The M.S. program emphasizes interdisciplinary training in the environmental health sciences. Upon completion of the program, M.S. graduates will be prepared to:
- Describe how chemical agents are tested for acute, subchronic and chronic health effects, including reproductive, developmental and carcinogenic effects, and interpret toxicological data in terms of relevance to human health.
- Describe how humans are exposed to chemical, physical, and biological agents in the workplace and environment, and
- Describe how exposures are assessed and can be controlled through administrative procedures, personal protective equipment and various engineering technologies.
- Utilize epidemiological data, with due regard to statistical validity, in the assessment of the nature and degree of impact of hazardous agents on the health of human populations.
- Analyze risk management decisions, demonstrating the scientific components of environmental and occupational health assessment and the policy context in which risk management decisions are made.
- Utilize and adapt technical methods for the measure or evaluation of hazards in the environment and the workplace, and communicate such to decision makers.
- Identify significant gaps in the current knowledge base concerning health effects of environmental agents.
- Identify the most important disease burdens with major environmental risk factors and the environmental risk factors that produce the most disease burden.
- Identify areas of uncertainty in the exposure and risk assessment processes.
- Describe current legislation and regulation regarding environmental health issues.
- Develop and conduct a research project in an area of interest.
- Organize information and data, prepare technical reports and give oral presentations on environmental contaminants and the impacts on human health.