MASTER S Student Handbook

Transcription

1 Department of Environmental Health Sciences MASTER S Student Handbook

2 Department of Environmental Health Sciences Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Master s Student Handbook The Department of Environmental Health Sciences reserves the right to change without notice any programs, policies, requirements, and regulations in this handbook. Updates and revisions to this handbook will be posted on the departmental website, at Additional policy information is included in various School publications including the Catalog, Student Handbook, Policies and Procedure Manual (PPM), and website, which may be accessed at

3 THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY BLOOMBERG SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH ACADEMIC YEAR CALENDAR SUMMER INSTITUTES Begin Week of June 2 REGULAR SUMMER TERM W July 2 F Aug 22 (37 class days) 1ST TERM Registration Begins for Summer Institute Terms. F Feb 14 Registration Begins for Regular Summer Term... T April 8 Internet-Based/Part-Time MPH New Student Orientation... Sun June 1 Summer Institutes Begin... Begin week of June 2 Regular Summer Term Registration Ends. F June 20 NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION/REGISTRATION... M June 30 T July 1 Instruction Begins for Summer Term... W July 2 INDEPENDENCE DAY HOLIDAY... F July 4 Regular Summer Add/Drop Period... W July 2 T July 15 (full term courses only) Last Class Day of Summer Term... F Aug 22 T Sept 2 - F Oct 24 (39 class days, M-F) 1 st Term Registration Begins for Continuing and Special Students M June 2 1 st Term Registration Ends for Continuing and Special Students... F Aug 15 NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION/ REGISTRATION... W Aug 27 F Aug 29 Instruction Begins for 1 st Term... T Sept 2 Add/Drop Period... M Sept 1 - F Sept 12 LABOR DAY RECESS... M Sept 1 Last Class Day of 1 st Term... F Oct 24 2ND TERM M Oct 27 - F Dec 19 (38 class days, M-F) 2 nd Term Registration Begins... F July 25 2 nd Term Registration Ends... F Oct 10 Instruction Begins for 2 nd Term... M Oct 27 Add/Drop Period... M Oct 27 F Nov 7 THANKSGIVING RECESS... Th Nov 27 Su Nov 30 Last Class Day of 2 nd Term... F Dec 19 Internet-Based/Part-Time MPH New Student Orientation... Sun Jan 4 WINTER INTERSESSION... M Jan 5 F Jan 16 3RD TERM Winter Intersession Registration Begins.. Th Oct 9 Winter Intersession Registration Ends.. F Dec 5 MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. HOLIDAY RECESS... M Jan 19 T Jan 20 - F Mar 13 (39 class days, M-F) Registration Begins for 3 rd Term... W Nov 19 3 rd Term Registration Ends... F Jan 9 Instruction Begins for 3rd Term... T Jan 20 Add/Drop Period... M Jan 19 - M Feb 2 Last Class Day of 3 rd Term... F Mar 13 SPRING RECESS... M Mar 16 - F Mar 20 4TH TERM M Mar 23 F May 15 (40 class days, M-F) Registration Begins for 4 th Term... M Feb 2 4 th Term Registration Ends... F Mar 13 Instruction Begins for 4 th Term... M Mar 23 Add/Drop Period... M Mar 23 F Apr 3 Last Class Day of 4 th Term... F May 15 PUBLIC HEALTH CONVOCATION... T May 19 UNIVERSITY COMMENCEMENT... Th May 21 RESIDENCY PROGRAM ENDS... T June 30 As of September 2013

4 CONTENTS JOHNS HOPKINS BLOOMBERG SCHOOL of PUBLIC HEALTH ACADEMIC ETHICS CODE Policy 1 Procedure 1 THE DEPARTMENT of ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES Mission 2 Departmental Overview 2 ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION for MASTER S STUDENTS Accounts 3 Course Waivers 3 Financial Support 3 Registration 4 Standards of Performance 4 Teaching Assistants 4 Weather Emergencies 4 Student Assistance 4 ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES STUDENT ORGANIZATION (EHSSO) 5 DEPARTMENTAL CONTACT INFORMATION Departmental Administration 6 Associate Chairs 6 Academic Administration 6 Business Administration 7 Academic Program Directors 8 MASTER S PROGRAMS Programs Overview 10 Advisors 11 Timeline 11 Assessment of Progress 11 MHS in Environmental Health 12 ScM in Environmental Health 16 MSPH in Occupational and Environmental Hygiene 24

