The graduate degree programs in the College of Health Professions prepare students for a variety of employment opportunities in the health and social services fields, either through career changes or advancement within a profession. All majors provide extensive field experiences and exposure to, or participation in, research and service activities through a vast network of hospitals, medical centers, ambulatory-care facilities, long-term care facilities, private practices, schools, and social services agencies in the Chicago region. Courses using both traditional and innovative teaching strategies provide the theoretical bases for clinical and research experiences. The college also provides credit and noncredit continuing education courses and workshops for health and human service professionals at many off-campus locations throughout the country.

The college is organized into seven academic departments and the Center of Excellence in Health Disparities Research. The academic departments are the Department of Addictions Studies and Behavioral Health; Department of Communication Disorders; Department of Health Administration; Department of Nursing; Department of Occupational Therapy; Department of Physical Therapy; and the Department of Social Work. Please see the website for current information about the college and its programs.

ACCREDITATION

The graduate Addictions Studies major is accredited by the Illinois Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Professional Certification Association, Inc. (IAODAPCA).

The graduate Communication Disorders major is accredited in Speech-Language Pathology by the Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). It is also approved by the Illinois State Board of Education and leads to the eligibility for the Initial Special Certificate and the School Service Personnel Certificate endorsed as a Speech-Language Pathologist. This major also meets the academic requirements for licensure in speech-language pathology in the state of Illinois.

The graduate Nursing major is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC).

The Occupational Therapy program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).

The Physical Therapy program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE)

The Health Administration program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME).

The graduate Social Work program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

Graduate Programs

Addictions Studies (M.H.S.)
Communication Disorders (M.H.S.)
Health Administration (M.H.A.)
Nursing (M.S.)
Occupational Therapy (M.O.T.)
Social Work (M.S.W.)

Certificates

Addictions Screening, Assessment, and Referral
Conductive Education for Physical Therapy an Occupational Therapy
Health Care Informatics
Health Services Research
Long-Term Care Administration
Nurse Educator
Online Teaching
Substance Abuse Intervention in Healthcare

Doctoral Programs

Physical Therapy (D.P.T.)

Department of Addictions Studies and Behavioral Health

Department Chairperson

Professor

Gregory Blevins

Judy Lewis

Cheryl Mejta

Lecturer

James Golding

David O’Donnell

Peter Palanca

Department of Communication Disorders

Sandra Mayfield, Department Chairperson

Professor

William Yacullo

Associate Professor

Catherine Balthazar

Assistant Professor

Jessica Bonner

Ravi Nigam

Lecturer

Susan Murphy

Department of Health Administration

Ralph Bell, Professor, Department Chairperson

Professor

Linda Samson

Associate Professor

Kyusuk Chung

Clementine Coleman, Undergraduate Program Coordinator

Assistant Professor

Rupert Evans

Tae-Hyun “Tanny” Kim

University Professor

Sang-O Rhee

Lecturer

Jennifer Groebner

Joseph West

Department of Nursing

Linda F. Samson, Department Chairperson

Associate Professor

Constance Edwards

Nancy MacMullen, Program Coordinator

Catherine Tymkow

Assistant Professor

Josephine McCaskill

University Lecturer

Tifany Batts

Shirley Comer

Martha Gainer

Department of Occupational Therapy 

Elizabeth A. Cada, Department Chairperson

Associate Professor

Cynthia Carr

Assistant Professor

Catherine P. Brady

Robert Druzinsky

University Lecturer

Patti Kalvelage

Danila Cepa

Department of Physical Therapy

Russell Carter, Department Chairperson

Associate Professor

Ann Vendrely

Assistant Professor

David Diers

Robert Druzinsky

Roberta O’Shea

Rebecca Wojcik

University Lecturer

Joyce Sligar

Department of Social Work

Gerri Outlaw, Department Chairperson and Director of the M.S.W. Program

Associate Professor

Adelle Sanders, Undergraduate Program Coordinator

Assistant Professor

Kim Boland-Prom

Elizabeth Essex

Lorri Glass

Maristela Zell

University Lecturer

Juan Reed

Robert Rickle

Rose Rogers-Harris

Asabi Yakini

Beverly Younger-Urban

Director, Field Experience and Continuing Education

Carol Bruell

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATE PROGRAMS

The university degree requirements for graduate programs are listed in the Master’s Degree Requirements section of this catalog.

Requirements for specific degree programs follow.