Doctor of Philosophy Degree Program

The goal of the Ph.D. program is to prepare professionals to assume leadership positions in teaching, research, and public service.

The Curriculum

For the PhD, the Department of Environmental Health Sciences (EHS) considers for admission qualified candidates only after they have found a department faculty member willing to mentor them. Applicants must have a background in natural sciences, engineering, or a closely related field. Minimal expectations are 18 credit hours of study in the EHS concentration, and participation in research seminars and additional elective courses and/or individual studies. Students also complete 18 hours in dissertation credits.

Before or soon after matriculation, the candidate and dissertation adviser outline a course of study in both major and minor areas. 

All students take a Preliminary Qualifying Exam within a 12-month period following the completion of all required coursework. For each student, a dissertation committee of at least four graduate faculty is created, including the faculty advisor in the Environmental Health Sciences department. The student must defend their Dissertation Proposal to the dissertation committee, usually within 12 months of completing the Preliminary Qualifying Exam.

A candidate who enters the program with a satisfactory background may expect to complete the program in four to six years.

Prospective applicants should consult the program website for the latest information concerning admission and degree requirements.