5 JOHNS HOPKINS BLOOMBERG SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH ACADEMIC ETHICS CODE Policy The faculty and students of the Bloomberg School of Public Health have the joint responsibility for maintaining the academic integrity and guaranteeing the high standard of conduct of this institution. An ethical code is based upon the support of both faculty and students who must jointly accept the responsibility to live honorably and to take action when necessary to safeguard the academic integrity of this University. Students enrolled in the Bloomberg School of Public Health assume an obligation to conduct themselves in a manner appropriate to The Johns Hopkins University s mission as an institution of higher education. A student is obligated to refrain from acts which he or she knows, or under the circumstances has reason to know, impair the academic integrity of the University. Violations of academic integrity include, but are not limited to: cheating; plagiarism; knowingly furnishing false information to any agent of the University for inclusion in the academic record; violation of the rights and welfare of animal or human subjects in research; and misconduct as a member of either School or University committees or recognized groups or organizations. Procedure All members of the Johns Hopkins community are responsible for immediately informing the Academic Ethics Board of the Bloomberg School of Public Health of any suspected violations of its Constitution. The Ethics Board, composed of six students and four faculty members, is responsible for implementing its Constitution according to the procedures set forth therein. This includes formal hearings of suspected violations. Students and faculty should become familiar with the Constitution, copies of which are provided in student and faculty publications and materials, posted on the website of the School, and can be obtained at the office of one of the deans responsible for student affairs. Allegations of fraud in research by students will be handled and resolved according to the policies and procedures specified in Faculty PPM 7 - Fraud in Research. Penalties for students who are found responsible for engaging in fraud in research under Faculty PPM 7 may be selected from among the penalties specified in the Student Academic Ethics Code (Student PPM 1) as appropriate. Allegations of violations of academic integrity by students in the School are covered under the policies and procedures contained in PPM for Students - 1 (Academic Ethics) and the School s Academic Ethics Code. Allegations of sexual harassment are covered by the University s Sexual Harassment Prevention and Resolution Program for faculty, staff, and students. The University encourages individuals to report incidents of sexual harassment and provides a variety of avenues, both formal and informal, by which individuals can report complaints of sexual harassment. Allegations of sexual harassment by students are covered under the JHU program and under the Student Conduct Code. Allegations of unsatisfactory performance or unacceptable behavior by faculty are covered by PPM Faculty - 8 (Procedure for Handling Allegations of Unsatisfactory Performance or Unacceptable Behavior), and allegations of fraud or misconduct during the conduct of research by faculty are covered by PPM Faculty - 7 (Fraud in Research). Allegations of misconduct by staff are covered by policies and procedures established by the University Office of Human Resources as stated in the Personnel Policy Manual. (This information is taken from the School s POLICY AND PROCEDURE MEMORANDUM STUDENTS 1, SUBJECT: Academic Ethics.) EHS Master s Student Handbook - 1

6 The Department of Environmental Health Sciences 1.0 MISSION The Department of Environmental Health Sciences (EHS) integrates diverse scientific disciplines in its quest to discover, translate, and disseminate new knowledge critical to understanding the impact of environmental factors on individuals and human populations, a goal that is central to public health. Paramount to our mission is a commitment to the education and training of public health professionals to solve environmental health challenges ranging in scale from molecular to global. 2.0 DEPARTMENTAL OVERVIEW The Department of Environmental Health Sciences (EHS) is a dynamic group of faculty and students exploring the impact of chemical, biological, and physical agents on human health. We work to: discover the sources and distribution of these agents; understand individual response at the molecular, cellular, organ, and whole-body levels; assess environmental risk; and devise prevention and intervention strategies. Current thinking on the environment and health has propelled us to consider how the built environment and the social environment influence human health beyond the traditional focus on hazardous agents. We are also pursuing the health effects of global environmental change, including global warming, persistent organic pollutants, and ecosystems change. Students in EHS come from diverse backgrounds, and grow to appreciate the effects of the natural, built, and social environments on human health. Our broad, multidisciplinary approach creates a collaborative and supportive learning atmosphere for every student, while assisting them in developing lifetime careers in public health. The EHS Department engages in training, research and practice activities in two broad areas: Exposure Sciences and Environmental Epidemiology and Environmental Diseases: Molecular Mechanisms and Pathophysiology. Faculty and students evaluate the impact of chemical, biological, physical and psychosocial exposures on human health spanning the breadth of environmental media including food, water, and air and encompassing integrating concepts of the built environment and environmental sustainability. Our mission is to develop solutions to key challenges in local, national, and global environmental health, from the molecular to population-wide impacts. This is accomplished by investigating sources and distributions of exposures, mechanisms of action, biomarkers of exposure and biological effects, individual and population-based responses, and susceptibility factors at both the individual (molecular, cellular, organ, whole-body) and societal levels. In addition, environmental risks are assessed and prevention/intervention strategies are devised and evaluated. Our broad, multidisciplinary approach creates a collaborative and supportive learning atmosphere for students with diverse backgrounds and interests, while assisting them in developing lifetime careers in environmental and public health research and practice. Our graduates work in academic research institutions, health agencies, health departments and private industry organizations that are leaders in environmental and occupational health in the U.S. and in many countries around the world. These areas offer students many opportunities for course selection, research, and training in a setting that enables students to pursue a wide range of environmental health science interests. Our relationships with the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, the Whiting School of Engineering Department of Geography Environmental Engineering (DOGEE) and the School of Nursing ensure that our research can be rapidly translated into prevention strategies. In addition, our Department houses a number of Centers including the Center for Water and Health, Education and Research Center for Occupational Safety, Center for a Livable Future, the Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing, and the Center for Public Health Preparedness enhancing our unique academic environment EHS Master s Student Handbook - 2

