Master of Science in Environmental Health Sciences

The core course requirements are given below for Plan I (original research thesis) and Plan II (comprehensive examination):

Plan I

*EHS270 may be substituted with the approval of the advisor if the student already possesses a background in environmental health sciences.

Total units required:  40, plus enrollment in EHS 299 for thesis research (usually 2 units in Winter and Spring of first year and 10 units in subsequent quarters)

*additional courses may be added to this pool upon approval of the Program Faculty

Plan II

*EHS 270 may be substituted with the approval of the advisor if the student already possesses a background in environmental health sciences

Total units required: 35 plus enrollment in EHS 290 for scholarly paper research (usually 4 units in Spring of first year), comprehensive examination and scholarly paper
 

ADVANCEMENT TO CANDIDACY- PLAN I:

The Master’s student in Plan I is required to write a thesis based on research the student has done under faculty supervision in the area of Environmental Toxicology or Exposure Sciences and Environmental Epidemiology.  A committee of three faculty members is appointed to guide the student through the research problem and determine when a sufficient amount of work has been completed satisfactorily.  At that time, the student presents the research results to the committee; after successful presentation of the results, the student can advance to candidacy for the Master of Science degree.  The student must advance to candidacy no later than one quarter before the quarter in which the degree is expected to be awarded. Plan I requires a minimum of 5 quarters and usually 7 quarters to complete.

ADVISING - PLAN I:

The first-year MS student in Plan I and all first year doctoral students are expected to get involved in a research project at the earliest possible time, usually in the first quarter of the program.  When a student is unsure of where to work, that student is encouraged to take advantage of the research rotation option.  A rotation will consist of up to one quarter residence in a laboratory/research group of the student’s choice; two or more rotations per academic year are possible.  Professors will be responsible for acting as an advisor/mentor to the student and instructing the student in proper research procedures, experimental design, and data analysis/scientific interpretation.  If the entering student is sure of the area in which he/she wants to work, a research rotation is not necessary.

SAMPLE PROGRAM FOR MASTER'S STUDENT - PLAN I:

*EHS 270 may be substituted with the approval of the advisor if the student already possesses a background in environmental health sciences

ADVANCEMENT TO CANDIDACY - PLAN II:

The Master’s student in Plan II is required to write a scholarly paper based on individual study the student has done under faculty supervision.  The student must also pass a written comprehensive examination based on the course work in the specific focus area taken.  After completion of the examination, the student can advance to candidacy for the Master of Science degree.  The student must advance to candidacy no later than one quarter before the quarter in which the degree is expected to be awarded. Plan II takes 4 quarters to complete.

ADVISING - PLAN II:

The first-year MS student in Plan II is expected to get involved in individual study of a specialty area in environmental health sciences at the earliest possible time, usually in the first quarter of the program.  The student works under the supervision of a faculty member, who is generally also their first year advisor, and is given credit for this work under course EHS 290 Independent Study in Environmental Health Sciences. The product of this independent study is the scholarly paper. The comprehensive examination is always held at the beginning of summer quarter.

SAMPLE PROGRAM FOR MASTER'S STUDENT - PLAN II: