Environmental Health Sciences

G. Thomas Chandler, Chair

Professors
C. Marjorie Aelion, Ph.D., University of North Carolina, 1988
G. Thomas Chandler, Ph.D., Louisiana State University, 1986
Alan W. Decho, Ph.D., Louisiana State University, 1987
Charles E. Feigley, Ph.D., University of North Carolina, 1978
Dwight W. Underhill, Sc.D., Harvard University, 1967

Associate Professors
Craig A. Stow, Ph.D., Duke University, 1992
Dwayne E. Porter, Ph.D., University of South Carolina, 1995

Assistant Professors
Lee A. Newman, Ph.D., Rutgers University, 1993
Kristina M. Zierold, Ph.D., University of Illinois, Chicago, 2001

Research Associate Professors
Geoffrey I. Scott, Ph.D., University of South Carolina, 1979

Overview

The environmental health sciences examine the interactions between humans and their environment. Human activities impact on environmental quality and environmental factors, and, in turn, are principal determinants of human health. Exploration of these complex interactions involves numerous elements of pure and applied sciences, e.g., biology, chemistry, engineering, public health, and medicine.

Faculty members of the Department of Environmental Health Sciences have expertise in a broad range of disciplines necessary to the solution of problems in environmental health sciences. This expertise includes air pollution, analytical chemistry, aquatic and mammalian toxicology, aquatic ecology, marine ecotoxicology, biochemistry, chemical engineering, ecosystem modeling, risk and impact assessment, exposure analysis, environmental engineering, environmental law, environmental physiology, environmental planning, hazardous materials management, bioremediation/phytoremediation, health physics, industrial hygiene, occupational epidemiology, noise pollution and hearing conservation, occupational health, terrestrial and landscape ecology, remote sensing and GIS, water and wastewater treatment, and wetlands ecology.

The mission of the Department of Environmental Health Sciences (ENHS) is founded on the philosophy that healthy environments enhance the health and well-being of individuals and the communities in which they live. Thus the goals of the department are to:

• develop improved methods for assessing the health and quality of the environment
  
• promote a clearer understanding of the relationships between humans and their natural, home, and work environments
  
• provide society with means of managing hazardous substances, preventing environmental degradation, and controlling occupational hazards
  
• protect the natural resources upon which life depends
  
• provide scientifically sound information for policymakers to encourage social awareness of and societal actions toward sustaining a healthy relationship with the environment.

The Department of Environmental Health Sciences offers the following degrees: Master of Public Health (M.P.H.), Master of Science in Public Health (M.S.P.H.), Master of Science (M.S.), and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.). Three program tracks are available to students in the M.P.H. and M.S.P.H. programs: environmental quality, industrial hygiene, and hazardous materials management. A common level of core training is completed prior to undertaking advanced study and research.

Department Admission Requirements

General

Individuals who wish to pursue graduate work in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences must meet or exceed the general admission requirements of The Graduate School and the following departmental requirements:

• grade point average of at least 3.00 on a 4.00 scale
  
• evidence of previous training/experience in a pure or applied scientific discipline
  
• minimum score of 1050 (verbal plus quantitative) on the Graduate Record Examination
  
• completion of a minimum of 24 hours of science-based courses to include the following for the M.P.H. degree: college algebra, pre-calculus, chemistry (general; quantitative-organic chemistry also desirable), biology (general, plus advanced courses)
  
• completion of a baccalaureate degree with 120 hours of science-based courses or equivalent for the M.S., M.S.P.H., and Ph.D. degrees to include:
  

1. a minimum of 60 hours in physical or life sciences, mathematics, engineering, and/or technology

2. at least 15 hours of the 60 hours in upper level junior, senior, or graduate level courses

3. 21 or more semester hours in communication, humanities, and social sciences.

Applicants must submit the following:

• Graduate Record Examination scores
  
• official transcripts
  
• brief statement (maximum of two pages) that describes professional and educational objectives, work experiences, and activities applicable to the proposed plan for graduate study
  
• three letters of recommendation
  

Applicants who do not meet all of the above requirements but who possess overall potential may be considered for conditional admission. Completed applications must be by September 15 for spring admission and by March 1 for fall admission.

Doctor of Philosophy. Applicants to the Ph.D. program must meet the above requirements and in addition must have a master's degree in a pure or applied scientific discipline applicable to the environmental health sciences and from a university accredited by a regional accrediting agency. Individuals with exceptional performance at the master's level (top 10-20 percent) are preferred. A personal interview may also be required.