7 3.0 ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION FOR MASTERS AND DOCTORAL STUDENTS The following section covers major student administrative topics. 3.1 Accounts Students should monitor their ISIS account on a monthly basis so that problems may be resolved in a timely manner. The Department may deposit funds for tuition and certain fees into accounts, but the student is responsible for late charges related to expenses that are not covered by the Department. These changes include late registration fees, even when the Department pays for tuition costs. Information regarding student accounts may be found at: Course Waivers Waivers will be considered when a student has taken a similar, graduate-level course(s), with a passing grade, in another division of JHU or another university. Similarity shall be based on comparison of the course syllabi by the relevant JHU course director. The waiver approval process depends on whether or not the Program and/or the specific requirement are Department or School-based versus Program-based. The waiver request form can be found at: For Department or School requirements, approval must be granted sequentially by the student s advisor, the Program director, and the Department Chair. For Program-specific requirements, a waiver approval must be granted by the student s advisor and the Program director. All waiver requests should be submitted on the appropriate form to the Academic Program Adminstrator. Once approved, documentation of the waiver will be maintained in the student s file. 3.3 Financial Support Partial tuition support is available on a limited basis for U.S. citizens in the full-time MSPH in Occupational and Environmental Hygiene and ScM in Environmental Health Programs. All students in these Programs who are in good academic standing receive tuition scholarships worth up to 75 percent of the School s tuition during the second year of the Program. All qualified applicants are considered for scholarship opportunities. Please note that funding for non-u.s. citizens is very limited. The allocation process is very competitive and funding sources vary each year. Additional means of financial support may be identified on the School s website at: In most cases, admitted students will be notified at the time of acceptance if they are awarded any type of financial support with the amount and type of support specified in the award notification. Students should contact the EHS Business Office at E7523 or if they have any questions about their award or accounts EHS Master s Student Handbook - 3

8 3.4 Registration It is the student s responsibility to register for courses during the appropriate time periods specified by the Office of Records and Registration (and available on the academic calendar). The student should discuss their course plans with their advisor before registration and confirm registration details with their advisor every term. Regardless of funding sources such as grants, stipends, etc., students are responsible for any applicable fees if they do not register properly. 3.5 Standards of Performance Students are expected to adhere to the policies stated in the EHS Student Handbook and the School s policy and procedure manual (PPM). These policies include those related to grade requirements, registration policies, academic progress, deadlines, satisfactory completion of exams, and the School s Academic Ethics Code. Students who fail to follow or meet the established policies may be subject to dismissal. 3.6 Teaching Assistants Teaching Assistant (TA) positions provide students with an opportunity to develop their teaching and interpersonal skills, to work professionally with faculty and fellow students, and to contribute service to the Department. Students must receive approval from their advisors before serving as a TA for a course. In order to be considered for a TA position, a student must be currently enrolled in courses on a full-time basis. All TAs are required to take the Online Module Teaching Assistantships 1: Essential Elements prior to TAing for a course Weather Emergencies A weather emergency is defined as an actual or imminent change in the atmosphere (e.g., snow, a hurricane, or a tornado) that is serious enough to disrupt the routine academic research service and administrative functions of the University. The JHU Weather Emergency Line can be reached at or The JHU Weather Emergency Line provides information on class cancellations and campus closing due to inclement weather. The University may also use the same phone lines occasionally to distribute other urgent information. Weather emergency information is also available at: emergency_weather_security_information/. 3.8 Student Assistance On occasion, problems may arise between students and other members of the School of Public Health community. The purpose of these guidelines is to set standards to help resolve disputes informally between the Department of Environmental Health Sciences students and other members of the Hopkins community. The student is encouraged to make a good faith effort to resolve the dispute informally prior to initiating formal Grievance Procedures. For those disputes that cannot be resolved informally, a Student Grievance Procedure has been created by the School to provide students and student groups with a formal process to seek resolution of a grievance (see Student PPM 07). In certain circumstances, other governing bodies also assist in these situations. A student who has a concern about a decision or act of a faculty or staff member of the Department of Environmental Health Sciences should follow the steps outlined below. Step 1: The student should first approach the person or parties (e.g. academic advisor, related office, etc.), directly involved as soon as possible to discuss questions or concerns. Step 2: If the issue or concern is not resolved informally, the student should contact the Program Director for assistance. A written request for problem resolution is requested at this stage. This request should include specific details about the problem, documentation if appropriate, and a suggestion for resolution. Step 3: If no resolution can be found in prior steps, the matter will be referred to the Departmental Chair, who will address the problem as he/she deems necessary. Step 4: If the matter is not resolved within the Department or requires review and/or decision at the School or University level, a student should refer to the School s Student Grievance Procedure document if appropriate EHS Master s Student Handbook - 4

