Environmental Health Sciences, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

The PhD program in Environmental Health Sciences consists of a minimum of 46 credit hours of graduate courses depending on the incoming student’s previous coursework. In particular, students without an MPH degree will require additional coursework as required by the public health accrediting body (CEPH). Graduate courses include (1) core courses within environmental health, epidemiology and biostatistics; (2) supporting courses in environmental health research, ethics, public health, and grant writing; (3) specialized courses selected within the research foci; and (4) dissertation credits. The program can be completed on either a full- or part time basis. It is anticipated that students will complete more than the minimum number of credits.

Advance to Candidacy: Students must successfully complete a written and oral comprehensive exam  in order to advance to candidacy. 

Post-Candidacy: Students must  pass an oral defense of a written dissertation research proposal, complete a minimum of 12 credits of  MIEH899 doctoral dissertation research, as well as submit and defend an original dissertation. 

Some core coursework may be waived based on previous courses taken at UMD or in another master's program.  Students would not be able to waive out of all rotations or the seminar requirements. Rotations can be in physical labs or with faculty conducting non-laboratory based research. At least 1 rotation must be outside of the students focus area. Students would not be able to waive out of any of the 12 to 15 credits required for the specialization area. No more than 6 credits of MIEH 898 could be taken as part of the specialization area.