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Environmental Health Sciences

Environmental Health Sciences explores the links between health and the environment in order to prevent harmful exposure while promoting a healthier built environment 

The field of environmental health grew out of a need to protect workers from very high exposures to chemical and physical hazards in industrial settings. The methods developed for the work place are now used to measure the exposure of ordinary citizens to environmental agents as they move through the many microenvironments of everyday life. 

Students in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences gain a comprehensive understanding of:

  • How environmental stressors cause injury
  • How populations are exposed to environments that compromise health
  • Assessing potential for harm
  • Designing science-based policies to address current and future environmental health challenges
  • Promoting a healthier built environment to improve health outcomes

Degrees in Environmental Health Sciences

Degree Program Summary
MPH At-a-Glance

MPH in Environmental Health Sciences

Total Required Units (based on quarter system):
62 quarter-credit units

Additional Degree Requirements:

  • Completion of a practical fieldwork experience and summary paper related to the work performed during the internship 

Typical time to complete degree:
2 years (6 academic quarters)

Program start date:
Fall Academic Quarter

Minimum Admission Requirements (in addition to the University's minimum requirements)*:

Students should have a bachelor's (or master's) degree in public health, life sciences, physical sciences, or engineering or a related field.  Students who have taken extensive related coursework but who majored in other fields or who have a related professional degree are also encouraged to apply. Well-prepared students will have basic knowledge of: biology, mathematics through calculus, and chemistry, including at least one quarter of organic chemistry or biochemisty.

How to Apply

Application Deadline:
December 1 for the following Fall Quarter

Total mandatory fees, per year**:

Resident of California: $22,009.19
Non-resident of California: $34,710.19

Possible Career Paths:

Graduates of the department have pursued careers in both the private and public sectors as researchers, educators, managers, policymakers, and practitioners. 

Who to contact for more information:

Rebecca Greenberg at rgreenberg@ph.ucla.edu or 310.206.1619

* Admission requirements listed are Departmental requirements, and are in addition to the University's minimum requirements. Many programs receive more applicants than can be admitted, so meeting the minimum requirements for admission does not ensure admission. Every effort is made to ensure minimum admissions requirements are up to date - for the most up-to-date information on the University's minimum requirements, please visit the UCLA Graduate Division.

** Fees are subject to change and should be used as a guide only. For the most up to date fees and more information on fee breakdown, visit the registrar's office.

| Department website | Full description
MS At-a-Glance

MS in Environmental Health Sciences

Total Required Units (based on quarter system):
60 quarter-credit units

Additional Degree Requirements:

Master's Thesis OR Comprehensive Examination and a major written report or submission of an externally peer-reviewed publication completed while a student

Typical time to complete degree:
2 years (6 academic quarters)

Program start date:
Typically Fall academic quarter

Minimum Admission Requirements (in addition to the University's minimum requirements)*:

  • Bachelor's or advanced degree in public health, life sciences, physical sciences or engineering. 
  • Well-prepared students will have basic knowledge of: physics, biology, mathematics through calculus, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and biochemistry.  

How to Apply

Application Deadline:
December 1 for the following Fall Quarter

Total mandatory fees, per year**:

Resident of California: $14,809.19
Non-resident of California: $29,911.19

Possible Career Paths:

Graduates of the department have pursued careers in both the private and public sectors as researchers, educators, managers, policymakers, and practitioners. 

Who to contact for more information:

Rebecca Greenberg at rgreenberg@ph.ucla.edu or 310.206.1619

* Admission requirements listed are Departmental requirements, and are in addition to the University's minimum requirements. Many programs receive more applicants than can be admitted, so meeting the minimum requirements for admission does not ensure admission. Every effort is made to ensure minimum admissions requirements are up to date - for the most up-to-date information on the University's minimum requirements, please visit the UCLA Graduate Division.

** Fees are subject to change and should be used as a guide only. For the most up to date fees and more information on fee breakdown, visit the registrar's office.

| Department website | Full description
PhD At-a-Glance

PHD in Environmental Health Sciences

Total Required Units (based on quarter system):

Additional Degree Requirements:

  • Course work in the major field 
  • Written qualifying examinations, including proposals related to the dissertation
  • Oral Qualifying Examination on the proposal for the dissertation (advancement to candidacy) 
  • Dissertation
  • Oral defense of the dissertation 

Typical time to complete degree:
4-6 years

Program start date:
Typically Fall Academic Quarter

Minimum Admission Requirements (in addition to the University's minimum requirements)*:

  • A bachelor’s degree in chemistry, physics, biology, engineering, or other appropriate field
  • Preparation should include at least one year of chemistry (including organic chemistry or biochemistry), physics, biology, and mathematics through calculus
  • A Master’s degree in a related field with a grade point average of at least 3.5 for graduate studies
  • Applicants whose native language is not English must submit a score of at least 580 (paper and pencil test) or 237 (computer-based test) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an overall band score of 7.0 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

How to Apply

Application Deadline:
December 1 for the following Fall Quarter

Total mandatory fees, per year**:

Resident of California: $14,809.19
Non-resident of California: $29,911.19

Possible Career Paths:

Graduates of the department have pursued careers in both the private and public sectors as researchers, educators, managers, policymakers, and practitioners. 