9 4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES STUDENT ORGANIZATION (EHSSO) EHSSO is the departmental student organization formed for the purpose of facilitating social, intellectual, and service-oriented interaction between students, staff, and faculty of the Department of Environmental Health Sciences. EHSSO unites students from the different disciplines of the Environmental Health Sciences Department and provides a forum for students to voice their concerns and share ideas and research. Networking opportunities, social events, student-sponsored conferences, and lectures are all benefits of EHSSO EHSSO Board Members President Ben Davis bdavis64@jhmi.edu President Elect Makena Clive mclive@jhu.edu Secretary Sara Rasmussen srasmus7@jhu.edu Treasurer Katelyn Bruno kbruno@jhu.edu Student/Faculty Representative Cissy Li cli42@jhu.edu SA Representative TBD DrPH Representative TBD Master s Representatives TBD EHSSO Faculty Advisor Marsha Wills-Karp, PhD mwkarp@jhu.edu For further information please contact Ben Davis, EHSSO President, ehsso.jhsph@jhu.edu EHS Master s Student Handbook - 5

10 5.0 DEPARTMENTAL CONTACT INFORMATION DEPARTMENTAL ADMINISTRATION Marsha Wills-Karp, PhD EHS Department Chair James D. Yager, PhD Deputy Chair Theresa Daniel, BA Administrator Patty Poole Sr. Administrative Coordinator to the Chair Ruth Quinn Sr. Program Coordinator Office: E7527A Office: W Office: E7523B Office: E Office: E ASSOCIATE CHAIRS Jacqueline Agnew, PhD Associate Chair for Practice Patrick Breysse, PhD Associate Chair for Educational Programs Shyam Biswal, PhD Associate Chair for Research Brian Schwartz, MD, PhD Associate Chair for Faculty Development Office: W7503D Office: E Office: E Office: W Identify strategic opportunities to engage with the practice community and promote the scholarship of EH practice. Monitor existing and approval of new degree programs and curricula, monitor courses for non-department students, assess teaching quality, oversee doctoral admissions. Identify Department-wide strategic research areas, help faculty with grant submissions (mock study section) research retreats and seminars. Primary: Mentor faculty. Secondary: Recommend appointments and promotions to Chair and Executive Committee. ACADEMIC ADMINISTRATION Courtney Mish Academic Programs Administrator Office: E Courtney oversees all operations of the academic programs in the Department and works as the liaison between students, faculty, and administrative offices of both the Department and the School. She is responsible for overseeing all admissions, prospective student and academic communication and/or visits, teaching assistant assignments, course waivers, staffing departmental academic committees. She is also responsible for student DGA, (i.e. tuition, medical insurance, matriculation fee). Courtney monitors registration activity, assisting with issues as necessary, tracking of students academic progress including meeting School and departmental requirements, and exams EHS Master s Student Handbook - 6

