Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Environmental Health PhD

Become a leader who will create new strategies and research to predict and manage environmental effects on human health.

Environmental Health is the study of how factors in the environment — such as chemical toxins, infectious disease, foodborne vectors, changing climates, and workplace hazards — affect human health.

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Environmental Health focuses on research and prepares students for a career in university-level teaching, research, and scientific analysis. Students must submit a dissertation with original research as part of this degree.

PhD applicants are typically only accepted into the program to work on funded projects. Because of this, we can only accept a limited number of PhD students each year. Before applying to the program, please contact the professor with whom you wish to work to determine the availability of funding.

What is Environmental Health?

Environmental health is focused on how the environment — where we live and work, what we eat, the air we breathe, etc. — impacts human health.  Our Division of Environmental Health Sciences improves the health of individuals and communities by conducting rigorous and collaborative research to identify risks, reduce hazards, and inform public health policies. We prepare future leaders through MPH, MS, and PhD degrees.

Many of these degree options are STEM designated. No GRE required.

Areas of Emphasis

Students can pursue a general environmental health degree or choose one of the following areas of emphasis to pursue distinct interest areas through elective courses:

  • Environmental Chemistry
  • Environmental Infectious Diseases
  • Environmental & Occupational Epidemiology
  • Toxicology
  • Food Safety
  • Industrial Hygiene
  • Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing
  • Occupational Injury Prevention Research Training

Learn more information about the curriculum

Advantages of the Program

  • Connected. Close partnerships with state agencies (such as the Minnesota Department of Health) and local companies (such as 3M, Medtronic, Cargill, and Ecolab), provide unique applied practice experiences, professional mentorship, and abundant career opportunities.
  • Innovative research. Students engage with and learn from faculty who are deeply involved in current practice and research.
  • Highly ranked. A degree from a top 10 school of public health provides distinction in competitive career environments.
  • State-of-the-art facilities. The 2,500 sq. ft. Industrial Hygiene Laboratory is well-equipped with the latest instruments and equipment necessary to learn sampling procedures and conduct research.

Application Deadline

Scholarship Consideration Deadline: December 1
Final Deadline: June 15

© 2015 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved. The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer. Privacy Statement