Degree Requirements
Master’s Degree Programs in Environmental Health Sciences
MPH and MSPH in Environmental Health Sciences
The MPH degree is oriented toward the development of a broad background in Public Health and the preparation for professional practice. The MSPH degree also prepares students for a professional career but, in addition, permits the detailed study within the student’s area of concentration.
MPH students complete a supervised internship (Public Health practice project) in lieu of a thesis, while MSPH students obtain valuable research skills via research-based thesis.
The MPH degree requires 42 semester credit hours and the MSPH degree requires 41 semester credit hours. The MSPH is not equivalent to the generalist, practice-oriented MPH degree, but is a more individualized program of study emphasizing the scientific base of public health and problem-solving research in the environmental health sciences.
MS in Environmental Health Sciences
The MS degree is an academic research degree that may be individually tailored to the individual and job market needs. The MS degree combines real-world problem solving and research skills with other technical, health, and related skills in order to help graduates function as effective environmental health researchers in the public or private sectors. The MS in Environmental Health Sciences requires a minimum of 36 graduate hours with at least 18 hours in the ENHS major, at least 12 hours of electives related to quantitative and technical skills selected by the student (in consultation with her/his graduate advisor), and successful completion of a research thesis in the major (6 hours).
Doctoral Program in Environmental Health Sciences
PhD in Environmental Health Sciences
All doctoral students complete a curriculum that emphasizes professional development, scientific competence, and research skills.
The PhD requires a minimum of 60 hours of graduate course work (post-baccalaureate), including 12 hours of dissertation preparation. A student may be admitted without a master’s degree with approval of faculty in the student’s area of emphasis. Students entering without a master’s degree will be required to take additional course work. Students entering with a degree other than in public health are expected to take the core courses required for the MSPH degree or their equivalent. The remainder of the semester hours to be completed for the PhD will consist of graduate courses and dissertation research credit selected through consultation with the doctoral advisory committee. These courses must include the required courses for the MSPH in the student’s area of advanced study and research.
To achieve doctoral candidate status, the student must pass a qualifying examination following the first year of study. In addition, upon completion of all course requirements, the student must pass an oral and written comprehensive examination (i.e., written and oral defense of a dissertation proposal) covering the area of advanced study and dissertation research.
Each student must prepare and defend a dissertation representing significant contributions in the area of advanced study and research.
Additional Information
ENHS Graduate Student Handbook
ENHS Graduate Bulletin Page
Graduate School Degree Requirements