Other Requirements. Applicants who plan to pursue a master's level degree in the industrial hygiene program must also meet ABET criteria. These include a baccalaureate degree (120 semester hours or equivalent) with 63 or more semester hours in undergraduate or graduate level courses in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology with a grade of C or better.

Programs Overview

Program Tracks

Details describing degree requirements and program tracks can be found in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences Handbook.

Environmental Quality

Students pursuing work in the environmental quality track gain expertise in scientific approaches to the recognition, evaluation, and management of threats to environmental quality and the health of human populations. Students have the option of pursuing advanced study and research in environmental assessment and planning, environmental toxicology, ecosystems analysis and modeling, air quality monitoring and modeling, and environmental microbiology and trophic studies.

Industrial Hygiene

The industrial hygiene track is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Students pursuing study in this area gain expertise in the recognition, evaluation, and control of health hazards in the work environment. Graduates of the industrial hygiene program typically are employed in industry, consulting firms, government agencies, and other institutions (e.g., hospitals). Research specialization in industrial hygiene may include: sampling and calibration methods (especially diffusive samplers), exposure assessment, theory and evaluation of chemical protective clothing, application of computational fluid dynamics, air cleaning methods and devices, exposure assessment, risk assessment, and ergonomics.

Hazardous Materials Management

Study in the hazardous materials management program track provides experiences that develop knowledge and skills needed to function in the management of hazardous substances. This includes: basic knowledge necessary to identify, handle, transport, treat, and dispose of hazardous chemical substances in compliance with existing laws and regulations. Students following this track find employment opportunities with federal, state, and local governments, private industry, and consulting firms. Options for advanced study and research in this track include: environmental and human health protection; use and disposal of hazardous materials; microbial and phytoremediation of hazardous materials; impact of hazardous materials on biological systems; migration, fate, and transformation of hazardous materials in the environment; site safety; and multimedia exposure assessment.

Master's Degrees

Master of Public Health (M.P.H.)

The M.P.H. degree is oriented toward development of a broad background in public health and preparation for professional practice. The M.P.H. degree requires 41 credit hours of study and is practice-oriented. M.P.H. students complete a supervised internship (practicum) in lieu of a thesis.

Master of Science in Public Health (M.S.P.H.)

The M.S.P.H. degree requires 41 credit hours of study and involves a more individualized program of study that emphasizes the scientific basis of public health and problem-solving research in the environmental health sciences. M.S.P.H. students complete a thesis that provides in-depth study of the scientific basis of their selected area of concentration and development of specialized research skills. Individuals pursuing the M.S.P.H. program are encouraged to complete one or more internships as a cooperative venture with industry and/or government.

Master of Science (M.S.)

The M.S. degree is an academic research degree which may be tailored to individual interests and job market needs. The M.S. degree requires a minimum of 36 graduate hours and combines real-world problem solving and research skills with other technical, health, and related skills to prepare effective environmental health researchers for the public and private sectors. Students complete a research thesis.

Doctoral Degrees

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Doctoral students complete a program of study that emphasizes professional development, scientific competence, and research expertise. The Ph.D. requires a minimum of 45 hours of course work beyond the master's and includes 12 credit hours of dissertation preparation. Up to 16 graduate course-work hours from the master's degree may be applied toward the Ph.D. with advisory committee approval. A student may be admitted without a master's degree with approval of the faculty in the student's area of emphasis. However, those students entering without a master's degree are required to take additional course work in environmental health sciences equivalent to the master's degree. To achieve doctoral candidate status, students must pass a qualifying examination after the first year of study. Upon completion of all course and language requirements, doctoral candidates must pass an oral and/or written comprehensive examination. All doctoral candidates must prepare and defend a dissertation that represents significant research in their area of advanced study. Doctoral students must demonstrate a reading proficiency in a modern foreign language if deemed necessary by the doctoral advisory committee.

Program Requirements for Environmental Health Sciences Degrees

Curriculum requirements for degrees in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences are listed below.

Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) (41 hours)

ENHS 660 Concepts of Environmental Health Science (3 hours)

BIOS 700 Introduction to Biostatistics (3 hours)

EPID 700 Introduction to Epidemiology (3 hours) or EPID 701 Concepts and Methods of Epidemiology (3 hours)

HPRE 700 Public Health Education Concepts (3 hours)

HSPM 700 Approaches and Concepts for Public Health Administration (3 hours)

Required Departmental Major and Cognate Courses (20 hours)

ENHS 798 Public Health Practice (Internship, 6 hours)

Master of Science in Public Health (M.S.P.H.) (41 hours)

ENHS 660 Concepts of Environmental Health Science (3 hours)

BIOS 700 Introduction to Biostatistics (3 hours)

EPID 700 Introduction to Epidemiology (3 hours) or EPID 701 Concepts and Methods of Epidemiology (3 hours)

Required Departmental Major and Cognate Courses (26 hours)

ENHS 799 Thesis Preparation (6 hours)

Master of Science (M.S.) (36 hours)

Departmental courses (18 hours)
Quantitative and technical skills (12 hours)
ENHS 799 Thesis Preparation (6 hours)

Program Track Requirements

Environmental Quality (17 hours)

Students (M.S.P.H., M.P.H.) pursuing study in the environmental quality program track must complete degree requirements above and the following required departmental courses.

