Environmental Health Sciences

The Environmental Health Sciences (EHS) MPH program will provide students with the public health background and skills to evaluate environmental and occupational health hazards.

Exposures to environmental and occupational stressors, as well as potential mitigation strategies, are studied through a combination of courses in environmental health sciences, health behavior and health education, natural resources and the environment, health management and policy, and public policy. The environmental and public health knowledge gained through the program will provide the basis for designing and promoting innovative solutions that manage adverse occupational and environmental exposures and promote human health.

Graduates of the EHS program will work in government agencies, non-governmental organizations, consulting firms, and industry to meet present and future needs for environmental health scientists efforts necessary to improve public health by mitigating hazard exposure in communities and workplaces.

Applicants to the EHS MPH program have a variety backgrounds and interests and the department welcomes applicants from all undergraduate majors.  It is expected that the successful applicant will have at last one course in biology and one course in chemistry. but no other specific undergraduate courses are required.  Applicants who select the Industrial Hygiene concentration must have coursework in all of the general sciences (biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, physics and calculus).  The department places greater emphasis on overall sound scholarship and promise of development than on the precise focus of the baccalaureate degree.  Specfiic admission requirements for the EHS MPH degree are found here.

Visit the Admissions & Aid section of the U-M SPH site for details on the application process and financial aid options. Additional information for international applicants can be found here.

Curriculum

Sample Schedule 

Year 1: Fall
BIOSTAT 521: Applied Biostatistics 3 cr
EHS 510: Responsible Conduct in Research and Scholarship (RCRS 1 cr
EHS 602: Essentials of Toxicology 3 cr
EHS 652: Evaluation of Chemical Hazards 3 cr
EHS 687: Professional Development in EHS I 0.5 cr
PUBHLTH 512: Principles of Epidemiology for Public Health 3 cr
Select one of the following: 2 cr
    EHS 658: Physical Hazards  
    PUBHLTH 507: Social Determinants of Health and Health Communication  
Year 1: Winter   
EHS 603: Occupational and Environmental Disease 3 cr
EHS 688: Professional Development in EHS II 0.5 cr
Select one of the following: 3 cr
    BIOSTAT 502: Application of Regression Analysis to Public Health Studies   
    BIOSTAT 522: Biostatistical Analyses of Health Related Studies   
    EHS 655: Human Exposure Analysis   
    EHS 674: Environmental and Health Risk Modeling   
Select one of the following: 3 cr
    EHS 653: Environmental Sampling and Analysis Lab  
    PUBHLTH 513: Public Health Systems, Policy, and Management   
Select one of the following:  2 cr
    EHS 576: Biological Agents   
    PUBHLTH 511: Nutritional Aspects Program Planning and Evaluation   
Year 1: Summer | Internship/APEx Experience   
Year 2: Fall  
EHS 604: Professional Perspectives in EHS/EHS Capstone  2 cr
EHS 689: Professional Development in EHS III 0.5 cr
Electives 11 cr
Select one of the following:  2 cr
    EHS 685: Physical Hazards  
    PUBHLTH 507: Social Determinants of Health and Health Communication   
Year 2: Winter  
PUBHLTH 516: Leadership Skills for Interprofessional Practice  1 cr
Electives 9 cr
Select one of the following:  3 cr
    EHS 653: Environmental Sampling and Analysis Lab  
    PUBHLTH 513: Public Health Systems, Policy, and Management   
Select one of the following:  2 cr
    EHS 576: Biological Agents  
    PUBHLTH 511: Nutritional Aspects Program Planning and Evaluation