Degree details

Ph.D in Environmental Sciences and Engineering Overview: The PhD, a terminal degree, is intended for students with a strong background in the sciences or engineering and prepares graduates for careers in basic and applied research, education, and management in the field of environmental sciences and engineering. Learning Objectives: Upon satisfactory completion of a PhD degree in ESE, graduates will be able to: Conceive, develop, and conduct original research leading to useful applications in environmental sciences and engineering; Develop new conceptual frameworks and research methods to address problems in environmental sciences and engineering; Apply advanced methodologies to research projects in environmental sciences and engineering; and Demonstrate written and oral communication skills related to research issues in environmental sciences and engineering. The success of these learning objectives is measured by the successful completion of all degree requirements, including course work; comprehensive written examination; preliminary oral examination; preparation of a dissertation; and final oral defense of the dissertation. Additionally, most students will prepare a research proposal and technical reports; present work in seminars, at national and international meetings, and publish in the peer-reviewed literature. Current departmental Ph.D. guidelines. Degree Requirements: The requirements for the PhD are governed chiefly by Graduate School requirements. These requirements include: Formation of a PhD committee tailored to the student's area of interest to guide all aspects of the student's study and research; Mastery of knowledge in the major area, for which the number of course hours will vary; Completion of a supporting program area of study consisting of 15 semester hours of course work, or a formal minor; Completion of a research skill requirement, which was historically a foreign language, but which now is typically six semester hours in an area such as statistics, mathematics, or computer science; Completion of a comprehensive examination consisting of written and oral segments to examine the student's fundamental knowledge in the major and supporting or minor areas; Preparation, presentation, and defense of a dissertation proposal at the time of the oral segment of the comprehensive examination; and Completion of a significant and original body of research, which requires a minimum of six semester hours of ENVR 394 (Doctoral Dissertation), preparation of a dissertation, and a public, oral dissertation defense.   Master of Science (MS) in Environmental Sciences and Engineering Overview: The MS degree is intended for incoming students with a strong background in the sciences or engineering and prepares them for advanced education or careers in research, practice or management in the field of environmental sciences and engineering. Learning Objectives: Upon satisfactory completion of a MS degree in ESE, graduates will be able to: Identify sources of environmental contaminants and processes that affect the movement, fate, and health effects of such contaminants in environmental/human systems; Describe the rationale for and the approaches used to measure relevant properties of environmental/human systems; Develop and/or apply theoretical/computational models to represent important aspects of environmental/human systems and assess their uncertainty; Explain the relationships among scientific knowledge, exposure and risk assessment, and environmental management and policy; and Demonstrate written and oral communication skills related to environmental sciences and engineering issues. The success of these learning objectives is measured by the successful completion of all degree requirements, including course work, and a comprehensive oral examination, at which time the thesis is presented and defended. Additionally, students may prepare technical reports, present their work at seminars and at national or international meetings, and publish in peer reviewed literature. Degree Requirements: The requirements for the MS are governed by Graduate School requirements, and specific course requirements vary with each Program Area. These requirements include: A minimum of 30 semester hours of work, which can include no more than six semester hours of transferred credit; A minimum of 24 hours of formal graduate-level course work, which includes at least 15 credit hours of course work from the Department; A minimum of three hours of ENVR 393 (Masters Thesis), which is credit earned for the preparation and defense of a thesis; and A comprehensive oral or written examination. Master of Science in Environmental Engineering (MSEE) Students may be admitted to the MSEE degree program if they have completed an undergraduate curriculum in engineering from an ABET-accredited program or from a foreign institution with an equivalent program. Once admitted, the following requirements must be met: Students must complete at least 12 hours of engineering coursework offered in the Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering (see attached list) or graduate-level engineering courses from another institution. Courses taken at another institution must be approved by the student's committee. Students must complete at least three hours of coursework in environmental policy or environmental health science.  Coursework that satisfies this requirement may not simultaneously count toward the requirement for engineering coursework described above.  The acceptability of a course to fulfill this requirement must be approved by the student's committee. Students who have not already had an undergraduate or graduate course in probability and statistics or an undergraduate or graduate course in the biological sciences must take an appropriate course on each topic while in the MSEE program.  The acceptability of courses to fulfill these requirements must be approved by the student's committee. MSEE student committees must include at least two faculty members from the Environmental Engineering focus area. MSEE students must meet all other requirements of the Department and the Graduate School. These requirements include: ENVR 400, Seminar Series (1 credit) (Departmental requirement) ENVR 401, Unifying Concepts (3 credits) (Departmental requirement) A minimum of 24 hours of credit in formal coursework (which excludes credits for research, for ENVR 400, and for ENVR 992) (Departmental requirement) A minimum of three hours of credit for ENVR 992, Master's Technical Report (Graduate School requirement) A minimum of 30 hours of course credit (Graduate School requirement) A minimum of 24 hours of course credit in residence; i.e., credit obtained through registration at UNC-CH (Graduate School requirement) In accordance with Graduate School rules, up to six credits toward the MSEE degree requirements can be transferred from a previously-attended institution if the course(s) were not required for an undergraduate degree. List of Engineering Courses in ESE Course Number     Semester Title Credits F S 416 Aerosol Technology 4 ●   451 Process Dynamics in Environmental Systems 3 ●   453 Groundwater Hydrology 3 ●   462 Geostatistics for Spatial/Temporal Environmental Phenomena 3 ●a   463 Random Field Modelling of Physical Processes 3   ●a 468 Temporal GIS 3 ●   516 Aerosol Technology Lab 2   ●b 710 Environmental Process Biotechnology 3   ● 750 Principles of Industrial Ventilation 3 ●b   751 Ventilation Design Problem 1 ●b   754 Air Pollution Control 3   ●c 755 Analysis of Water Resource Systems  3   ● 756 Physical/Chemical Treatment Processes 3   ● 757 Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Design 3 ●d   758 Environmental Engineering Project 3 ●   759 Multiphase Transport Phenomena     ● 768 Applications of Computational Fluid Dynamics 3   ● 781 Water Resources Planning and Policy Analysis 3 ●   850 Surface Water Quality: Modeling and Policy 3 ●c   890 Modeling Atmospheric Chemistry 3   ●c  a not offered every year b even-numbered years only c odd-numbered years only d course is offered in the summer; students register the following fall (last revised 2007) Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH) Overview: The MSPH is intended for incoming students with a strong background in the sciences or engineering and prepares them for advanced education or careers in practice, research, or management in the field of public health with emphasis in environmental sciences and engineering.   