Program Overview

Public Health, MPH: Environmental Health Sciences

The Master of Public Health (MPH) in Environmental Health Sciences is a professional master's degree program that provides students with a broad understanding of public health practice and allows specialization in Environmental Health Sciences. This program is offered by the Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Overview

Environmental Health Sciences MPH students learn the biological, chemical, and structural components of public health and how to put current research into practice. Students' experiences incorporate environmental health theories with cross-cutting public health competencies such as communication, public health biology, systems-thinking, and leadership.

Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission to the MPH Program, applicants must meet Graduate School requirements as well as the desired track of study requirements. The following steps must be met:

• Three letters of recommendation from persons familiar with the applicant's academic experience and potential for graduate work in public health.
• CV or Resume.
• Address the following two short essay questions, limiting responses to no more than 500 words (approximately 250 words per question):
  • Describe how your professional, volunteer, and educational background has led you to seek a degree in public health.
  • How will your desired track of study help you reach your personal and professional goals in public health?
• International applicants must also meet admission standards set and monitored by UWM's Center for International Education.
• MPH applicants must use SOPHAS to apply. Applicants must select their track to which they are applying: Biostatistics, Community and Behavioral Health Promotion, Environmental Health Sciences, Epidemiology, or Public Health Policy.
• Tracks may have additional admission requirements.

Credits and Courses

All students enrolled in the MPH program take a common set of core classes designed to give basic skills and knowledge of public health concepts. The core curriculum consists of at least 24-25 credit hours, including four credits for the Field Experience (3 credits) and Leadership in Public Health (1 credit) courses and a two-credit capstone seminar. In addition to the common core, students complete the required coursework in one of five specialization tracks: Biostatistics (46 credits), Community and Behavioral Health Promotion (48-49 credits), Environmental Health Sciences (45 credits), Epidemiology (49 credits), or Public Health Policy (48 credits). Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better in order to progress through the program.

MPH Required Common Core Courses (24-25 credits)

• PH 702: Introduction to Biostatistics (3 credits)
• PH 703: Environmental Health Sciences (3 credits)
• PH 704: Principles and Methods of Epidemiology (3 credits)
• PH 705: Principles of Public Health Policy and Administration (3 credits)
• PH 706: Perspectives on Community & Behavioral Health (3 credits)
• PH 708: Health Systems and Population Health (3 credits)
• PH 733: Overview of Qualitative Methods for Public Health (1 credit)
• PH 790: Field Experience in Public Health (3 credits)
• PH 791: Leadership in Public Health (1 credit)
• PH 800: Capstone in Public Health (2 credits)

Field Experience

The Field Experience enables students to apply knowledge and skills learned in the classroom to public health problems in a community context. Students work with their Faculty Advisor and school staff to identify a placement that matches their public health interests and career goals. Possible placement settings include a local health department, state health department, non-profit agency, hospital system, or research institute. The experience is a mentored placement engaging both a faculty advisor and a site preceptor. Students complete at least two products as agreed upon with the site preceptor.

Capstone

The capstone requires students to integrate the knowledge and skills learned in the classroom, Field Experience, and/or lab into some aspect of professional public health practice. Students work with their Faculty Advisor to write a project proposal the semester prior to the capstone reflecting the student's interests and career goals. Students then implement the project during their final semester of the program. The project has both written paper and oral presentation components.

Environmental Health Sciences Concentration

• Required Courses:
  • PH 743: Environmental Risk Assessment (3 credits)
  • PH 750: Seminar in Environmental Health Sciences (2 credits)
  • PH 762: Environmental Epidemiology (3 credits)
• Electives (12 credits)

Additional Requirements

• Faculty Advisor: Each student will be assigned a track-specific Faculty Advisor during Orientation week preceding the first semester.
• Thesis: Not required. See capstone for similar culminating experience.
• Comprehensive Examination: Not required. See capstone for similar culminating experience.
• Time Limit: The student must complete all degree requirements within seven years of initial enrollment.

Accelerated Program Option

This program is offered as part of an accelerated bachelor's/master's program. For more information, see Accelerated Master's Degrees.