ENHS 760 Fundamentals of Air Pollution (3 hours)

ENHS 765 Applied Research in the Environmental Health Sciences (2 hours)

ENHS 766 Applied Aquatic Sciences (3 hours)

ENHS 775 Resource Management and Environmental Impact Assessment (3 hours)

ENHS 787 Analytical Concepts for Environmental Health Sciences (3 hours)

BIOS 757 Intermediate Biometrics (3 hours)

Industrial Hygiene: M.P.H. Degree Track Requirements (20 hours)

Students pursuing study in the industrial hygiene program track must complete the degree requirements above and the following required departmental courses.

ENHS 681 Occupational Ergonomics I (3 hours)

ENHS 762 Fundamentals of Industrial Hygiene (3 hours)

ENHS 764 Industrial Hygiene Evaluation (3 hours)

ENHS 765 Applied Research in the Environmental Health Sciences (2 hours)

ENHS 768 Industrial Ventilation and Hazard Control (3 hours)

ENHS 771 Applied Industrial Toxicology (3 hours)

ENHS 787 Analytical Concepts for Environmental Health Sciences (3 hours)

Industrial Hygiene: M.S.P.H. Degree Track Requirements (23 hours)

Students pursuing study in the industrial hygiene research program track must complete the degree requirement above and the following required courses.

ENHS 681 Occupational Ergonomics I (3 hours)

BIOS 757 Intermediate Biometrics (3 hours)

ENHS 762 Fundamentals of Industrial Hygiene (3 hours)

ENHS 764 Industrial Hygiene Evaluation (3 hours)

ENHS 765 Applied Research in the Environmental Health Sciences (2 hours)

ENHS 768 Industrial Ventilation and Hazard Control (3 hours)

ENHS 771 Applied Industrial Toxicology (3 hours)

ENHS 787 Analytical Concepts for Environmental Health Sciences (3 hours)

Hazardous Materials Management (20 hours)

Students pursuing study in the hazardous materials management program track must complete the degree requirements above and the following required departmental courses.

ENHS 762 Fundamentals of Industrial Hygiene (3 hours)

ENHS 765 Applied Research in the Environmental Health Sciences (2 hours)

ENHS 766 Applied Aquatic Sciences (3 hours)

ENHS 774 Risk Assessment and Interactions of Environmental Toxicants (3 hours)

ENHS 787 Analytical Concepts for Environmental Health Sciences (3 hours)

ENHS 788 Concepts of Hazardous Materials Management I (3 hours)

ENHS 789 Concepts of Hazardous Materials Management II (3 hours)

Course Descriptions (ENHS)

• 660 -- Concepts of Environmental Health Science. (3) Environmental health sciences presenting the earth as a complex system in which people, plants, animals, and non-living physical-chemical components interact.
  
• 661 -- Parasitology. {=BIOL 531 and EPID 661} (4) (Prereq: BIOL 460 or consent of instructor) Parasites of biological, economic, and public health importance. Three lecture and three laboratory hours per week.
  
• 662 -- Industrial Health Programs. (3) Analysis, planning, and implementation of programs to protect workers' health in industry; legislative and regulatory background.
  
• 670 -- Environmental Pollutants and Human Health. (3) (Prereq: BIOL 101 or 110; CHEM 101 and 102) Overview of environmental pollutants and their impact on human health; case studies of environmental catastrophes; principles of ecotoxicology; air, water, and land pollution associated with neurotoxicity, toxicology, and carcinogenesis.
  
• 681 -- Occupational Ergonomics I. (3) Introduction to ergonomics: hazards identification and analysis; solution design and implementation; human musculoskeletal characteristics, injuries; effects of work on performance, safety, and health. Application to manufacturing and office environments.
  
• 760 -- Fundamentals of Air Pollution. (3) (Prereq/coreq: ENHS 660 or permission of instructor) Chemical and physical aspects of air pollution and their regulatory problems. An examination of air pollution sources; physical and chemical processes affecting pollutants after emission; pollutants and their effects and the ultimate fate of pollutants. Attention is also given to the legal, administrative, and technical aspects of air pollution control.
  
