Student conducting environmental field research.

Master of Science 

Environmental Health Sciences

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Protect People and Ecological Systems from Dangerous Toxins

Study the impact of animal, botanical, geological, and atmospheric poisons on human health.

The Master of Science in Environmental Health Sciences program gives you the opportunity to work closely with faculty actively working on major environmental public health research projects.

Learn how to collect and analyze environmental public health data and gain advanced skills through hands-on research on the Health Sciences Campus and in the Wadsworth Center labs of the New York State Department of Health.

Program of Study

programofstudy

You can customize your studies by pursuing a research specialization in your area of professional interest.

Core Courses

  • Principles of Public Health
  • Principles of Environmental Chemistry
  • Principles of Toxicology
  • Introduction to Environmental Health
  • Responsible Conduct of Scientific Research
  • Current Literature in Environmental Health and Toxicology
  • Principles in Statistical Inference
  • Environmental Health Sciences Seminar
  • Research Rotations in Environmental Health and Toxicology

Supporting Electives

Sample courses: Occupational Epidemiology; Water Quality and Public Health; Geographic Information Systems; Pollution Ecology of Freshwater Invertebrates; Reproductive and Perinatal Epidemiology; Risk Assessment; Atmospheric Environment and Human Welfare; Metabolism and Disposition of Xenobiotics; Immunotoxicology.


Major Field Exam


Thesis Seminar and Research


Technical, Laboratory, Field, or Library Research Thesis


Additional Information

See the Graduate Bulletin for details.

For more information, contact David Lawrence at [email protected].

Research Opportunities

Learn first-hand from faculty who actively address public health issues facing New York State (NYS). More than 75% of faculty in the School of Public Health hold appointments with the NYS Department of Health.

This provides many research opportunities in Wadsworth Center environmental health testing facilities, which include the primary labs of New York’s drinking water protection program.

Areas of research include radiation science and radiological emergency response methods; sustainability and green design; environmental contamination and assessment of health risks due to chemical and microbial exposure; climate change; and toxicological studies of developmental, reproductive, and physiological processes.

You may also work with biotechnology firms located on UAlbany’s Health Sciences Campus and with faculty in the University’s Cancer Research Center, Prevention Research Center, Public Health Preparedness Center, and Center for Health Workforce Studies.

 

 

Female scientist looking into a microscope in a lab
researchopportunities

 

 

 

Team of engineers working on instruments in research center
Career Paths

As a graduate of this environmental health sciences program, you’ll be prepared for academic, technical, professional, and supervisory careers in higher education institutions, public health organizations, NGOs, government research agencies, medical centers and hospitals, and pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.

Sample job titles: consumer safety officer; sanitary engineer; health and safety manager; toxicologist; environmental scientist; water and soil analyst.

Alumni of the MS in Environmental Health Sciences program work for prestigious organizations such as:

  • Albany Molecular Research, Inc.
  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
  • Harvard University
  • Los Alamos National Laboratory
  • Pfizer, Inc.
  • National Institute of Standards and Technology
career

International Students

This degree is designated as a STEM program. International students maintaining F-1 status are allowed to apply for up to 12 months of post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) following completion/graduation from their degree program. Currently, this degree program is also designated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as an eligible degree for the F-1 STEM OPT work authorization extension; students who secure qualifying employment may be eligible to apply for the STEM OPT extension for a cumulative total of up to 36 months of F-1 OPT work authorization.

Admission Requirements

Deadlines

Priority: January 15
General: March 1
Final: Rolling until August 1 on space available basis

 

Applicants who wish to be considered for a scholarship must submit their application by the priority deadline. Some scholarships require that applications be received earlier than the published priority deadline. Students who wish to be considered for one of the early submission scholarships should consult our Financing Your Degree page and must submit the degree application and any additional required documents by the stated date for that scholarship.

Fee waivers are available for the first program you apply to in SOPHAS to cover the initial $140 application fee. There are three types of fee waivers: financial-based, service-based, and international-based. You may only apply for one type of fee waiver, and the waiver request must be submitted before you submit your SOPHAS application. Fee waivers are granted on a first come, first served basis, so applicants are strongly encouraged to apply before the priority deadline when requesting a waiver. For more information, visit SOPHAS Fees and Fee Waivers.

Applications are accepted for all programs on a space available basis after the published deadlines. Contact us at [email protected] or 518-402-0361 with any questions.

MS Environmental Health Sciences Degree Application

The application and all supporting materials for the MS in Environmental Health Sciences must be submitted through SOPHAS.

Visit the SOPHAS Applicant Help Center for help with starting your SOPHAS application.

 

Application Requirements

  • Must hold a bachelor’s degree from a college or university of recognized standing
  • Grade point average of 3.00 or better
  • A combined total of at least 42 credits in biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics
  • Applicants are reviewed in the context of academic preparation and performance, potential for success, fit for the graduate program, as well as potential match with mentor

For application specific questions, contact us at [email protected].

International Requirements

  • International students must submit a minimum TOEFL score of 98 or IELTS score of 7.0. We will only accept official scores sent by the testing institution.
  • UAlbany SOPHAS TOEFL code is 5688. We do not use department codes. 
  • The TOEFL or IELTS is not required for international students who have completed at least four semesters of full-time study within a four-year time frame from time of application, and maintained at least a B average at a college or university in the United States or a country from an approved list.  For questions regarding English Language Proficiency waivers, please email Soha Acosta at [email protected].
  • International students must request a transcript evaluation from World Education Services (WES). The WES evaluation must be sent directly to SOPHAS, NOT the University at Albany or the School of Public Health.


Required Application Materials

Official Transcripts

  • Official transcripts from EVERY post-secondary academic institution attended, including college coursework completed during high school, must be sent directly from the institution to SOPHAS. You must report all colleges and universities attended and submit official transcripts, even if your transfer credits are listed on your primary transcript. See Sending Official Transcripts for more guidelines.
  • UAlbany students must have an official UAlbany transcript sent directly to SOPHAS.
  • Applicants who use the transcript entry service provided by SOPHAS should note that the entry process adds TWO FULL WEEKS to the time it takes for an application to be verified and considered complete by the admissions committee.


Three letters of recommendation

  • A minimum of two letters must be from academic faculty 
  • At least one letter must be from a university faculty member in the major field of study
  • Applicants who have been out of school for five or more years may submit professional references
  • Letters must be signed and on institutional/organizational letterhead


Personal Statement

  • Why do you wish to pursue a career in public health and why are you interested in your chosen area of study?
  • 2-page limit
  • The personal statement must have well-defined research interests and should be very specific in nature


CV/Resume

 

Application Submission

Applicants should submit their application as soon as the items you have control over are complete (personal statement, resume/CV, institutions attended, coursework entry, and all other required sections of the online application). Transcripts and letters of recommendation will be added as they are received, after which SOPHAS will begin verifying your application.

Applications will not be reviewed until all required items, including official transcripts, official test scores, and required letters of recommendation, have been received and your application has been verified.  Please note that once SOPHAS has received all of your application materials, it may take up to 4 full weeks to be verified by SOPHAS.  Be sure to request all transcripts and recommendations in advance so that your application can be completed and verified by the specified application deadline.



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Student Learning Objectives

Learning objectives that UAlbany students are expected to attain through their course of study within their academic program.

Core Competencies
  • Epidemiology MPH core competencies.
  • Biostatistics MPH core competencies.
  • Acquire basic and advanced knowledge in selected concentrations.
  • Gain advanced technical experience in the use of sophisticated and state-of-the-art instrumentation in the chosen field.
  • Read, critically evaluate, and present scientific literature, including justifying the choice of methods applied to problems and the interpretation of results obtained.
  • Prepare a written thesis and describe the principles and procedures for techniques involved, quality assurance for data acquisition, and statistical analysis.
  • Present and orally defend knowledge gained in a public seminar.
  • Describe issues related to the proper conduct of scientific research, including policies of federal and state agencies, and the university regarding scientific misconduct.
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