Program Overview

Program Overview

Our goal is to provide students with a multi-disciplinary approach to analyzing and solving occupational and environmental health problems, along with the requisite knowledge foundation and basic technical skills.

In addition to completing the core program course requirements, students also have the opportunity to take elective courses in relevant areas such as biological hazards, biomarkers, drinking water and safety, business management, environmental law, and social/cultural perspectives in public health, as well as environmental engineering, green product development, sustainable manufacturing, indoor air quality, fire protection engineering, traffic-safety and injury prevention from engineering departments.

Core Program Curriculum

MPH Academic Program

MPH students are required to participate in a 12-week IH internship that enables them to apply their theoretical and practical knowledge. MPH students are required to complete an Integrated Learning Experience (i.e., capstone or thesis) that demonstrates knowledge and skills gained in the program. Successful completion of a capstone project is an important step in demonstrating mastery of skills and competencies needed for successful careers across public health professions and settings. Environmental health and industrial hygiene skills gained during the MPH program will be applied, integrated and presented through oral, poster, and written work produced in the duration of the program. Students will make an original, substantive contribution to the field by engaging in critical evaluation of methodological and policy issues surrounding topics investigated, undertaking effective communication strategies for complex environmental health issues, and applying Industrial Hygiene and public health theories and principles to Industrial Hygiene problems, including those that relate directly to professional practice.      

Curricular Plan for the Master of Public Health Training Program

Sample of Two-Year Curricular Plan for the Master of Public Health Training Program

MS Academic Program

 MS students normally complete a research thesis in two academic years. The student's advisor and thesis committee approve the written thesis. 

Curricular Plan for the Master of Science Training Program

*Note that MS Students must also follow the Curricular Plan for the Master of Public Health Training Program. Discuss with the program director about the specific courses MS students are exempted from taking on the Curricular Plan for the Master of Public Health Training Program and refer to Table 1: IH Core Curriculum provided.*

The curriculum for MS IH students is similar, except that MS students are not required to take "Public Health Core Breadth Seminar'' (PH 200C) or "Applied Public Health" (PH 200D) or complete a summer internship (PH 297). MS students take more elective courses in their areas of interest and focus on their original research programs.

PhD Academic Program

PhD students normally complete coursework in 2 years, complete a research project, and dissertation in 4-6 years overall. There are no formal course requirements for the PhD IH students other than the "Doctoral Seminar'' (PH 293). For their Graduate Group Examination, students are expected to know the material taught in the required courses for the EHS MPH students, and most PhD students take these courses unless they have learned the material previously.

In general, other coursework for a PhD student is designed to provide academic knowledge geared to the dissertation project, and to fulfill the course requirements of two minor subjects. The development of a research plan, collection and analysis of data, and the written description of the project are done under the tutorial direction of the student's major advisor. PhD students are required to teach one semester as a Graduate Student Instructor (GSI). The process of preparing teaching materials is a learning experience for the PhD student, because diverse ideas must be integrated and well-articulated, and lingering uncertainties about the material must be satisfactorily resolved. In addition, the teaching experience is a competitive advantage for those PhD students who intend to apply for academic faculty positions after graduation.

DrPH Academic Program

DrPH students are able to conduct an original analysis of a pertinent applied program, including Industrial Hygiene. For more information on the Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) degree at Berkeley School of Public Health, visit https://publichealth.berkeley.edu/academics/interdisciplinary/doctor-of-public-health-drph/ .