Juris Doctor / Master of Science in Public Health (JD/MSPH) Program

Mission/Description

The mission of the JD/MSPH in Environmental Health Sciences is to :

1. Prepare students to  prevent, detect and mitigate environmental health problems.
2. Equip students with the knowledge, skills and ability to investigate and monitor environmental hazards; collect, analyze and use quantitative methods to evaluate environmental data, utilize technical environmental health data in a variety of professional settings, and manage the delivery of environmental health services.
3. Prepare students to utilize their niche of legal training to develop and apply appropriate policies and management systems to a variety of environmental public health problems.
4. Equip students with the knowledge, skills, and ability to synthesize and utilize scientific and legal principles imperative for sustainable public health practice.

(Note: The MSPH program review for Industrial Hygiene with specialized requirements specified by its accrediting body (ABET) appears as a separate program review). The JD/MSPH offerings consist of programs for both pre-professionals and for individuals in mid-career.

Admission Requirements

Students must meet all the requirements for admissions to MSPH program at the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, and for the JD program at the Tulane University School of Law. 

Graduation Requirements

1. Residency: Residency is the same as the school’s requirement. 
2. Credit Hours: In addition to meeting the law school graduation requirements, students must meet the SPHTM academic requirements for graduation.
3. 45 credit hours of coursework, consisting of three course categories: required school core courses (18 credit hours) ; required departmental core coursework (9 credit hours); elective course work in global environmental health sciences; toxicology and risk assessment; or industrial hygiene (18 credit hours)
4. A 200 hour field practicum
5. A practicum report
6. A culminating experience resulting in a public health analysis of an environmental health problem or intervention.
7. Presentation of the key findings of the public health analysis during the departmental seminar in the last semester of the student’s JD/MSPH program

Program Competencies

At the completion of the JD/MSPH in Environmental Health Sciences, the student will be able to: 

1. Recognize, evaluate and control environmental health problems
2. Apply environmental health principles to solve public health problems
3. Use quantitative and qualitative methods to evaluate data
4. Provide environmental health services
5. Interpret and evaluate research in environmental health
6. Communicate environmental health concepts or concerns in writing or verbally to peer groups, environmental health practitioners and the public
7. Apply international, federal, and state regulatory programs, guidelines and authorities to address public health issues
8. Conduct analyses of existing policies and regulations integrating public health science, policy, and practice

Graduate Requirements

In addition to the School's academic standards, the department requires for graduation:

• Successful completion of 45 hours (pre-professional program) of course work.
• Successful completion of a 200 hour practicum, practicum report, culminating experience, and thesis.
• Presentation of culminating experience findings in departmental seminar.

Program Competencies

At the completion of the MSPH degree, the student will be able to:

• Recognize, evaluate, and control environmental health problems (ENHS 603, ENHS 610, ENHS 660, ENHS 604, ENHS 656, ENHS 661, ENHS 640, ENHS 650, ENHS 651, ENHS 652, ENHS 653) 
• Apply environmental health principles to solve public health problems (SPHL 601, SPHL 603, ENHS 610, ENHS 660, ENHS 762, ENHS 604, ENHS 631, ENHS 641, ENHS 650, ENHS 652, ENHS 656)
• Use quantitative and qualitative methods to evaluate data (BIO 603, EPI 603, ENHS 762, ENHS 754, ENHS 766)
• Provide environmental health services (ENHS 603, ENHS 604, ENHS 640, ENHS 753, ENHS 750, ENHS 641)
  
• Interpret and evaluate research in environmental health (ENHS 786, ENHS 700, ENHS 631)
  
• Communicate environmental health concepts or concerns in writing or verbally to peer groups, environmental health practitioners, and the public (ENHS 668, ENHS 700, HSMG 603)

Specific competencies for students focusing in Toxicology and Risk Assesment:

• Apply fundamental toxicology principles to elucidate mechanisms of actions in humans exposed to hazardous substances; (ENHS 660, ENHS 661)
  
• Conduct a quantitative human health risk assessment; (ENHS 762, ENHS 766)
  
• Develop chemical-specific standards to inform policy at local, state and national levels; (ENHS 762)
  
• Apply risk communication skills to inform communities of potential health risks from exposure to hazardous substances (ENHS 668)
  

