MS in Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences

Admission Requirements

• Completed SOPHAS application
• Undergraduate degree from an accredited university; GPA (overall and major) of at least 3.0 preferred.
• Personal statement/statement of purpose (at least 500 words)
• Background in the field: paid or volunteer experience in public health or related field
• Resume
• Two letters of recommendation, also known as evaluations – for your application to be deemed complete, SOPHAS requires 3 evaluations.
• TOEFL scores are required if language of instruction for prior degrees was not English
• Transcript evaluation from WES or ECE for foreign transcripts.
• GRE or MCAT scores. Click here for information on how to submit scores. Please use the CUNY SPH SOPHAS code 7914.
• Applicants with a 3.0 GPA or above may waive the standardized test requirement.
• Applicants who have a post graduate degree from a U.S. accredited school or a post graduate degree in clinical or allied health that WES or ECE has deemed equivalent to its US counterpart may request a standardized test waiver. Please be advised that waivers are granted on a case by case basis.
• 40 credit hours in biology, chemistry, health sciences, mathematics, statistics, physics, or engineering completed prior to admission. If deficiencies exist in any of these areas, students will be required to take specific coursework after matriculating into the program.

Deadline to Apply

• Fall 2023: August 1, 2023 (April 1, 2023 for international students seeking an F-1 student visa)

For students who began matriculating in Spring 2019 or earlier, please review the previous curriculum for the MS in Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences here.

*Students who have a CEPH-accredited undergraduate or graduate degree in public health are waived from this requirement.

For students who began matriculating in Spring 2019 or earlier, please review the previous competencies for the MS in Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences here.

Core Public Health Competencies

Evidence-based Approaches to Public Health

• Apply epidemiological methods to settings and situations in public health practice
• Select quantitative and qualitative data collection methods appropriate for a given public health context
• Analyze quantitative and qualitative data using biostatistics, informatics, computer-based programming, and software, as appropriate
• Interpret results of data analysis for public health research, policy, or practice

Systems Thinking

• Apply a systems thinking tool to visually represent a public health issue in a format other than standard narrative (Systems thinking tools depict or map complex relationships, demonstrating, for example, how component parts of a system interact with and influence one another. Examples include causal loop diagrams, systems archetypes, network analyses, and concept maps. Logic models and evidence tables are not sufficient to address this competency.)

Environmental Sciences

• Apply concepts from relevant scientific disciplines, such as toxicology and physiology, to anticipate effects of environmental, occupational and nutritional exposures on both human health and overall planetary health

Program Educational Objectives

• Establish a career in the field of occupational health and safety
• Maintain a code of professional ethics as outlined by ABIH
• Become professionally certified through ABIH or other relevant professional organizations
• Pursue continuing education and professional development opportunities and remain apprised of developments in the field
• Employ an interdisciplinary approach to manage occupational health issues by engaging with other professionals including, safety specialists, occupational nurses and physicians, ergonomists, within or outside their organization
• Apply the use of emerging technologies in industrial hygiene to quantify workplace exposure
• Identify common analytical techniques used in industrial hygiene

ABET Student Outcomes

General Outcomes

• An ability to identify, formulate, and solve broadly defined technical or scientific problems by applying knowledge of mathematics and science and/or technical topics to areas relevant to the disciple
• An ability to formulate or design a system, process procedure or program to meet desired needs
• An ability to develop and conduct experiments or test hypotheses, analyze and interpret data and use scientific judgement to draw conclusions
• An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
• An ability to understand ethical and professional responsibilities and the impact of technical and/or scientific solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
• An ability to function effectively on teams that establish goals, plan, tasks, meet deadlines, and risk and uncertainty

Program Outcomes

• Identify agents, factors, and stressors generated by and/or associated with defined sources, unit operations, and/or processes
• Describe qualitative and quantitative aspects of generation of agents, factors, and stressors
• Understand physiological and/or toxicological interactions of physical, chemical, biological, and ergonomic agents, factors, and/or stressors within the human body
• Assess qualitative and quantitative aspects of exposure assessment, dose-response, and risk characterization based on applicable pathways and modes of entry
• Calculate, interpret, and apply statistical and epidemiological data
• Recommend and evaluate engineering, administrative, and personal protective equipment controls and/or other interventions to reduce or eliminate hazards
• Demonstrate an understanding of applicable business and managerial practices
• Interpret and apply applicable occupational and environmental regulations
• Understand fundamental aspects of safety and environmental health
• Attain recognized professional certification

These sequences are recommended for full-time students. Part-time students are encouraged to meet with a staff advisor to map out an appropriate plan of study.

For students who began matriculating in Spring 2019 or earlier, please review the previous course sequence for the MS in Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences here.

*PUBH 601 should be completed during a student’s first semester. Students who have a CEPH-accredited undergraduate or graduate degree in public health are waived from this requirement.

Check out what recent SPH alumni are doing with their degrees.