• 761 -- Ecotoxicology of Aquatic Systems. (3) Lethal and sublethal effects of environmental stressors on organisms living in the water column and in sediments of aquatic systems. Practical techniques of aquatic toxicology, risk assessment and modeling.
  
• 762 -- Fundamentals of Industrial Hygiene. (3) Industrial hygiene, including health effects, occupational health standards, and the evaluation and control of occupational health hazards.
  
• 763 -- Medical Aspects of Occupational Health. (3) Emphasizes the medical aspects of exposure to hazardous materials, accidents, and mental and physical stresses on the job. Clinical spectrum of occupational illness with some emphasis on industrial toxicology.
  
• 764 -- Industrial Hygiene Evaluation. (3) An introduction to the evaluation of occupational exposures to hazardous materials found in the work place through utilization of appropriate sampling and measuring techniques.
  
• 765 -- Applied Research in the Environmental Health Sciences. (2) Current and prospective research issues associated with the multi-disciplinary areas of the environmental health sciences. Exploration of unsolved problems and preparation of a technical grant proposal.
  
• 766 -- Applied Aquatic Sciences. (3) (Prereq: pre-calculus math, general ecology, ENHS 660, or consent of instructor) The quantitative application of principles of basic physical, biological, and geochemical principles in assessing and solving environmental problems in lakes, streams, and wetlands. Emphasis on watershed-water quality interactions, trophic state analyses, wasteload impact prediction, toxic chemical fate and transport, wetland values, and classification.
  
• 766L -- Applied Aquatic Sciences Laboratory. (1) (Coreq: ENHS 766) Sampling and analysis of the interacting parameters used in assessing water quality and the functioning of aquatic systems.
  
• 767 -- Ecological Modeling and Environmental Planning. {=BIOL 768; =MSCI 767} (4) (Prereq: MATH 111 or equivalent, ecology, ENHS 660, or permission of instructor) Concepts in systems ecology and ecological modeling. Emphasis on the use of models and computer simulations in examining environmental interactions, predicting environmental impact, and facilitating the process of environmental planning. Lab practice in model development and computer simulation analysis.
  
• 768 -- Industrial Ventilation and Hazard Control. (3) (Prereq: college math and ENHS 762 or consent of instructor) Control of chemical and physical hazards in the occupational environment. Course covers principles and design of health protection systems such as ventilation systems, collection mechanisms, control of physical factors (excluding radioactivity).
  
• 769 -- Exposure and Risk Assessment. (3) (Prereq: MATH 141, CHEM 111 and 112, and BIOS 700 or STAT 701) Designing, implementing, and analyzing environmental exposures in the field; error analysis; computation of the value of improved information; hazard identification; dose-response evaluation; and risk characterization.
  
• 770 -- Microbial Processes and Pollution. (3) Microbial processes which alter the fate, bioavailability, and toxicity of environmental pollutants: biotransformations of metals and organic pollutants; resistance mechanisms and roles of microbial biofilms in toxin transfer.
  
• 771 -- Applied Industrial Toxicology. (3) (Prereq: ENHS 763 or permission of instructor) The toxicology of chemical compounds of wide industrial use; carcinogens in the workplace; chemical hazards and their interaction with man by class of compound; criteria for the threshold limit values.
  
• 773 -- Radiation Health Physics. (3) (Prereq: ENHS 660 or permission of instructor) Physics of radiation and associated health hazards; hazard evaluation and measurements; radiation content and protection of the individual. Course covers ionizing radiation, ultraviolet, microwave, lasers, R.F. field, and ultra-sound.
  
• 774 -- Risk Assessment and Interactions of Environmental Toxicants. (3) (Prereq: ENHS 660 or permission of instructor) A study of biological interactions and transformation of environmental toxicants at the cellular and subcellular levels, and assessment of cellular damage as it relates to health hazards and risks. Topics to include: environmental toxicants; exposure measurements; factors affecting interactions and toxicity; metabolism of xenobiotics: types and levels of effects and interactions; and human health risks.
  
• 775 -- Resource Management and Environmental Impact Assessment. (3) (Prereq: BIOL 102 and 570) Review of ecological principles as applied to environmental impact assessment. Study of the mandates of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. Analysis of several impact assessment methodologies.
  
• 776 -- Environmental Regulation and Planning. (3) Introduction to environmental planning. Survey of major federal environmental legislation. Review of processes and techniques of environmental planning including zoning, permits, management plans, assessments, and evaluation methods. Case studies of significant environmental projects.
  
