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Rutgers School of Public Health

Environmental and Occupational Health and Justice

Master of Public Health (MPH) in Environmental Health Sciences (45 credits)

The MPH degree in Environmental Health Sciences provides students with a clear understanding of the role of this core discipline in public health with sufficient knowledge of the theory and terminology used by the discipline to allow effective participation in interdisciplinary public health efforts, and specialized skills.

The Department offers both a broad and a focused educational experience. From the core survey course to the specialized courses on air pollution and occupational health, there are extensive opportunities for both the specialist and the general student to master the complex body of knowledge that underlies environmental and occupational health. The Department provides Masters-level students with a solid foundation for expanding professional skills, for career advancement, and for pursuing doctoral-level training.

The existing courses cover most of the prominent topical areas of environmental health sciences. In a number of cases, there are sequences of related courses to assure that students develop some depth of knowledge in selected areas, while not sacrificing a generalist’s approach to most of the knowledge in their field.

Competencies

Competencies for the Master of Public Health (MPH) in Environmental Health Sciences (45 credits)

Each Concentration identifies competencies for each degree offered. These competencies reflect the full range of knowledge, skills, and other attributes that a student will acquire as a result of completing the requirements for a particular degree.

Upon graduation, a student completing the MPH curriculum in Environmental Health Sciences will be able to:

  • Describe the major environmental health problems facing the general public as well as among specific communities or susceptible, vulnerable sub-populations
  • Explain the basic mechanism of toxicology and dose-response as applied to environmental toxicants
  • Describe the federal and state regulatory programs relating to environmental (community) protection
  • Develop a testable model of environmental exposures (one or more agents) and adverse health outcomes (causing injury, disability, other measure of morbidity or mortality)
  • Specify current environmental risk assessment approaches and methods for a particular hazard or risk in a community

Curriculum

Curriculum for the Master of Public Health (MPH) in Environmental Health Sciences (45 credits)

Students seeking the MPH in Environmental Health Sciences degree must complete 45 credits of academic work with a minimum GPA of least 3.0; earn no more than nine (9) credits bearing grades less than “B,” and complete the degree requirements within six years. Courses are three credit hours unless otherwise noted and semester when each course is typically offered is noted parentheses. Students should review the Forward Schedule for long-term course planning and the Course Schedule for each semester to determine when, where, and how a course is offered.

  • PREREQUISITES
    • 3 credits in college biology, human behavior, social or health science
    • 3 credits in college calculus
    • Demonstration of computer competence
  • CORE COURSES (18 credits)
    • PHCO 0501 - Health Systems and Policy
    • PHCO 0502 - Principles and Methods of Epidemiology
    • PHCO 0503 - Introduction to Environmental Health
    • PHCO 0504 - Introduction to Biostatistics (Prerequisite: Quantitative Skills Assessment)
    • PHCO 0505 - Social and Behavioral Health Sciences in Public Health
    • PHCO 0513 - Leadership and Management Essentials for Public Health
  • PRACTICUM (3 credits)
    Note: Students should review the Practice Experience webpage for information about Practicum.
    • PRAC 0715 - Applied Practice Experience (0 credits) [Prerequisite: APE Learning Agreement and select PHCO and concentration courses]
    • PRAC 0716 - Practicum Capstone (3 credits) [Prerequisite: Completion of the APE and Practicum Capstone Learning Agreement]
      Current students (enrolled prior to Summer 2022) who have not yet completed PRAC 0716 should complete PRAC 0717 and PRAC 0718; if these students complete PRAC 0716 with special permission, they are still expected to complete their Practicum Capstone over two semesters, unless they have special permission.
    • PRAC 0717 - Practicum Capstone-Two Semester (1.5 credits; taken in first semester of two semester capstone) [Prerequisite: Completion of the APE and Practicum Capstone Learning Agreement]
    • PRAC 0718 - Practicum Capstone-Two Semester (1.5 credits; taken in second semester of two semester capstone) [Prerequisite: Passing (P) Grade in PRAC 0717]
      Students who enrolled prior to Summer 2022 are encouraged to complete PRAC 0717 and PRAC 0718; PRAC 0717 and PRAC 0718 are required for students who enroll Summer 2022 and after.
    • Review the School’s Registration Calendar for important MPH Practice Experience Registration dates specific to PRAC 0715, PRAC 0716, PRAC 0717 and PRAC 0718.
  • REQUIRED COURSES (15 credits)Note: Students should review the Course Descriptions in the School Catalog for specific information about prerequisites required for required courses and recommended electives.
    • ENOH 0594 - Environmental and Occupational Toxicology (Spring)
    • ENOH 0656 - Environmental Risk Assessment (Spring)
    • ENOH 0695 - Environmental Exposure Measurement and Assessment (Fall)
    • -also-
  • Choose two of the following six:
    • ENOH 0560 - Public Health Biology and Physiology (Spring)
    • ENOH 0596 - Environmental Justice: Historical Perspectives and Justice Initiatives (Fall)
    • ENOH 0653 - Biomarkers (Summer/Fall-Odd Years)
    • ENOH 0693 - Principles of Occupational and Environmental Health (Fall)
    • EPID 0650 - Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology (Spring)
    • EPID 0656 - Intermediate Epidemiologic Research Methods (Fall/Spring)
  • OTHER REQUIREMENTS (0 credits)
    • PRAC 0621 - Interprofessional Education (0 credits) [Fall/Spring]
      Students are required to register for and complete an Interprofessional Education activity prior to graduation.
  • RECOMMENDED ELECTIVE COURSES (9 credits)
    • Students may choose elective courses from among other concentration courses, from courses within Rutgers School of Public Health, or other Rutgers graduate programs with faculty advisor approval.