11 BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION Theresa Daniel, BA Administrator Tracy Russo Financial Manager Erinn Johnson Sr. Research Service Analyst Raisa Supan Research Service Analyst Felicia Moore Sr. HR Coordinator Rita Hartje Budget Specialist Chichona Powell Budget Specialist Nicole Hughes, MA Communications Coordinator Office: E7523B Office: E Office: E Office: E Office: E Office: E Office: E Office: E Responsible for directing the overall administrative, financial and operational activities of the department of EHS. This position works closely with faculty and principal investigators to monitor expenses, prepare grant proposals and other related items for submission, handle all pre-and post award issues and assist with budgeting issues for sponsored & non-sponsored accounts. The Sr. Analysts handle more complex and multi-project funding. This position works closely with faculty and principal investigators to monitor expenses, prepare grant proposals and other related items for submission, handle all pre and post award issues and assist with budgeting issues for sponsored & non-sponsored accounts. The Sr. Analysts handle more complex and multi-project funding. This position works closely with faculty and principal investigators to monitor expenses, prepare grant proposals and other related items for submission, handle all pre and post award issues and assist with budgeting issues for sponsored & non-sponsored accounts. The HR Coordinator provides a wide range of human resource services for the department. Coordinate personnel services and HR processes. Prepares payroll submissions, job postings, visas for faculty and staff and answers payroll and benefits question. Responsible for the day to day financial transactions such as shopping carts, travel advances, travel reimbursements and on-line reimbursements. Work with AP to ensure the proper documentation is attached. Monthly account reconciliation of internal accounts. Responsible for the day to day financial transactions such as shopping carts, travel advances, travel reimbursements and on-line reimbursements. Work with AP to ensure the proper documentation is attached. Monthly account reconciliation of internal accounts. Nicole oversees the departmental website, designs and writes departmental publications and newsletters, manages the EHS Teamsite (SharePoint/ Portal) EHS Master s Student Handbook - 7

12 6.0 ACADEMIC PROGRAM DIRECTORS PhD Track in Environmental Diseases: Molecular Mechanisms & Pathophysiology Shyam Biswal, PhD Co-Director Wayne Mitzner, PhD Co-Director Office: E Office: E PhD Track in Exposure Sciences and Environmental Epidemiology Peter S.J. Lees, PhD, CIH Co-Director Ana Navas-Acien, MD, PhD Co-Director Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) Paul A. Locke, MPH, JD, DrPH Office: E Office: W7513D Office: W Master of Health Science in Environmental Health (MHS) & Master of Science in Environmental Health (ScM) E. William Spannhake, PhD Office: E Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH) Patrick Breysse, PhD Office: E6630 Phone: EHS Master s Student Handbook - 8

13 DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES MASTER S PROGRAMS MASTER S PROGRAMS EHS Master s Student Handbook - 9

14 6.3 MASTER S PROGRAMS Programs Overview The Department of Environmental Health Sciences offers three master s degree programs: the Master of Health Science (MHS) in Environmental Health, the Master of Science (ScM) in Environmental Health and the Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH) in Occupational and Environmental Hygiene. These programs are designed to address the educational and training needs of students within the broad range of disciplines in the field of environmental health, as described below. The MSPH in Occupational and Environmental Hygiene is a program with an internship requirement that meets the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) definition of a professional training program. The MSPH Program is also accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering Technology Applied Sciences Accreditation Commission (ABET-ASAC). The MSPH Program can be completed in 1.5 years as a full-time student or in three years as a part-time Internet-based student. The Program is intended for students interested in developing or advancing professional careers in occupational and environmental exposure assessment, risk assessment and management. This program is part of the Department s NIOSH-sponsored Education and Research Center in Occupational Safety and Health. Graduates of the program are employed in consulting, private industry and/or government, and they are also prepared to pursue doctoral studies (PhD or DrPH) in environmental health sciences. The MHS in Environmental Health is an academic program that is based on coursework and does not involve an internship. The MHS in EH is designed to be completed in one academic year. It is primarily intended for bachelor s degree graduates who have a special interest in environmental health and who wish to develop a foundation upon which to base further education and the application of environmental health principles in support of their long-term career goals. Specialty Tracks offer students the choice between three course sequences that focus on knowledge and skills within environmental health that address key areas of current activity in the field. Graduates may pursue higher degrees in various areas of public health, medicine, and law. Others have taken positions with government agencies, non-governmental organizations, nonprofit enterprises and in the private sector. The program is also designed to meet the needs of experienced government or private sector employees who wish to become more qualified in environmental factors involved in health and disease. The ScM in Environmental Health is a two-year, in-residence academic degree program consisting of one year of coursework followed by a 12-month research period. The ScM thesis is based on original research carried out by the student under the direction of a faculty member. The program is designed for individuals preparing to enter a PhD program or to pursue upper-level research positions in environmental health. Course requirements for the ScM are the same as for the MHS in Environmental Health. The ScM program in Environmental Health is intended for individuals with a special interest in pursuing research in one of the various areas within Environmental Health. Typically, these students have previous hands-on experience in laboratory, field or population-based investigations that they would like to build upon. Graduates may transition directly into training and research through doctoral degree programs in their areas of their primary interest. For graduates wishing to apply their knowledge and research skills prior to pursuing advanced degrees, the ScM will position them to compete for research positions in the private sector, federal agencies and non-governmental organizations EHS Master s Student Handbook - 10

