (16 hours in a related discipline) | 16 |
| Language Requirement: candidates must demonstrate the ability to speak and read two foreign languages or demonstrate the ability to speak and read one foreign language and complete 8 hours of research skill courses, or complete 16 hours of research skill courses | 0-16 |
| Thesis Hours Required – CHLH 599 (min/max applied toward degree): | 32 |
| Total Hours | 64 |
| Other Requirements:* | |
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 |
| Masters Degree with a Thesis Required for Admission to PhD? | Yes |
| Qualifying Exam Required | No |
| Preliminary Exam Required | Yes |
| Final Exam/Dissertation Defense Required | Yes |
| Dissertation Deposit Required | Yes |
Graduate course experience in public health and statistics with grades of B or better is expected prior to admission. Before admission to the Ph.D. program, students may be required to take up to 12 hours of additional coursework to remedy deficiencies. The candidate is required to pass written preliminary examinations covering disciplinary and professional aspects of community health, the literature and theoretical perspectives in the major area of study and methological perspectives and research techniques; to pass an oral preliminary examination on the area of specialization and dissertation proposal; and to pass an oral defense of dissertation research.
Medical Scholars Program
The Medical Scholars Program permits highly qualified students to integrate the study of medicine with study for a graduate degree in a second discipline, including Community Health. Students may apply to the Medical Scholars Program prior to beginning graduate school or while in the graduate program. Applicants to the Medical Scholars Program must meet the admissions standards for and be accepted into both the doctoral graduate program and the College of Medicine. Students in the dual degree program must meet the specific requirements for both the medical and graduate degrees. On average, students take eight years to complete both degrees. Further information on this program is available by contacting the Medical Scholars Program, 125 Medical Sciences Building, (217) 333-8146 or at www.med.illinois.edu/msp.
Graduate Teaching Experience
Although teaching is not a general Graduate College requirement, experience in teaching is considered an important part of the graduate experience in this program.
Faculty Research Interests
Faculty research interests cover a wide range of subjects, including health education, community health development, health behavior, health policy, health planning and management, rehabilitation and disability studies, epidemiology, biostatistical and epidemiologic research methodology, health economics, evaluation research, and aging studies.
Financial Aid
Financial aid is available on a competitive basis to qualified students in the form of teaching and research assistantships, as well as tuition and service fee waivers.