Requirements for Master of Public Health (MPH) Program

Mission/Description

The mission of the MPH program in Environmental Health Sciences is to prepare students to prevent, detect mitigate environmental health problems; conduct environmental health investigations; and identify and monitor environmental health hazards.

Admission Requirements

Students must meet all the requirements for admissions to MPH program at the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.

Graduation Requirements

In addition to the SPHTM’s academic standards, the department of Environmental Health Sciences requires the following:

• Successful completion of 45 credit hours of coursework, consisting of three course categories: required school core courses; required departmental core coursework; elective course work in either environmental health policy or disaster management
• A 200 hour field practicum
• A practicum report
• A culminating experience resulting in a public health analysis of an environmental health problem or intervention.
• Presentation of the key findings of the public health analysis during the departmental seminar in the last semester of the student’s MPH program

Program Competencies

At the completion of the MPH program in Environmental Health Sciences, the student will be able to:

• Apply scientific principles to prevent, detect and mitigate environmental public health problems and threats locally and globally (ENHS 6030, ENHS 6600, ENHS 7620)
  
• Conduct public health analyses and investigations for innovative solutions to environmental health issues (ENHS 6030, EPID 6030, BIOS 6030, SPHL 6030, ENHS 7000)
  
• Investigate and monitor environmental hazards resulting from exposures to hazardous substances in the environment (ENHS 7620, ENHS 6510, ENHS 6590)
  

     Specific competencies for students focusing on elective coursework in Environmental Policy:

• Apply international, federal, and state regulatory programs, guidelines and authorities to address public health issues (ENHS 7750, ENHS 6550, ENHS 6470, ENHS 6960)
  
• Conduct Analysis of existing policies and regulations integrating public health science, policy, and practice (ENHS 7750, ENHS 6760, ENHS 6550, ENHS 6960)
  
• Evaluate the direct and indirect human, ecological and safety effects of major environmental resource agents on human health (ENHS 6550, ENHS 6470)
  
• Examine the role of policy in public health decision-making (ENHS 6470, ENHS 6110, ENHS 6960)
  
• Develop a policy framework to address contemporary environmental health issues (ENHS 7750, ENHS 6110, ENHS 6550, ENHS 6960)
  

     Specific competencies for students focusing on elective coursework in Disaster Management

• Apply public health science, policy, and practice principles to address the health threats resulting from natural and intentional disasters (ENHS 7750, ENHS 6910, ENHS 7910, ENHS 6920)
  
• Integrate environmental public health strategies in the development, execution, and evaluation of each core component of disaster management: preparedness, detection, response, containment, and recovery (ENHS 6910, ENHS 6940, ENHS 7910)
  
• Implement population-based interventions to protect communities, particularly vulnerable populations, from natural and intentional disasters (ENHS 6930, ENHS 6430, ENHS 6950, ENHS 7950)
  
• Evaluate the capacity of public health systems to effectively and efficaciously respond to natural and intentional disasters (ENHS 6930, ENHS 6430, ENHS 6950, ENHS 7950)

Elective Coursework

Students pursuing an MPH in Environmental Health Sciences can choose to take elective coursework in either Disaster Management, also available through distance learning, or Environmental Policy. For more information about these areas of interest, please contact Erica Geary at 504.988.7374.

Program Requirements

Course and Credit Requirements (total of 45 credits required)

Sample Student Schedules

To download a sample 18 month student schedule for the MPH in Environmental Policy please click here.

To download a sample 18 month student schedule for the MPH in Disaster Management starting in the spring please click here.   For a sample student schedule starting in the fall please click here. 

Practicum Requirements

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

MPH 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. 

Contact

For more information about the MPH in Environmental Health Sciences, please contact Erica Geary at 504.988.5374.