15 Advisors All new students enrolled in any of the three master s programs will be assigned an advisor before their arrival. The advisor serves as the primary contact for the Department and will assist the student with course selection each term and interpretation of Departmental and School policies. In the MSPH and MHS programs, advisors will also assist students with the preparation and presentation of their essays. In these programs, the student is free to change advisors, but this change must be approved by the appropriate Program Director and the Department s Office of Educational Programs must be notified via . For students in the ScM, initially-assigned advisors may change when a student transitions from the MHS to the ScM program at the end of term 2 in the first year of the program in the event that the research advisor is not the initially assigned faculty member. Students are required to review the current term s registration details with their advisor before the end of the Add/Drop period each term (see: Timeline Most students in the MHS in Environmental Health complete their degree on a full-time basis within four academic terms (nine months). Additional terms of study are allowed as long as the student is making satisfactory academic progress. The full-time MSPH in Occupational and Environmental Hygiene program typically requires six terms (a year and a half) of study. The MSPH Program can also be taken through a part-time Internet-based delivery option. Students in either program who choose to attend on a part-time basis may take up to four academic years to complete their program. Students in the 2-year ScM are expected to complete at least 64 credits of coursework in the first four terms and to fulfill the written comprehensive examination requirement by the end of the first academic year. Research is expected to begin in the summer immediately following completion of the written comprehensive and will be completed along with all thesis requirements in time for graduation in May of the second year. Full-time Master s students must maintain continuous registration in order to maintain good standing in the program. If for some reason they are not able to maintain continuous registration, they must notify the appropriate Program Director and the Office of Educational Programs. Assessment of Progress Each term the student and their advisor will review grades from the previous term. Specific goals will be determined following this review. Students must meet minimum academic standards to remain in the Master s Program. A student who is experiencing academic difficulty will be notified in writing if they are expected to achieve a specific GPA during the upcoming term. Failure to meet any of the following criteria is grounds for dismissal from the program. Students must maintain a minimum of 2.75 cumulative grade point average. Students falling below 2.75 will have one term or up to 21 additional units of coursework, to raise the GPA above Students must attain a grade of C or better in all required courses that are offered for a letter grade in the required curriculum. Students must retake a required course in which they received a grade of D or F. If a student receives a grade of D or F twice in the same required course, they may not repeat the course a third time. If the course is a required core course with no other options, this is grounds for dismissal. Students must successfully complete any other program-specific requirements, for example the Thesis or Essay, according to the requirements specified in the specific program descriptions, below. Students in the full-time Master s program must maintain continuous registration in order to remain in good standing with the program EHS Master s Student Handbook - 11

16 6.3.2 MHS in Environmental Health Program Description The academic Master of Health Science in Environmental Health program provides students with a firm foundation in the perspectives and tenets of the field of Environmental Health through a curriculum of sequenced courses that build on one another to develop a strong knowledge base and application viewpoint. The program is primarily intended for individuals holding the bachelor s degree whose interests and, perhaps, experience in environmental health-related activities lead them see a place for environmental health in their future academic and career goals. Graduates have immediately pursued doctoral degrees in public health research, medicine and law, while others have moved first to positions in governmental agencies, NGOs, and the private sector. The program may also accommodate the educational needs of current employees in these sectors whose career directions warrant developing a better understanding the role of environmental factors in human health and disease. The Tracks of the MHS in EH program offer content specialization the areas of human toxicology and pathophysiology, population environmental health, and sustainability and global environmental health. All MHS graduates will have competence in the following areas: basic biological mechanisms; toxicology; statistical evaluation of data; epidemiological studies in environmental health; risk sciences and public policy, research ethics, and public health perspectives in research. In addition to successful completion of coursework, MHS students are required to prepare an essay addressing an environmental health problem and to make a formal presentation on the topic to an audience of faculty and students. Although reserved for unique situations, with approval of the program director, a part-time option may be offered. The part-time program has the same course and grade requirements as the full-time option and must be completed in three years. Programs of Study Students work in consultation with faculty advisors to select a program of study that best encompasses their area of primary interest and fits with their career goals. Required core courses address topics that include environmental health, toxicology, physiology, epidemiology, risk sciences, and statistics. The Program offers three Specialty Tracks of study. These tracks provide students the opportunity to complete a sequence of courses that present an optimal learning experience in selected areas of environmental health that are of special importance in the field. Depending upon the Track selection, MHS students also have the opportunity to fulfill the requirements necessary to earn either the Certificate in Risk Sciences and Public Policy or the Certificate in Humane Sciences and Toxicology Policy, in addition to the MHS degree. Following the end of the program academic year, students who, as part of their training, have completed coursework in the five course areas including Health Policy & Management and Social & Behavioral Sciences may apply to sit for the exam to become Certified in Public Health (CPH) through the National Board of Public Health Examiners. Each of the Specialty Tracks comprises a body of coursework that is unique to the focus of that track and, along with the core courses, provide the additional course units necessary to achieve the 64-unit minimum needed for graduation. (Schedules of coursework showing the curricula for the pairing of core course requirements with each of the three specialty tracks are provided below, following the ScM program section.) EHS Master s Student Handbook - 12