Specific competencies for students focusing in Global Environmental Health:

• Evaluate environmenal health concerns including water quality, waste management and resource sustainability using basic concepts of mitigation; (ENHS 604, ENHS 640, ENHS 650, ENHS 651, ENHS 603, ENHS 610)
  
• Perform fate and transport field and laboratory evaluation to assess the toxicity and the chemical, physical, and biological interactions to pollution;(ENHS 652, ENHS 656, ENHS 603, ENHS 740, ENHS 610, ENHS 754, ENHS 600, ENHS 663)
  
• Apply innovative techniques for water, wastewater and residuals management; (ENHS 641, ENHS 753, ENHS 651, ENHS 610, ENHS 754, ENHS 702, ENHS 667)
  
• Describe methods for assessment, prevention and control of biological, chemical and physical environmental health problems related to the rapid global industrialization; (ENHS 641, ENHS 753, ENHS 604, ENHS 603, ENHS 610, ENHS 766)
  
• Design technologies to providing safe food,water, and waste in developing countries with a focus on small communities (ENHS 641, ENHS 651, ENHS 753, ENHS 603, ENHS 640, ENHS 604, ENHS 610)
  

Elective Coursework:

Students pursuing an JD/MSPH in Environmental Health Sciences can choose to take elective coursework in either Toxicology and Risk Assessment or Global Environmental Health.  The department also offers a Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH) with specialty coursework in Industrial Hygiene.  For more information about these areas of interest, please contact Erica Geary at 504-988-7904

Program Requirements

Students may apply no more than 12 hour credits in relevant Law School courses toward meeting their course requirements in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences.  Relevant Law School courses for which no more than 12 credit hours may be applied toward meeting the course requirements for the MSPH degree includes Ocean and Coastal Resources Law; Environmental Law; Energy Law; Water Law; Land-Use Planning Law, and Administrative Law These credits are in addition to the 33 credits taken in the SPH&TM. A maximum of nine credits of SPH&TM course work may be applied toward the JD degree. This course work will require Law School approval.

Course and Credit Requirements (total of 45 credits required)

The practicum is designed to provide students with practice experience related to their field of study. The practicum is a minimum of 200 hours in an agency or other practice setting under the direction of a preceptor. A practicum report summarizes the field experiences.  Click here to download practicum handbook.

Past examples of practicum opportunities in Environmental Health Sciences Include:

• Chesterfield County Water Utilities in Richmond, VA; Diversity Internship Program for the Utilities
• Asian Institute of Technology, Padhumthani, Thailand
• Louisiana Office of Public Health, Section of Environmental Epidemiology and Toxicology, New Orleans, Louisiana
• New Orleans Health Department, Asthma Program
• Tulane Environmental Health Sciences (CBRP)
• Saku Central Hospital, National Institute of Health and Nutrition, Japan
• Ferrate Treatment Technologies, LLC, Orlando, Florida
• Sewerage and Water Board, New Orleans, Louisiana
• Tulane Institute for Water Resources and Policy
• US Forest Service, Boise national Incident Management Organization
• Department of Health and Hospitals, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
• Vail Salvation Army, Edwards, CO
• National Environmental Education Foundation, Washington, DC
• Waldemar S. Nelson & Co., New Orleans, LA
• Department of Health and Hospitals, Environmental Epidemiology and Toxicology Section, New Orleans, Louisiana

Culminating Experience Requirements

JD/MSPH students in Environmental Health Sciences are required to conduct a publich health analysis of in fulfillment of the culminating experience.  The analysis can involve investigating a public health problem or proposing ways to conduct an intervention.  upon completion, the student must present the findings during the departmental seminar in the last semester of studies. Download culminating experience handbook.

Specialty Coursework

Students pursuing an JD/MSPH in Environmental Health Sciences may choose to take specialty coursework in Global Environmental Health Sciences, Industrial Hygiene, or Toxicology and Risk Assessment. For more information about specialty coursework in any of these areas of interest, please contact Erica Geary at 504.988.5374.

Sample Student Schedules

Download a Sample Student Schedule for a JD/MSPH Student beginning coursework in the Spring Semester or Beginning coursework in the fall semester.  

Contact

For more information about the JD/MSPH degree in Environmental Health Sciences, please contact Erica Geary at 504.988.5374.