Appendix 2.6.c. Environmental Health Sciences MPH Competency Statement

The EHS MPH major is central to understanding the interplay of biological, chemical, physical and behavioral environmental factors on human health or ecological balances. In addition to obtaining a broad background in core courses EnHS students select a focus area based on their academic goals. EnHS graduate educational programs are organized into three core areas that reflect the inter- and multi-disciplinary scientific fields of environmental health as an essential component of the wider field of public health. Focus areas in Health Effects, Environmental Exposures, and Environmental Health Policy emphasize training in the assessment, management, and communication of environmental health hazards with a focus on preventing the occurrence of spread of disease. The core competencies promulgated by ASTHO and APHA http://www.astho.org/pubs/CoreCompetenciesforLocalEH.pdf were considered in the development of our curriculum.

Competency Area
Specific Competencies	Learning Opportunities	Evaluation Opportunities
Describe the direct and indirect human, ecological and safety effects of major environmental and occupational agents
	PubH 6101, 6102, 6103, 6104, 6105, 6112, 6130, 6131, 6150, 6170, 6171, 6173, 6180, 7194, 7196, 8161	Course evaluations Student grades Student, faculty and preceptor evaluations of field program Master’s project
Describe genetic, physiologic and psychosocial factors that affect susceptibility to adverse health outcomes following exposure to environmental hazards
	PubH 6102, 6104, 6105, 6130, 6150, 6170, 7194, 7196, 8161	Course evaluations Student grades Student, faculty and preceptor evaluations of field programs Master’s project
Describe federal and state regulatory programs, guidelines and authorities that control environmental health issues
	PubH 6101, 6103, 6105, 6112, 6130, 6150, 6161, 6170, 6173, 7194, 7196, JOUR 8193	Course evaluations Student grades Student, faculty and preceptor evaluations of field programs Master’s project
Specify current environmental risk assessment methods
	PubH 6101, 6104, 6112, 6150, 6161, 6170, 6173, 6175, 6180, 7194, 7196, 8161	Course evaluations Student grades Student, faculty and preceptor evaluations of field program Master’s project
Specify approaches for assessing, preventing and controlling environmental hazards that pose risks to human health and safety
	PubH 6101, 6102, 6103, 6104, 6105, 6112, 6130, 6131, 6150, 6161, 6170, 6171, 6174, 6180, 7194, 7196, 8161, 8140	Course evaluations Student grades Student, faculty and preceptor evaluations of field program Master’s project

Explain the general mechanisms of toxicity in eliciting a toxic response to various environmental exposures
	PubH 6101, 6104, 6112, 6130, 6150, 6170, 7194, 7196, 8161	Course evaluations Student grades Student, faculty and preceptor evaluations of field program Master’s project
Discuss various risk management and risk communication approaches in relation to issues of environmental justice and equality
	PubH 6101, 6102, 6105, 6112, 6130, 6131, 6170, 7194, 7196, JOUR 8193	Course evaluations Student grades Student, faculty and preceptor evaluations of field program Master’s project
Develop a testable model of environmental insult
	PubH 6101, 6103, 6104, 6112, 6130, 6150, 6131, 7194, 7196, 8161	Course evaluations Student grades Student, faculty and preceptor evaluations of field program Master’s project

Appendix 2.6.c. Environmental Health Sciences MPH Competency Statement

Competency Area