The Department of Kinesiology and Community Health
“In the Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, our outstanding faculty, students, and staff study all aspects of health, rehabilitation, and human movement from the cell to society. We hope that you will take a few moments to visit our website, see what we do, and get to know us better.”
- Wojtek Chodzko-Zajko

Master of Public Health Degree Program
The Department of Kinesiology and Community Health has a new Master of Public Health Degree Program beginning in Fall 2009. The MPH program provides education and training in the core competencies of public health, with a focus on chronic disease prevention and control. The program, directed by Dr. David Buchner, includes several features critical to development of skills in prevention and control of chronic disease.
Welcome to the Department of Kinesiology and Community Health at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign.
The Kinesiology area is internationally recognized for the study of human movement and has consistently been ranked in the top ten research institutions by professionally-related organizations. Current research examines human movement in many contexts and through many lenses across the lifespan.
The Community Health area has been promoting health through teaching, research, and service activities locally, nationally and internationally since 1957. Multidisciplinary faculty members teach undergraduate and graduate courses and conduct high-level research in health policy, epidemiology, health education, health behavior, rehabilitation, and disability studies.
By integrating high quality research, instruction, and outreach programs, faculty scholars within Kinesiology and Community Health are leading interdisciplinary initiatives that promote optimal health for all people.
Kinesiology and Community Health in the News
Position Announcement
Department of Kinesiology and Communty Health seeks Assistant Professor for new Master of Public Health program. Closing date: March 23, 2009. Available: August 16, 2009. See position details (PDF).
A Minute With: Karin Rosenblatt
Epidemiologist Karin Rosenblatt discusses food-borne salmonella outbreaks and answers questions about identifying the outbreak source through DNA fingerprinting. Read Karin's interview.
Early Child Care Increases Weight Gain Risk
Infant care provided by someone other than parents may result in weight gain. Comparisons between babies at nine months of age led researchers Juhee Kim, assistant professor in kinesiology and Karen Peterson, Harvard School of Public Health to conclude that altered feeding practices may play a role in weight gain. Read the original, scientific article in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.
Weight Loss Does Not Mean Bone Loss
In a recent study, Ellen Evans, associate professor and co-author Donald Layman, a U of I professor of nutrition compared bone density following a diet rich in low-fat lean, protein and dairy products against the typical, higher-carbohydrate diet. Results demonstrated that the higher protein diet preserved bone density in 130 middle-aged, overweight persons. See more about the study or read the scientific article in the Journal of Nutrition. Learn more about bone density research.
Multiple Sclerosis and Exercise
Professor Robert Motl and colleagues explore how exercise affects progression and severity of MS. See more about MS exercise research.
