Environmental Health Sciences, PhD

Program Overview

The University of Alabama at Birmingham's Environmental Health Sciences PhD program prepares students for careers in research, academia, program management, risk assessment, and policy. The program focuses on critical environmental health topics and offers concentrations in areas such as environmental epidemiology and environmental justice. Graduates possess skills essential for leadership in various fields, including research, teaching, consulting, and government agencies. The program emphasizes developing the research abilities necessary for addressing complex environmental health issues.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Environmental Health Sciences PhD program at UAB is designed for students interested in the critical role of the environment in public health. The program prepares graduates for careers in academia, research, program management, risk assessment, or policy. The program begins with a foundation in core environmental health topics, followed by a specialization in a concentration that aligns with the student's interests. These concentrations include industrial hygiene, environmental epidemiology, exposure assessment, air pollution, environmental justice, and environmental disasters. The program emphasizes developing the skills necessary for independent research, including identifying and defining key environmental health questions, designing research studies, and completing a program of research. By the end of the program, students are expected to:

• Understand the main environmental issues related to natural and manmade disasters.
• Learn specific approaches for assessing, preventing, and controlling environmental hazards.
• Acquire skills essential for upper-level positions in research, management, teaching, or consulting.

Careers:

Graduates of the Environmental Health Sciences PhD program are prepared for a variety of careers, including:

• Academia: Research faculty positions at universities and colleges.
• Research: Positions in government agencies, research institutions, and private companies.
• Program Management: Leading environmental health programs in government agencies, non-profit organizations, and private companies.
• Risk Assessment: Evaluating and managing environmental risks for businesses, government agencies, and other organizations.
• Policy: Developing and implementing environmental health policies at local, state, and national levels.

Other:

The program is delivered primarily on-campus, with most content delivered through in-person meetings.