Graduate students receive an MEd in Community Health. Students take a core of four research and technology classes, plus program planning and leadership classes. The flexibility in the program comes from 15 hours of courses approved by the advisor. The program is competency based so that students build a foundation in theory and develop skills to design, implement and evaluate programs in worksite, medical service and community settings.

Exit Requirements: Minimum of 3.0 GPA, and two of the following: portfolio, internship, exit exam, research project or thesis.

The goal of this program is the development and preparation of individuals to be future leaders in a variety of urban settings including public and private corporations and government agencies in the area of health and human performance.

Admission Requirements

Prospective students must submit an online application for admission to the University of Louisville Graduate School.

PLEASE NOTE: Admission for the Spring 2010 semester, and thereafter, will be decided by a screening committee.

The deadlines will be:

• March 1 for Summer or Fall admission
• October 1 for Spring admission

The Community Health Admissions Screening Committee requires the following materials before reviewing applications:

• Transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work. Minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 or higher either overall, or within the last 60 hours (senior college hours).
• GRE scores of at least 800 (combining Verbal and Quantitative subtests)
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score for international students from countries where English is not the native language. Students holding a baccalaureate or advanced degree from an accredited institution in the U.S. are exempt from the requirement.
• Two letters of recommendation
• Formal Statement of Purpose with cover sheet [PDF]

Faculty may require interviews in addition to written credentials as part of the admission process.

Opportunities for Graduates

Students generally pursue careers at worksites (plan and implement wellness programs to keep employees healthy and maintain a safe work environment), medical services (develop, implement and evaluate health promotion programs in hospitals, HMO's, acute care clinics and long term facilities) and communities (assess needs for health promotion programs, and deliver education programs at various sites in the community, including voluntary health agencies and government based service programs).

Certification

CHES (Certified Health Education Specialist)