In accordance with new guidelines from the Council on Education for Public Health, the Program will require a minimum of 42 credits for completion, effective for students enrolling in the fall of 2006.   Learning Objectives: Upon satisfactory completion of a MSPH degree in ESE, graduates will be able to: Demonstrate broad knowledge in the core fields of public health; Identify sources of environmental contaminants and processes that affect the movement, fate, and health effects of such contaminants in environmental/human systems; Describe the rationale for and approaches used to measure and model relevant properties of environmental/human systems; Explain the relationships among scientific knowledge, exposure and risk assessment, and environmental management and policy; and Demonstrate written and oral communication skills related to environmental sciences and engineering issues and place within a public health context. The success of these learning objectives is measured by the successful completion of all degree requirements, including School core courses; departmental course work; and a comprehensive oral examination, at which time the technical report is presented and defended. In addition, students may also prepare other technical reports; present their work at seminars and at national or international meetings; and publish in the peer-review literature. Degree Requirements: The requirements for the MSPH are governed by Graduate School requirements, and School of Public Health requirements; specific course requirements vary with the Program Area of study. These requirements include: A minimum of 42 semester hours of work, which can include no more than six semester hours of transferred credit; A minimum of 24 hours of formal graduate-level course work, which includes at least 15 credit hours of course work from the Department; The School core course requirements, which include courses in Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Health Policy and Administration, and Health Behavior and Health Education; A minimum of three hours of ENVR 392 (Masters Technical Report), which is credit earned for the preparation and defense of a technical report; and A comprehensive oral or written examination. Master of Public Health (MPH) Overview: The MPH degree, is a terminal degree intended for students with a background in health-related areas and prepares graduates for careers in practice or management in the field of public health with emphasis in environmental sciences and engineering.  In accordance with new guidelines from the Council on Education for Public Health, the Program will require a minimum of 42 credits for completion, effective for students enrolling in the fall of 2006. Learning Objectives: Upon satisfactory completion of a MPH degree in ESE, graduates will be able to: Demonstrate broad knowledge in the core fields of public health; Identify sources of environmental contaminants and processes that affect the movement, fate and health effects of such contaminants in environmental/human systems; Describe the rationale for and the approaches used to measure and model relevant properties of environmentanuman systems; Understand the relationships among scientific knowledge, exposure and risk assessment, and environmental management and policy; and Demonstrate written and oral communication skills related to environmental sciences and engineering issues and place within a public health context. The success of these learning objectives is measured by the successful completion of all degree requirements, including School core courses; departmental course work; and a comprehensive oral examination, at which time the technical report is presented and defended. Additionally, students may prepare other technical reports, present their work at seminars and at national or international meetings, and publish in peer-reviewed literature. Degree Requirements: The requirements for the MPH are governed by Graduate School requirements, and School of Public Health requirements. These requirements include: A minimum of 42 semester hours of work, which can include no more than six semester hours of transferred credit; A minimum of 24 hours of formal graduate-level course work, which includes at least 15 credit hours of course work from the Department; The School core course requirements, which include courses in Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Health Policy and Administration, and Health Behavior and Health Education; At minimum of one course in health delivery systems; A minimum of three hours of ENVR 392 (Masters Technical Report), which is credit earned for the preparation and defense of a technical report; A comprehensive oral or written examination.   Bachelors of Science in Public Health (BSPH) Overview: The BSPH is a first degree intended to prepare students with a fundamental grounding in the basic and applied sciences for advanced scientific education, professional schools, or careers in practice in the field of public health with emphasis in environmental sciences or engineering. See the Undergraduate Program description for more detailed information on admission and degree requirements, curriculum, and career opportunities. Learning Objectives: Upon satisfactory completion of a BS degree in ESE, graduates will be able to : Demonstrate a base level of understanding in the fundamental sciences; Describe the relationship between public health and environmental sciences and engineering; Identify major issues in environmental sciences and engineering; Describe significant regulatory components that have shaped environmental policy; and Demonstrate written and oral communication skills related to environmental sciences and engineering issues and place within a public health context. The success of these learning objectives is measured by the successful completion of all degree requirements, including School core courses, and departmental course work. In addition, some students may participate in faculty-directed independent studies or research, and prepare an honors thesis. Degree Requirements: All students are required to gain understanding of the foundational principles of physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics. These requirements include course work in several areas leading to requirements that a student complete: A set of basic science requirements; Four specified Environmental Science and Public Health courses; Four Environmental Science elective courses; and Three related courses in another department or curriculum that are related to the student's plan of study or senior thesis, including at least one 100-level course. See the BSPH major's worksheet for more detailed information on admission and degree requirements, curriculum, and career opportunities.

Last updated December 10, 2007