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Community Health

Examine public health issues. Create innovative solutions. Build stronger communities. Learn about health and rehabilitation services, and become an agent of change.

Community Health Ph.D.

The Community Health Ph.D. prepares students for academic and research careers that will enable them to find solutions to the health-related problems facing our society today and into the future.

The Community Health Ph.D. at Illinois offers students the opportunity to focus their studies in six major areas of concentration, allowing them to do work that is important to them. This program trains future community health researchers and practitioners as they address some of our greatest challenges.

Areas of Research

Areas of Research Examples of study topics
Health Promotion and Behavioral Intervention Health behavior, physical activity, nutrition, physical and mental health, perinatal woman health, healthy aging
Health Disparity Global health, immigrant health, minority health, rural communities
Health Technology from Design to Implementation Human factors, technology use in diverse populations and in the context of daily life, implications of technology use for health across the life span
Rehabilitation, Disability and Chronic Illness Wellness, quality of life, psychosocial adjustment, transition, and social participation
Applied Health Data Analytics Analysis of electronic health records (EHR), operational data, spatially and temporally organized data, dyadic data, etc.
 

Admissions Requirements

  • The minimum of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher education
  • 3.50 GPA

  •  

    Although the GRE scores are not required, the scores may provide helpful supporting information in some cases. Applicants who have taken the GRE and feel their scores would benefit their application are encouraged to submit the scores. If you would like to submit scores, we recommend you scan your official score report as a PDF file and attach it to your application. You do not need to submit official scores through ETS, but if you decide to, please use our University code of 1836.

    Your application must demonstrate sufficient academic/quantitative preparedness to be considered for admission to the program. Your prior coursework, volunteer and/or work experiences, and recommendations are just a few of the items that will be reviewed to gauge your preparedness for graduate studies.

  • 3 Letters of recommendation
  • Personal Statement
  • Resume
  • Official Transcripts
  • International students must also submit Test of English as a Foreign Language scores, with a minimum for full status admission: 103 (TOEFL - IBT) or 7.5 (IELTS).   Scores cannot be more than 2 years old. Please see more information about the DUPLINGO test here.
  • Students for whom English is not their native language and who wish to be considered for a teaching assistantship must achieve a score on the speaking sub-section of 24 (TOEFL - IBT) or 8 (IELTS). See this page for more details.

Admission Deadlines

Students may apply to either the M.S. or the Ph.D. program. Applications for Fall admission are due on January 15. Applications for Spring semester are due on October 1.

Curriculum

Curriculum

For more information about degree requirements talk to your advisor or review the academic catalog.

Code Course
Advanced Research Methods/Statistics

Hours: 4

CHLH 565
CHLH 565 Teaching in the Professorate

Hours: 4

CHLH 591
CHLH 591 Seminar

Hours: 8

Specialization Courses

Hours: 8

Additional Research Methods/Statistics

Hours: 8

CHLH 599
CHLH 599 Thesis Research

Hours: 32

Total Hours: 64

Other Requirements (may overlap)

  • Final exam/dissertation defense
  • Dissertation deposit
  • Minimum 3.0 GPA 

English Proficiency Test: TOEFL

English Proficiency Test: TOEFL
English Proficiency Test Minimum for Limited Status Admission with English as a Second Language Placement Test Required* Minimum for Full Status Admission**
TOEFL iBT 79-102 greater than 102
TOEFL CBT 213-253 greater than 253
TOEFL PBT 550-610 greater than 610
IELTS (academic exam) 6.5-7.0 greater than 7.0

If students want to be considered for a teaching assistantship, they must have at least 24 on the speaking part of the TOEFL.

If you are an international student, information about a VISA can be found here.

Apply Now

Follow the link below to follow begin your application.
 

Apply Now

Request more information

Julie Jenkins
Administrative Aide
jjenkns@illinois.edu
Phone: (217) 333-1083

Dr. Laura Rice
ricela@illinois.edu