General Program Information
Graduate School Contact:
Mary Duncan; duncanm@etsu.edu; 423-439-4302
Kurt Maier, Ph.D., Graduate Coordinator
55 Lamb Hall
Box 70682
(423) 439-5251
e-mail: maier@etsu.edu
Phillip Scheuerman, Ph.D., Chair
53 Lamb Hall
Box 70682
(423) 439-7078
e-mail: philsche@etsu.edu
Faculty:
Brajesh Dubey; Kurt J. Maier; Tricia A. Metts; Phillip R. Scheuerman; Kenneth Silver.
Purpose
The purpose of the Environmental Health Sciences Ph.D. Program is to promote the environmental health sciences, and identify, prevent, and manage disease and injury. This purpose will be fulfilled through dedication to higher (doctoral level) education and training, distinction in research, innovation in policy development, and improvement of health strategies. The doctoral program will prepare professionals in the environmental health sciences to:
- reduce the burden of environmentally associated diseases by defining:1) how environmental exposures affect human health; 2) how individuals differ in their susceptibility to these exposures; and 3) how these susceptibilities change over the life span.
- develop and implement effective strategies and programs for the maintenance of health and the prevention and management of disease and injury.
- serve as faculty and instructors for academic programs in environmental health.
- develop effective environmental health policies.
- design and conduct quality research that contributes to improvements in environmental health.
- collaborate and work with communities for the promotion of health and the prevention and control of disease.
- meet the increasing need for trained professionals in environmental health, including those who can analyze and address environmental health issues.
- investigate environmental conditions that may affect a community’s health status, and provide technical assistance and leadership to address the concerns of communities.
- provide skills and knowledge in the public health core area of environmental health.
Program Admission Requirements
The Environmental Health Sciences Ph.D. Program Committee will review applications for admission to the program. Admission decisions are made on the basis of an overall evaluation of the applicant’s ability to complete advanced study in the Environmental Health Sciences. The applicant must have earned an appropriate M.S. or more advanced research-based (thesis) degree in appropriate field of study or a MPH or more advanced degree in a research-based (thesis) option from an accredited institution. Exceptions are made for outstanding students holding appropriate baccalaureate degrees. Admission is based on the GPA, GRE scores, quality of reference letters, strength of background (coursework, college attended and work experience), and available space in the program. The program can grant conditional admission to candidates not meeting all of the minimum requirements. For example, work experience and letters of reference can be used to justify conditional admission for students not meeting one of the minimum requirements (e.g., GRE or GPA below what the program considers acceptable). However, work experience cannot be substituted for one of the requirements. All students must submit an official transcript, a statement of purpose, GRE scores, three letters of reference, and current curriculum vitae (CV) or resume before their application will be considered.
Note: Applicants who wish to enter the Doctor of Public Health, Ph.D. in Environmental Health Sciences, Master of Public Health, or Master of Science in Environmental Health program should make initial application through SOPHAS.