Environmental Health - PhD
The mission of the Environmental Health PhD program is to educate individuals focused on developing new knowledge in the methods or applications of environmental health sciences that translates to environmental public health policy and practice. Our scholars will advance knowledge in analysis and laboratory sciences.
Our students will work closely with faculty mentors to develop advanced skills and knowledge and to contribute new knowledge to the scholarly literature. Our faculty members have expertise in a wide range of areas, including:
- epidemiologic and biostatistical theories and methods
- environmental public health risk sciences
- general and specialized concepts and methodologies for scientific research in environmental health including laboratory research in reproductive health, environmental microbiology and antibiotic resistance and molecular toxicology
- environmental health disparity issues related to environmental justice, occupational exposures and global inequities in exposures and susceptibilities.
Our graduates will have the opportunity to work in inter-professional settings, such as in collaboration with quantitative, environmental, physical and social scientists. We emphasize compliance with ethical research practice and responsible conduct of research, working with communities who are most impacted by the research, conduct of research and data analysis, and communication of research findings to scientific and lay audiences.
Program Directors: Kate Applebaum, Kelvin Fong
The PhD program will accept students every year. Applications will be accepted beginning in August each year and are due no later than December 1st. Applications will be reviewed following the December 1st deadline and those applicants selected for an in-person interview (video conference if remote) can expect to be contacted by mid-February.
A Master's degree in Public Health, sustainability, or environmental sciences is required. Prior studies in the natural and physical sciences, public health, social sciences, mathematics, or engineering programs are also a particularly good fit, but any major is acceptable as long as students show requisite knowledge and skills for the degree as judged by the EOH Admissions Committee.
All applications are submitted through SOPHAS.org. (Please see the Admissions page for Milken Institute School of Public Health information and policies.)
Among factors we will evaluate in admissions, in the context of the focus area a student indicates, are performance in relevant courses including mathematics, statistics, environmental sciences, epidemiology, biostatistics, biochemistry, risk assessment, environmental communications, and microbiology. In addition, we will thoroughly examine the research background of our applicants and give preference to students who have worked on research teams/laboratories or otherwise demonstrated research interest and aptitude. Letters of recommendation and essays will be important sources of insight. We will review all information and conduct interviews to identify outstanding candidates who have research interests that overlap with those of members of our faculty.
- Required PhD Foundational Courses
PUBH 6080* | Pathways to Public Health (0 credits)
PUBH 6421 | Responsible Conduct of Research (1 credit)
PUBH 6862 | Applied Linear Regression Analysis for Public Health (3 credits)
PUBH 6247 | Epi Methods I: Design of Health Studies (3 credits)
PUBH 8001 | PhD Seminar: Cross Cutting Concepts in Public Health (1 credit)*Find FAQs on the Advising page here.
FOUNDATIONAL PHD TOTAL: 8 CREDITS
- Required Core Courses
PUBH 8411 | Advanced Topics – Principles of Environmental Health Risk Science (3 credits)
PUBH 8144 | Environmental Health Data Development & Modeling (2 credits)
PUBH 6121 | Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology (3 credits)
PUBH 8123 | Applied Toxicology for Public Health (3 credits)
PUBH 8126 | Assessment and Control of Environmental Hazards (3 credits)CORE TOTAL: 14 CREDITS
- Tailoring Courses
Please see the program guide for examples.
Tailoring (Elective) credits may come from any graduate-level PUBH course offered through either the Department of Environmental & Occupational Health (EOH) or other SPH departments. Your plan for selecting elective coursework should be reviewed in advance with your advisor.
TAILORED ELECTIVES TOTAL: 12-18 CREDITS
- Comps and Dissertation
COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION (no credits)
All PhD students are required to pass a Comprehensive Examination, which typically occurs following the Spring semester of Year 2. Comprehensive exams must be successfully completed within three years of matriculation to the PhD program.
DISSERTATION PREPARATION AND DISSERTATION
PUBH 8435 | PHD Dissertation Proposal Development (2 credits)
Prerequisites: Pass Comprehensive Exam, Approval of Program Director, & one page abstractPUBH 8999 | Dissertation Research (6-12 credits)
DISSERTATION TOTAL: 8-14 CREDITS
- Non-Academic Requirements
Graduate Teaching Assistant Program (GTAP)
All Environmental Health PhD students must enroll in UNIV 0250- Graduate Teaching Assistant Certification, administered by the University. Successful completion of this Certification is a pre-requisite/co-requisite to taking on a role as a Teaching Assistant, which is a requirement of the program. The University does not allow students to be Teaching Assistants unless this certification is completed. The 1-credit, online certification is paid for by GW, however the 1-credit does not count toward the credit requirements for the PhD.
Professional Enhancement
Students in the PhD program must participate in eight hours of Professional Enhancement. These activities are pre-approved by an advisor and may be Public Health-related lectures, seminars, and symposia related to your field of study.
Professional Enhancement activities supplement the rigorous academic curriculum of the SPH degree programs and help prepare students to participate actively in the professional community. You can learn more about opportunities for Professional Enhancement via the Milken Institute School of Public Health Listserv, through departmental communications, or by speaking with your advisor. Students submit a completed Professional Enhancement Form to the Office of Student Records which is required documentation to be cleared for graduation.
Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) Training
All students are required to complete the Basic CITI training module. This online training module will help new students demonstrate and maintain sufficient knowledge of the ethical principles and regulatory requirements for protecting human subjects - key for any public health research.
Academic Integrity Quiz
All Milken Institute School of Public Health students are required to review the University’s Code of Academic Integrity and complete the GW Academic Integrity Activity. This activity must be completed within 2 weeks of matriculation. Information on GWSPH Academic Integrity requirements can be found here.
- Past Program Guides
Past Program Guides
Students in the PhD in Environmental Health program should refer to the guide from the year in which they matriculated into the program. For the current program guide, click the "PROGRAM GUIDE" button on the right-hand side of the page.
PHD, Environmental Health 2023-2024
PHD, Environmental Health 2022-2023
PHD, Environmental Health 2021-2022
PHD, Environmental Health 2020-2021
To view sample schedules and learn about the core competencies developed within the program, see the degree program guide.
Our faculty at the Milken Institute School of Public Health are involved in a national profile of strategic research and serve as mentors to students across departments based on areas of specialized interest.
Faculty with an interest in supervising new PhD students include:
- Dr. Kate Applebaum is an epidemiologist who conducts research on environmental and occupational risk factors for cancer and chronic disease, such as chronic kidney disease. This includes studying the impact of chemical exposures as well as heat on health. Dr. Applebaum’s research involves applying quantitative methods to examine epidemiologic relationships and to address biases.
- Dr. Kelvin Fong is an environmental health scientist and epidemiologist focusing on health disparities. His research aims to understand the extent to which differential levels of and responses to environmental factors such as air pollution, extreme weather, and access to green spaces lead to health inequalities. His research integrates exposure assessment, including satellite remote sensing, and epidemiologic methods such as regression modeling to identify strategies to address health inequities and promote environmental justice.
- Dr. Daniel Goldberg quantifies the public health impact of air pollution and climate change using satellite instruments. Results from his group’s analyses have allowed scientists and policymakers to better estimate pollutant exposures, and track air pollution / greenhouse gas emission trends. He participates in research projects funded by NASA, NOAA, and HEI. He collaborates with scientists and policymakers at EPA, NASA, NOAA, IHME, state agencies, non-profit organizations, and other academic institutions.
Note: New opportunities often arise. Please consult the complete list of faculty in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health to identify a potential research mentor.