Who to contact for more information:

Rebecca Greenberg at rgreenberg@ph.ucla.edu or 310.206.1619.

* Admission requirements listed are Departmental requirements, and are in addition to the University's minimum requirements. Many programs receive more applicants than can be admitted, so meeting the minimum requirements for admission does not ensure admission. Every effort is made to ensure minimum admissions requirements are up to date - for the most up-to-date information on the University's minimum requirements, please visit the UCLA Graduate Division.

** Fees are subject to change and should be used as a guide only. For the most up to date fees and more information on fee breakdown, visit the registrar's office.

| Department website | Full description
PhD - Molecular Toxicology At-a-Glance

The PHD Program in Molecular Toxicology - Environmental Health Sciences

Total Required Units (based on quarter system):

Additional Degree Requirements:

  • Course work
  • Laboratory rotations
  • Written and Oral qualifying examinations
  • Dissertation
  • Defense of the Dissertation

Typical time to complete degree:
5 years

Program start date:
Fall Academic Quarter

Minimum Admission Requirements (in addition to the University's minimum requirements)*:

  • A minimum of a four (4) unit undergraduate course in statistics
  • A master's degree is not a pre-requisite. The ideal training for an undergraduate would be to major either in Chemistry or Biology and to have a solid background in both of these disciplines with some quantitative training

How to Apply

Application Deadline:
December 1 for the following Fall Quarter

Total mandatory fees, per year**:

Resident of California: $14,809.19
Non-resident of California: $29,911.19

Possible Career Paths:

Many graduates pursue careers in research, as toxicologists, and in related areas in academia, government and other organizations.

Who to contact for more information:

Rebecca Greenberg at rgreenberg@ph.ucla.edu or 310.206.1619.

* Admission requirements listed are Departmental requirements, and are in addition to the University's minimum requirements. Many programs receive more applicants than can be admitted, so meeting the minimum requirements for admission does not ensure admission. Every effort is made to ensure minimum admissions requirements are up to date - for the most up-to-date information on the University's minimum requirements, please visit the UCLA Graduate Division.

** Fees are subject to change and should be used as a guide only. For the most up to date fees and more information on fee breakdown, visit the registrar's office.

| Department website | Full description
DrPH At-a-Glance

DrPH in Environmental Health Sciences

Total Required Units (based on quarter system):

Additional Degree Requirements:

  • Course work in the major and minor fields
  • Written qualifying examinations, including proposal for the dissertation
  • Oral qualifying examination on the proposal for the dissertation (advancement to candidacy)
  • Dissertation
  • Oral defense of the dissertation

Typical time to complete degree:
4-6 years

Program start date:
Fall Academic Quarter

Minimum Admission Requirements (in addition to the University's minimum requirements)*:

  • Completion of the MPH or a Master’s degree in an appropriately related field (if the master’s degree is in a field other than public health, applicants must have taken the equivalent of the MPH mandatory core courses or include them in the course of study after admission). 
  • At least a 3.0 junior/senior undergraduate grade point average, at least a 3.5 GPA in graduate studies or demonstrated superiority in graduate, and at least a “B” in each of the mandatory core courses.

How to Apply

Application Deadline:
December 1 for the following Fall Quarter

Total mandatory fees, per year**:

Resident of California: $22,009.19
Non-resident of California: $34,710.19

Possible Career Paths:

Graduates of the department have pursued careers in both the private and public sectors as researchers, educators, managers, policymakers, and practitioners. 

Who to contact for more information:

Rebecca Greenberg at rgreenberg@ph.ucla.edu or 310.206.1619.

* Admission requirements listed are Departmental requirements, and are in addition to the University's minimum requirements. Many programs receive more applicants than can be admitted, so meeting the minimum requirements for admission does not ensure admission. Every effort is made to ensure minimum admissions requirements are up to date - for the most up-to-date information on the University's minimum requirements, please visit the UCLA Graduate Division.

** Fees are subject to change and should be used as a guide only. For the most up to date fees and more information on fee breakdown, visit the registrar's office.

| Department website | Full description