Environmental Health Science and Policy - Certificate

Program Contacts

Program Director

Kate Applebaum

 

Mission

THIS PROGRAM IS NO LONGER ACCEPTING NEW STUDENTS.

 

The mission of the Environmental Health Science and Policy program is to educate individuals who are committed to public health protection to apply critical analytic skills to the development, implementation and evaluation of practices and policies aimed at preventing or minimizing the adverse impact of environmental and occupational hazards on human health.

Goals

Our graduates will possess a multidisciplinary knowledge base and skill set that will provide them a framework for addressing environmental and occupational health (EOH) issues. They will understand three distinct scientific foundations of environmental health in order to: 

  • Assess and control environmental and occupational exposures;
  • Understand the effects of these exposures on human health; and
  • Interpret epidemiologic and other research findings related to environmental risks.

Furthermore, graduates will be prepared to build on this science base in order to:

  • Analyze policy implications and participate in policy development, implementation and evaluation; and
  • Assess and manage environmental and occupational risks.

Program Requirements

  1. Graduate Credit Requirement for students enrolled in a stand alone Graduate Certificate. 18 credits are required.
  2. Graduate Credit Requirement for students enrolled concurrently in a GWSPH Degree Program.  12 credits are required.
  3. The Program Director/Advisor must pre-approve all course selections and course sequencing by developing a “program of study” prior to the student’s initial registration.  Graduate Certificate students meet with their advisor each semester before registration. All changes in this program of study must be pre-approved by the Program Director/Advisor.
  4. Course Requirements.  Since most graduate certificate students are currently enrolled in an MPH program or have previously earned a graduate degree, most course credits will be selected from the program-specific course list.  Under no circumstances may a certificate student enroll in fewer than 9 credits of program-specific courses.
  5. Grade Point Requirement.  A 3.0 (B average) overall grade point average or better is required.
  6. Time Limit Requirement. The certificate must be completed within 2 years.
  7. Transfer Credit Policy.   The Program Director/Advisor may approve up to 4 graduate credits that have not been applied to a previous graduate degree to be transferred to the graduate certificate.  (Exceptions: GW master’s students and alumni may transfer up to 6 credits of the master’s degree to the Graduate Certificate.)  The course(s) must be relevant to the graduate certificate.  Credits must have been earned from an accredited institution in the last 3 years with a grade point of 3.0 or better.

Federal Disclosure Requirements