Master of Public Health in Environmental Health Sciences
Through the MPH in Environmental Health Sciences, students gain a comprehensive understanding of the role the environment plays in human health, with consideration for the ambient, built and occupational environments. Not only do students learn how people are exposed to environmental stressors in the ambient, built and occupational environments and the impact of these exposures on health, students learn how to use science to make policy changes that improve environmental quality and the health and well-being of workers and communities. Environmental stressors are diverse, ranging from chemicals to heat to psychosocial, and influenced by multiple dynamic systems, including climate change, regulations, industrial activities, workplaces, and societal norms. The degree program includes an internship.
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Program Requirements
1. Course Requirements in Environmental Health Sciences
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BIOS 100B: Introduction to Biostatistics
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EHS C200B: Foundations of Environmental Health Sciences
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EHS C240: Fundamentals of Toxicology
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EHS 400: Field Studies in Environmental Health Sciences (students enroll in this course the quarter that they have completed their final internship report)
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EHS 411: Environmental Health Sciences Seminar: One quarter each year is required
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EHS C200C: Foundations of Environmental Health Sciences
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EHS 200D: Policy Analysis for Environmental Health Sciences
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EHS 257: Risk Assessment and Standard Setting
2. Core Course Requirements in Public Health
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PH 200A and B: Foundations in Public Health
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PH 401: Foundations in Public Health
3. Elective Courses
In addition to UCLA Fielding and Department of Environmental Health Sciences requirements, at least 16 units of upper division or graduate level elective courses are required and are selected by students in consultation with their faculty adviser. Students must submit a blue petition each quarter for the electives that they want to use to satisfy degree requirements. MPH students who already have met these requirements as part of their area of focus e.g. Industrial Hygiene, are exempt.
4. Chemistry Waiver Exam
Students must successfully complete a written examination in chemistry when they enter the program, otherwise, they will be required to take Environmental Health Sciences 101.
5. Industrial Hygiene Focus
Students may choose to focus on Industrial Hygiene, which has additional curricular requirements beyond the standard MPH program.
Students interested in being supported for fees and a stipend by the NIOSH Southern California Education and Research Center must contact the UCLA IH Program Director Dr. Shane Que Hee.
6. Applied Practice Experience (APEx)
The internship or APEx constitutes a culminating experience for the degree and provides the student with an opportunity to apply the principles and knowledge obtained in the classroom to real world problems in a professional setting.
All students in the MPH program in EHS are required to complete a 400-hour internship in an appropriate environmental health setting. Internship settings may include government agencies or departments, non-profit organizations, local industry, consulting firms, community organizations, advocacy agencies, national laboratories, or a university, college, or school setting.
Students must write a project summary paper related to the work performed during the internship; the paper must be approved by both the field mentor and the faculty advisor. The subject of the paper may be on the student’s research project, an environmental sampling or analysis activity, or a policy white paper related to the internship topic. Students should seek approval of their intended paper topic from their faculty advisor and field mentor prior to writing the paper to ensure that the topic is appropriate.
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Time To Degree
The MPH degree is typically obtained after six quarters of full-time study (two academic years), including a required 400-hour APEx, usually completed in the summer between the first and second years.
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Department Faculty
View a list of faculty in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences.
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Career Outcomes
Graduates of the department have pursued careers in both the private and public sectors as researchers, educators, managers, policymakers, and practitioners.
Examples of positions held by graduates include:
- Environmental Health Specialist
- Research Associate
- Air or Water Pollution Specialist
- Occupational Health Manager
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Tuition and Fees
For the most up to date fees and more information on fee breakdown, visit the registrar's office.
Please see the cost and aid section of our website for information on awards, scholarships, training opportunities, employment, summer internship funding, and need-based aid. Please note that opportunities listed under 'Summer Internship Funding' are only applicable to MPH students.
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Admissions
Desired Qualifications
In addition to meeting the University’s minimum requirements, students should have a bachelor's (or master's) degree in public health, environmental health, life sciences, physical sciences, engineering, environmental science, or a related field.
Applicants with non-science majors who meet the following course work requirements will be considered for admission:
Course Work
- 1 university-level course or equivalent in Calculus, Linear Algebra, or Statistics
- 1 university-level course in Chemistry or equivalent
- 1 university-level course in Biology or equivalent
Students who do not have the prerequisites at the time of application may take equivalent courses at UCLA in their first year.
Admissions Process
Visit the application guide to learn about our admissions process.
Application Guide
Please note:
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This information is intended as an overview, and should be used as a guide only. Requirements, course offerings and other elements may change, and this overview may not list all details of the program.
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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.
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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.