17 Specialty Track in Human Toxicology and Pathophysiology The Specialty Track in Human Toxicology and Pathophysiology is designed for students whose interests lie in laboratory-oriented approaches to the study of chemical and biological agents in the environment that affect health and the mechanisms through which they do so. Building upon the required introductory course in toxicology, specialty courses include three additional courses each in advanced toxicology and environmentrelated disease and two courses in laboratory-based statistics. Through lectures, discussion and class assignments, students in this track will develop a solid understanding of the ways in which environmental exposures can translate into health risks and the ways in which these risks can be evaluated and mitigated. Options include completing requirements for either the Risk Sciences and Public Policy or the Humane Sciences and Toxicology Policy certificates. Ideal applicants to this track will be individuals with strong backgrounds in the basic sciences, including biology and chemistry. Specialty Track in Population Environmental Health The Specialty Track in Population Environmental Health builds upon the broad population views of the program-required courses in epidemiology and environmental health principles. It is designed for students whose interests in the basic sciences extend toward the community and social aspects of the impact of environmental factors on health. Specialty track courses include three courses in epidemiology methods and application beyond the introductory course and a three-course series in statistics. This combination provides students with basic mastery in use of principle statistical approaches and introduces the quantitative skills used in epidemiologic research. A coursework option to participate in community outreach is offered. The Risk Sciences and Public Policy certificate series is often completed by students in this track. Through coursework and optional direct participation, students will develop an understanding of the nature of the problems that affect subsets of the population and the challenges faced in their solution. Ideal applicants to this track will be individuals with a good basic science and quantitative foundation and an interest in addressing population-related environmental health issues. Specialty Track in Sustainability and Global Environmental Health The Specialty Track in Sustainability and Global Environmental Health is designed for students who wish to develop an understanding of the factors that are driving current changes in the global environment and how their consequences affect human health at the individual and population levels. Through coursework and seminars, students will be exposed to a range of sustainability topics that fall within the classic domain of public health, such as food production, security and urban food systems, energy source impacts on public health and water supply and reuse, and others that are relatively new to it, such as the policy implications and health impacts of climate change, urban sprawl, energy policy and technology and the green movement. Climate change, loss of biodiversity, ecosystem degradation and the depletion of other global resources will be considered in the context of their impact on health on a global scale, and what visions for a sustainable future may look like. Track course content areas, combined with course-based development of analytical public health skills, will assist students in critically analyzing the complex interactions that exist within global environmental problems. The Food System, Environment and Public Health Certificate can also be pursued. Ideal applicants to this track will be individuals with an interest in the environmental and health implications of a rapidly increasing global population at a time of diminishing food and fuel resources and a changing climate EHS Master s Student Handbook - 13

18 Grade and Program Requirements As described in the general section above for Master s Programs under Assessment of Progress, students must meet all course grade, overall GPA and registration requirements. The program must be completed within three years as a full-time student. The MHS Program will schedule group luncheon meetings of MHS students and their advisors to serve as an information session to discuss program components and student opportunities and to provide updates of administrative, course or other programmatic changes. Meeting dates and times will be announced at the beginning of the academic year. Attendance is mandatory for MHS students. MHS Essay As a requirement of the MHS in Environmental Health degree program, the student must write an essay and present a summary of it during a formal seminar/symposium to program students and faculty. No written or oral comprehensive examination is required for this degree. The MHS essay is intended to serve as an integrating experience for the students. The content is based on an environmental health problem that is pertinent to the educational goals of the student and approved by the advisor. Insofar as the topic allows, the essay must synthesize, to varying extents, information across the spectrum from basic toxicology through exposure assessment and policy. The essay should represent a substantive application of analytic and technical skills in reviewing, exploring, and proposing potential solutions to a problem pertinent to environmental health. It is not a research paper or thesis, but rather an informative and in-depth literature review of a topic of interest to the student that has current environmental health relevance. The essay must be between 7,800 and 9,600 words of text (equivalent to about 30 pages), with at least 30 peer-reviewed journal article references in addition to other, e.g. Internet, references. The pages must be 1.5 or double-spaced using 12 point font with one inch margins. All Essays must contain: Title Page; Table of contents; text with section headings and a reference list. The latter will be in alphabetical order by first author or numbered consecutively and follow a format decided upon by the student and their advisor. Tables and figures may be incorporated into the body of the text but must be annotated to indicate the source of each. All students will register for three terms of , Special Studies MHS Essay, corresponding to the last three terms leading to completion of their program requirements typically 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Terms. Students who do not successfully complete the requirements for all three terms of this Special Studies course will face dismissal from the program. The student will meet with the advisor throughout the essay-writing process in order to ensure fulfillment of essay requirements, as well as assure that the essay is properly prepared for presentation and final approval. Ultimately, the essay must be reviewed and approved by the advisor and one other faculty member or expert chosen by the student and approved by the advisor EHS Master s Student Handbook - 14

