Head of the Department: Lee A. Crandall
Correspondence and Information: Coordinator of Graduate Studies, Department of Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 121 Huff Hall, 1206 South Fourth Street, Champaign, IL 61820; (217) 333-6877
GRADUATE FACULTY
Professors: R. W. Armstrong, M. K. Buetow, L. A. Crandall, P. B. Imrey,
R. G. Mortimer, L. B. O'Reilly, T. W. O'Rourke, R. F. Rich, R. L. Sprague
Associate Professors: R. J. Buchanan, U. D. Kitron, J. S. Reis, L. Rubinson, S. Trupin, R. M. Weigel, C. R. Young
Assistant Professors: R. E. Austin, B. J. Chakravorty, D. L. Gottheil, L. L. Hungerford, D. M. Main, K.A. Rosenblatt
GRADUATE PROGRAMS
The Department of Community Health offers programs of study leading to the
master of science, master of science in public health, and doctor of philosophy
degrees. At the master's degree level, the program offers options in
epidemiology, health behavior, health policy and administration, and community
health education. The M.S.P.H. degree in community health education has been
accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health. 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
The Graduate College admission requirements apply for all applicants.
Candidates wishing admission to the M.S. program will have their grade-point
averages computed for their last 60 semester hours of undergraduate courses
(excluding student teaching, fieldwork, or activity courses). In addition,
satisfactory scores on the verbal and quantitative sections of the Graduate
Record Examination are required.
The admission requirements for the Ph.D. program include the following: an acceptable grade-point average in the last 60 hours of undergraduate course work (not including student teaching, fieldwork, or activity courses), an average of 4.5 for graduate work, an acceptable score on the Miller Analogies Test, and satisfactory scores on the verbal, quantitative, and analytical sections of the Graduate Record Examination. Candidates are required to have a personal interview with the coordinator of graduate studies or other representatives of the department. Preference is given to students who have had at least two years of professional experience. Applicants whose native language is not English must score at least 600 on the TOEFL examination.
MASTER OF SCIENCE
The specializations in epidemiology and health behavior require a minimum of 8
units of graduate credit. Three units must be at the 400 level, with 2 of these
units in community health courses. The program includes completion of 3 units
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. A thesis (1 to 2 units) is required. Students entering the program
will be 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 master of science degree.
The specialization in health policy and administration generally takes two years, depending upon prior education and experience. A minimum of 12 units of graduate credit is required; 6 units must be at the 400 level, with 3 of these units in community health courses. The program includes 8 units of required courses, which are intended to provide an overall knowledge of the public health field and the tools necessary for successful functioning as a health policy and administration specialist, and a thesis or research project (1 unit). Students entering the program are expected to have completed undergraduate course work 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 course work, as necessary, for successful completion of the degree.
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN PUBLIC HEALTH
The program for the M.S.P.H. degree, which is in community health education, is
accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health. The program generally
takes two years, depending upon prior education and experience. A minimum of 12
units of graduate credit is required. Three units must be at the 400 level,
with 2 of these units in community health courses. The program includes
61/2 units 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; 1 unit of
fieldwork experience in the summer; and a thesis (1 to 2 units). 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.
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
A master's degree with a thesis or equivalent is required for applicants to the
Ph.D. program. 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 3 units of additional
course work to remedy deficiencies. Candidates for the degree must complete a
minimum of 16 units of credit beyond the master's degree, including the
following: two community health 400-level courses in the area of
specialization; one community health 490 research seminar; one 400-level course
in advanced quantitative methods; one minor for a minimum of 4 units, or two
minors for a minimum of 2 units each (in both cases outside the major field);
and completion of an acceptable dissertation (8 units). In addition, candidates
must demonstrate the ability to speak and read two foreign languages, complete
4 units of research skill courses, or demonstrate the ability to speak and read
one foreign language and complete 2 units of research skill courses. The
candidate is required to pass written preliminary examinations covering
community health, application of social science, epidemiology, research and
quantitative methods, the major area of specialization, and the minor field; to
pass an oral preliminary examination on the area of specialization and
dissertation proposal; and to pass an oral defense of dissertation research.
FINANCIAL AID
Financial aid is available on a competitive basis to qualified students in the
form of teaching and research assistantships and tuition and service fee
waivers.
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