Ph.D in 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

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 under item (1).  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.

Engineering Courses in ESE

a          even-numbered years only

b          odd-numbered years only

last revised 6-23-09

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 Management, 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)

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 Management, 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.

Dual Master's Degree Program Between the Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering and the Department of City and Regional Planning

We are partnering with the Department of City and Regional Planning (CRP) to offer students the opportunity to earn both the MCRP and one of the four master's degrees offered in ESE (MS, MSEE, MSPH, or MPH). It should be possible to obtain both degrees in three years.

To enter this program, students must apply separately to both the CRP Department and the ESE Department and must be accepted independently by both. Students entering the program spend their entire first year in either CRP or ESE. The second year is spent full-time in the other program. In the third year, students could take courses in both departments. Students can apply to both departments simultaneously or sequentially. For simultaneous applications, if the student is admitted to both departments he or she should request deferral of admission to one of the departments to the following year. For sequential applications, we recommend that the student apply to the second department during their first year in the initial department. Please note that financial support in one department does not guarantee financial support in the other department.

It is important for students wishing to enter this program to identify a faculty advisor in each department as early as possible. A single master's project may fulfill both the master's project requirement in CRP and the master's technical report (MSEE, MSPH or MPH) or thesis (MS) requirement in ESE, subject to approval by the student's advisors and by each department.

Click here for a table that summarizes the degree requirements for students in the dual degree program.

Bachelors of Science in Public Health (BSPH)

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.