19 Timeline for Essay Completion It is essential that the MHS essay be prepared in a timely manner, so that faculty can provide comments that can be incorporated into the final essay. During the year, certain milestones must be met in preparing the essay. The dates below are deadlines for submissions. Some are linked to receiving a grade of Pass in the Special Studies MHS Essay courses ( ). November 7 th Friday: Essay topic decided upon with advisor and brought to MHS Student/Advisor Lunch Meeting November 17 th Monday: Draft outline handed in to advisor for input and suggested modifications December 9 th Tuesday: Outline approved (required for satisfactory completion of 2nd Term Special Studies) January 20 th Tuesday: First draft of essay handed in to advisor for input and suggested modifications February 16 th Monday: Second draft of essay handed in to advisor for input and suggested modifications March 9 th Monday: Final version of essay handed in to advisor (required for satisfactory completion of 3 rd Term Special Studies) March 30 th Monday: Essay approved by advisor and sent to one other faculty member or Advisor-approved expert Reader April 16 th Thursday: Corrections to essay, based on Reader s comments, are handed in to the Advisor or Reader for review May 1 st Friday: Advisor and second Reader approve essay; Program Director notified by advisor. (required for satisfactory completion of 4 th Term Special Studies and for graduation). Students who receive a grade of Incomplete in the last of the MHS Essay Special Studies courses and do not satisfactorily complete the requirement within the School s 120-day time limit will be subject to dismissal from the program. May 14 th Thursday and May 15 th Friday: Essay Presentations Partial fulfillment of the MHS degree requirements for the program requires the student to make at least one presentation to an audience of faculty and students of the Department. This presentation will be based on the student s essay topic, and will typically be made after completion of the written essay EHS Master s Student Handbook - 15

20 6.3.3 ScM in Environmental Health Program Description The ScM in Environmental Health is a two-year, in-residence degree program that consists of one year of coursework followed by a 12-month research period. The program is intended for students whose goals might best be served by a research-based master s degree. These would include those preparing to enter doctoral-level programs or to pursue upper-level research positions in environmental health. The primary focus of the first year of the program is on coursework designed to provide a strong foundation in the basic tenets of environmental health. The course content will also establish a knowledge base in the particular area of research interest of the student as reflected in their choice of Specialty Track. In the third term of the first year, the student will finalize the research advisor selection process and work with their advisor to identify the research topic and conduct a background literature search as part of a thesis research course. In fulfillment of a second thesis research course in the fourth term, a written plan for the research project will be developed. Immediately after completing fourth term coursework and fulfilling the requirements of the written comprehensive exam, the student will begin their research under the direction of their advisor. The research is to represent an original work by the student and will form the basis for the master s thesis. After completion and review of the thesis, students will present their work at a departmental seminar. Students will be expected to complete the program at the end of the fourth term of the second year and graduate in May. Entry into the ScM Degree Program All students enter the academic master s degree programs through the MHS in EH. Those students interested in pursuing the ScM in EH will state that in the personal statement of their application. Applicants are requested to describe their research interests as they relate to specific areas of research being carried out by departmental faculty who serve as advisors in the ScM program. Because identification of a faculty member who will agree to serve as the research advisor for a student is essential for admission into the ScM program at mid-year, applicants are encouraged to investigate ScM research possibilities with individual faculty as a part of the application process. Before the end of the second term, students accepted into the MHS will be asked to submit an intradepartmental application for transfer into the ScM program. Applications will be reviewed by the ScM review committee and acceptance will be based on academic performance in the first two terms, a recommendation from at least one departmental faculty member, and the identification by the student of a faculty research advisor who has agreed to serve as a mentor. This identification process may occur during the first few months of the MHS program, but may be investigated with potential ScM faculty prior to the start of the academic year, as indicated above EHS Master s Student Handbook - 16