Master of Science (M.S.) in Environmental Health Sciences
Environmental health sciences is where science, discovery, and real-world problem solving come together.
In the M.S. in Environmental Health Sciences program through the Department of Environmental Health Sciences, students investigate how air, water, workplaces, communities, and changing environments influence human and environmental health. Through hands-on research and close faculty mentorship, you will build the scientific skills needed to study environmental risks, generate new knowledge, and help protect public health.
This program is built for students who want a research-focused graduate degree. the M.S. is an academic research degree that requires a thesis and prepares graduates for research careers, advanced doctoral training, and roles that require strong scientific and analytical expertise.
What You’ll Study
You’ll learn how to investigate environmental hazards, ask research questions, and generate evidence that can improve human and environmental health. Students explore how environmental quality affects human health across areas such as microbiology, toxicology, exposure science, air quality, water quality, infectious disease ecology, ecotoxicology, environmental pollutants and risk assessment.
Through coursework and thesis research, you’ll build skills in hazard analysis, toxicology, environmental risk assessment, hypothesis testing, data interpretation, and the development of prevention strategies that support healthier, more sustainable communities.
Curriculum
The M.S. in Environmental Health Sciences is research-focused program with a thesis requirement totaling 39 credit hours across core environmental health coursework, epidemiology, public health foundations, research training, thesis preparation and electives. View the full curriculum in the Graduate Academic Bulletin.
Admissions
Applicants for the M.S. in Environmental Health Sciences apply through SOPHAS. Learn about the complete admission requirements for the M.S. in Environmental Health Sciences.
Where our Grads Work
Graduates of the M.S. program typically work in federal, state and local public health and environmental protection agencies, federal and state research laboratories, contract research and laboratories, industry, consulting firms and universities as research scientists, water quality specialists, eco- and toxicologists, nanomaterials or air pollution specialists and more. Our graduates work in places like the Safety Leader Institute LLC, Mobile Health Diagnostics and the S.C. Departments of Public Health and Environmental Services.
Tuition
Tuition and fees are subject to change and vary based on enrollment status and residency. Students are encouraged to explore financial aid options, scholarships and assistantships to help support their education. Learn more from the Office of Graduate Student Services.
Frequently Asked Questions
The M.S. is a research-focused academic degree that requires a thesis. The MPH is practice-focused and includes a supervised internship/practicum instead of a thesis.
The M.S. degree requires 39 credit hours.
GRE scores are optional.
Applicants apply through SOPHAS.
Ready to Get Started?
Prepare for a research career that helps communities understand environmental risks, generate evidence and improve health.
Request Information
Learn more about the M.S. in Environmental Health Sciences.
Contact Us
Please contact Dr. Kilpatrick, Graduate Director in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences at 803-576-5809 or kilpatdj@mailbox.sc.edu with questions about the M.S. in Environmental Health Sciences program.