PhD in Environmental Health Objectives of the PhD program The overall aims of the PhD study program are to: (1) contribute to the country s effort in reducing the shortage of direly needed technically proficient manpower, and (2) enrich the academe (state universities and colleges), public sector (ministerial and environmentoriented agencies) and private sector (non-government organizations) with high calibre professionals and scientists in the field of environmental Health. Specific Objectives 1. To produce theoretically well-founded and technically proficient graduates who are able to serve as effective mentors of undergraduate and postgraduate students in higher education institutions in Ethiopia and elsewhere in Africa; 2. To turn graduates with such research acumen as be capable of conducting fundamental, applied and developmental studies in any of the various disciplines of environmental health and communicating the results to concerned stakeholders; and 3. To develop graduates with strong integrative aptitudes so as to translate scientific facts, trends, predictions and socio-political realities into cohesive environmental health policies, legislation and guidelines. Program of the study The PhD program will consist of purely research work. Candidates will formulate their own research proposals and prepare road maps to their future work in the first year of their admission, in close consultation with their advisers. The research shall be original, focusing as much as possible on environmental problems of national importance. The candidate s adviser, together with the head of the department of environmental health science and technology, will appoint an examination committee of 3 to 5 members who will later examine the candidate s research. The candidate shall be responsible to the adviser (promoter) and the department. During the first year of study, courses recommended by the advisor will be taken (candidates will prepare themselves and present a seminar paper) and, depending on the
research problem and if necessary or so desired by the candidates in order to strengthen their theoretical foundation. These courses are the same as those prescribed for the MSc environmental health program. Other courses could be also advised. Candidates will be involved in the department s activities such as teaching (a maximum of 3 credit hours per semester) and laboratory work (in his field of study, 3 contact hours per semester). In addition to the course seminars, each candidate will be required to present one seminar paper, pertinent to the progress of his research work, every year during the first three years of the study period. He/she will be promoted and registered to the next consecutive year after successful presentation and acceptance of the seminar papers. In the final (fourth) year of residency, the candidate will submit and defend his/her dissertation to the advisory committee. After successful defence by the candidate, the dissertation will be endorsed by the advisory committee to the university through channel for the granting of the ph.d. degree. Professional Profile An environmental health professional will be able to: Apply the acquired knowledge and skills to find solutions to localized and national environmental heath problems; Import to learners the theory and practice of the various fields of environmental health; Plan, implement, coordinate and evaluate environmental research undertakings; and Influence decision-makers and the general public on issues involving hygiene, sanitation and public health. Graduate Profile An environmental health doctoral graduate will: Identify, design and implement research projects and disseminate outputs independently or in leadership of research team in the field of environmental health;
Provide consultancy, advice and counsel to the government, non-government institution and the private on issues concerning environmental health in order to influence policy-and decision-making; Administer programs and protocols related to his/her particular field of specialization to a wide range of clients; and Teach specialized in higher education institution List of courses/optional A Ph.D candidate with environmental health background shall take some scientific writing skill courses and statistical analyses techniques and directly start his/her PhD research. Whereas candidates from other background should take courses from the following lists as recommended by his/her advisors. Courses could be on seminar basis or attending with other student depending on the schedule of the course delivery. Ser. Course CrHr Remark No 1 Principles and current topic in Environmental 2 Health 2 Ecotoxicology and Risk assessment 2 3 Environmental pollution and control 2 4 Food microbiology and chemistry for safety 2 5 Water supply and public health 2 6 Waste management and public health 3 7 Environmental impact assessment 2 8 Industrial and occupational hygiene 2 9 Environmental epidemiology 2 10 Advanced biostatistics 2 11 Human toxicology 1 12 Advanced medical entomology 2 13 CBTP 3
14 DTTP 3 15 Educational tour 1 16 Graduate thesis 6 17 Environmental chemistry 2 18 Advanced ecology 2 19 Pollution impact of pesticide 2 20 Environmental microbiology 2 21 Environmental Policy and law 2 Admission Requirements Candidates who have successfully completed their masters degree in the field of environmental health, environmental science, public health, and others related fields (chemistry, biology, statistics, etc.) and recommended by the supervisory committee of the department and partners from the north (after the realization of joint program) will be admitted into the program. In the case of many applicants or when the candidate s qualification and ability is questionable, the department will ask applicants to submit and present their Ph.D. research concept note to the examination committee established by the department. Finally the examination committee will decide to which should be admitted just for the sec of having a Ph.D. Student. In general the following admission steps will be followed. 1. Short listing of applicants (priority will be given to universities, colleges, and other government intuitions); 2. Submission of research proposal or concept note; 3. Short listing of relevant proposals for presentation; 4. Proposal presentation; and 5. Decision and admission
Assessment of Advisors Advisors will be assigned by the Ph.D. commission based on the proposal prepared by the candidate. If a candidate has established communication with a potential advisor, it has to be communicated to the department/ph.d. Commission to make it official. This will be formalized by officially written letter. The principal advisor should have Ph.D. degree. However, PhD student found at the last stage of his work could be assigned as a co-advisor. The candidate is fully responsible to communicate with the advisors. The candidate shall be responsible to the adviser (promoter). Research; the research work shall be original and the candidates are expected to develop research programmes, focusing, as much possible, on solving national problems. The candidate should have to finish has/her study within 3-5 years. Assessment and Evaluation The programme of the candidate will be evaluated on seminars, progress reports and original manuscripts submitted for publication to a reputable international journal. A candidate will be critically assessed by the department, advisors and advisory committee at the end of his/her second year study. At this point, the report of the advisor will be very vital. If the candidate failed to meet progressive advancement in his literature study and research work shall receive a warning letter after which dismissal could be followed when progress is not observed. Graduation requirements Seminars and progress report; the candidate should satisfy the advisors and the advisory committee presentation of the seminar every year for the first years and by submitting a progress report. Publication: a Ph.D. Candidate should publish part of his/her Ph.D. Thesis work at least one article and submitted another one in a peer reviewed journal having an impact factor of one or more.
Doctoral Dissertation The doctoral dissertation shall constitute individual effort in academic pursuits to identify and analyze problems by analysing sound methodology The doctoral dissertation should be approved by the Ph.D examination committee (Reading committee) which could be established by the advisor/promoter and the graduate program of the university. Member of reading committee will be those who have PhD degree and working in higher education institution and private sectors. This committee will have chairperson and secretary. After reading, the committee will decide to postponed the date of defence in case of major comments or approve the defence for the predetermined program. A doctoral dissertation shall constitute the fulfilment of the requirement to the Ph.D degree program.