• 777 -- Radiation Biology. (3) (Prereq: ENHS 660, 773 or permission of instructor) Fundamentals on the biological effects of ionizing radiation on living systems, especially man; basic biological mechanisms which bring about somatic and genetic effects.
  
• 778 -- Air Pollution Monitoring and Modeling. (3) (Prereq: one year each of general chemistry and physics) Sources, sinks, transport, and transformation of air pollutants. Health effects that occur directly or by intermediate transport. Current monitoring methods and modeling techniques for air pollution.
  
• 779 -- Applied Environmental Physiology. (4) (Prereq: ENHS 660, 761, and permission of instructor) Lecture and laboratory investigations concerning sublethal and lethal physiological responses of aquatic organisms to a variety of environmental pollutants. Stresses the in-depth understanding of the effects of: bacterial and thermal pollution, pesticides/herbicides, industrial chemicals, hazardous materials, and petroleum hydrocarbons on different physiological mechanisms.
  
• 780 -- Advanced Seminar in Environmental Modeling. (1-2) A critical review of recent advances and case histories in the formulation and use of ecological/ environmental models. Ecosystems analysis and environmental planning.
  
• 781 -- Occupational Ergonomics II. (3) (Prereq: ENHS 681) Literature reviews and applications in evaluation of hazards and design of ergonomic interventions including human factors in information processing, design of displays and controls, vibration, macroergonomics, fatigue, and shiftwork.
  
• 787 -- Analytical Concepts for Environmental Health Sciences. (3) Physical and chemical principles of environmental qualitative and quantitative analysis with emphasis on atmospheric, aquatic, and terrestrial samples. Includes use and limitations of instrumental techniques, sampling strategies, data management and reduction, and quality assurance programs.
  
• 788 -- Concepts of Hazardous Materials Management I. (3) Chemical and physical principles of multimedia contaminant transport, environmental effects of hazardous materials, statutes and regulations classification, treatment and disposal of hazardous materials.
  
• 789 -- Concepts of Hazardous Materials Management II. (3) (Prereq: ENHS 788) Chemical and physical properties of hazardous materials; use and storage; disposal options; transportation requirements; site safety considerations; management systems involving hazardous materials.
  
• 790 -- 1ndependent Study. (1-6)
  
• 793 -- Selected Topics in Environmental Health Sciences. (1-6)
  
• 795 -- Issues in Coastal Environmental Health. {=MSCI 795} (3) Problems associated with coastal population growth and development. Emphasis is on the working group approach to ameliorating impacts on ecosystem and human health.
  
• 798 -- Public Health Practice. (1-6) (Prereq: 9-10 hours of specified courses including BIOS 700, EPID 700) Performance of a limited work or service project in a public need setting, pursuit of planned learning objectives related to previously identified aspects of the student's chosen role. Self-monitoring and regular seminars focusing on learning accomplishments. (Pass/Fail grading)
  
• 799 -- Thesis Preparation. (1-9)
  
• 860 -- Environmental Radiation Surveillance. (4) (3 lecture; 1 lab) (Prereq: ENHS 773 or permission of instructor) Technical coverage relevant to a practical evaluation of radiation sources and contaminants in the environment
  
• 861 -- Aerosol Science. (3) Physical and chemical principles applied to the behavior and properties of particles suspended in air. Course covers motion under applied forces, electrical properties, diffusion, removal from gas, cloud dynamics, and optical properties.
  
• 862 -- Special Research Topics in Environmental Health Sciences. (1-3) (Prereq: BIOS 700, EPID 700, ENHS 660, and consent of instructor) Discussion and/or laboratory participation involving techniques used in multidisciplinary research areas of environmental health sciences that have not been covered why other courses. May be repeated for credit on different topics.
  
• 863 -- Advanced Topics in Environmental Planning. (3) (Prereq: ENHS 767, 775) Detailed analyses of techniques, especially computer simulation modeling, used in environmental assessment and planning. Emphasis will be on the prediction of the ecological effects of development projects. Students will collectively construct a simulation model for the purpose of environmental assessment.
  
• 864 -- Advanced Graduate Seminar. (3) (Prereq: complete at least two semesters in environmental health sciences and courses to include ENHS 660,765, and consent of instructor) Seminar presentation and group discussion by students, faculty, and guest speakers on current topics in environmental health sciences. May be repeated for credit.
  
• 899 -- Dissertation Preparation. (1-12) (Prereq: one full year (18 hrs.) of graduate study beyond the master's level.)
  

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