Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Environmental Health Sciences
The Ph.D. in Environmental Health Sciences, housed in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences, is designed for students who want to become environmental health scientists, researchers, scholars and faculty members working to understand how environmental conditions affect human health and how human activities affect environmental quality.
This doctoral program is a strong fit for students who want to find answers to today’s most urgent environmental and public health challenges, including climate change, environmental justice, environmental microbiology, toxicology, exposure science, water quality, air pollution, infectious disease ecologysustainable agriculture, oceans and human health and community-engaged environmental monitoring.
Students develop scientific competence, research skills and professional preparation while working with faculty on research that addresses real-world environmental problems. The program prepares graduates for careers in academia, government, national research laboratories, environmental regulatory agencies, private industry and environmental consulting.
Curriculum
The Ph.D. in Environmental Health Sciences is a flexible, research-intensive degree shaped by each student's prior preparation, research interests and faculty mentorship. Students build advanced knowledge in environmental health sciences while developing the research, writing, communication and analytical skills needed to conduct independent scientific work.
Students develop a doctoral Program of Study with their advisory committee, complete coursework, pass a qualifying examination, advance to doctoral candidacy, conduct independent dissertation research, pass a comprehensive examination and defend a dissertation that represents significant original research in an advanced area of environmental health sciences.
View the Academic Bulletin for the full curriculum.
Admissions Requirements
Learn about the complete admission requirements and application process for the Ph.D. in Environmental Health Sciences.
Applications are accepted for fall and spring admission. The fall entry priority application deadline is December 1, with a final fall entry application deadline of January 15. The spring entry application deadline is July 15.
Where Our Grads Work
Graduates of the Ph.D. in Environmental Health Sciences are prepared for research, teaching, regulatory, scientific and leadership roles in settings across government, academia and education, private industry, environmental consulting companies, national research laboratories, and federal, state and local environmental regulatory agencies. Graduates are poised for positions as scientists, faculty, researchers, analysts, managers, and more.
The student culture here is vibrant and welcoming, with many opportunities to engage in academic and social activities. My experience has broadened my perspective and helped me grow both personally and academically.
Graduate Assistantships
A graduate assistantship is a part-time position that allows graduate students to work in a variety of roles while completing their degree.
Graduate assistants may support faculty research, assist with grant-funded projects, help with teaching or support departmental, administrative or program-related work.
Graduate assistantships are available to a limited number of fully admitted, full-time graduate students who are in good academic standing. At the Arnold School, assistantships typically require 10 to 20 hours of work per week, depending on the position. Students with assistantships generally must maintain a 3.0 GPA and enroll in at least six graduate credit hours in fall and spring semesters, unless an approved special enrollment status applies
Graduate assistantships may provide a stipend and special tuition rate or tuition reduction. Funding varies by position, faculty mentor, department and funding source. Qualifying students may also be eligible for fellowship support and a university health insurance.
Students interested in assistantships should contact the program to which they are applying and talk with potential faculty mentors about available research funding. The Department of Environmental Health Sciences holds nationally competitive grants that support graduate students through Graduate Research Assistantships, and ENHS graduate students are routinely recipients of nationally competitive research fellowships.
Learn more about graduate financial aid and assistantships.
Tuition
Tuition and fees are subject to change and vary based on enrollment status, residency and assistantship eligibility. Students are encouraged to explore financial aid options, scholarships, fellowships and assistantships to help support their education.
Learn more from the Arnold School’s financial aid information and USC’s Tuition and Fees resources.
Frequently Asked Questions
Students entering the department’s graduate programs may focus broadly on environmental health or human health. Because the field is interdisciplinary, students may draw from biology, chemistry, geography, physics, engineering, public health, medicine and related sciences.
Applicants must apply through The Centralized Application Service for Public Health (SOPHAS).
Request Information
Contact Us
If you have questions about the Ph.D. in Environmental Health Sciences, please contact Daniel Kilpatrick, Ph.D., Graduate Director at 803-576-5809 or kilpatdj@mailbox.sc.edu