University at Albany offers the PhD of Environmental Health Sciences as a full-time degree delivered on campus at its main campus in Albany, United States of America. Taught in English and completed over 4 years, the program equips students with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills required for environmental health sciences and related professional fields. The next available intake begins on August 19, 2027.

About PhD in Environmental Health Sciences

Study the Effects of Harmful Contaminants on People, Plants, and Animals

Investigate and monitor the impact of toxicological hazards on public health by conducting original research alongside prominent faculty practitioners.

The PhD program in environmental health sciences enables you to analyze and solve real environmental health problems using advanced research methods and lab techniques in the biological, physical, and medical sciences.

By collaborating with experts in the New York State Department of Health to address real environmental public health issues, you get to strengthen your scientific research skills while you develop your professional network.

Student Learning Objectives

Learning objectives that UAlbany students are expected to attain through their course of study within their academic program.

Core Competencies

Acquire basic and advanced knowledge in selected research areas.
Gain advanced technical experience in the use of sophisticated and state-of-the-art instrumentation in the chosen field.
Read, critically evaluate, and present scientific literature, including justifying the choice of methods applied to problems and the interpretation of results obtained.
Prepare a written thesis and describe the principles and procedures for techniques involved, quality assurance for data acquisition, and statistical analysis.
Present and orally defend knowledge gained in a public seminar.
Describe issues related to the proper conduct of scientific research, including policies of federal and state agencies, and the university regarding scientific misconduct.
Acquire advanced knowledge in the chosen field.
Acquire analytical, field, and laboratory skills through rotations and specialty courses that provide training in the use and interpretation of results from sophisticated instrumentation.
Read, critically evaluate, and present scientific literature, including justifying the choice of methods applied to problems and the interpretation of results obtained.
Demonstrate a command of the fundamentals and current state of the discipline sufficient to prepare a written proposal.
Develop problem solving skills through application of knowledge to a research problem.

Toxicology

Acquire broad knowledge of the field of toxicology including the basic principles, target organ toxicity, and the toxicity of a select group of compounds. Know the basic building blocks of toxicology, and be able to build a more detailed knowledge of those particular aspects of toxicology that interest them.
Understand the molecular foundations of biological processes, including major current concepts in biochemistry and molecular biology, and have familiarity with the research literature in the molecular biosciences and techniques and applications of modern molecular toxicology.
Perform basic statistical analysis of data generated from lab experiments or field studies.

Environmental Chemistry

Acquire broad knowledge of the field of Environmental Chemistry including development of methods for ultra-trace analysis of pollutants in air, water, soil and biological matrices; understanding of sources, chemodynamics and fate of environmental pollutants in ecosystems.
Understand the methods used to assess human and environmental exposure pathways of environmental pollutants and quantitative analysis of exposure levels; environmental processes that affect the dynamics and fate pollutants; multimedia monitoring and modeling, biomonitoring and bioaccumulation of toxic chemicals.
Be familiar with the research literature, analytical techniques, and applications of those techniques in Environmental Chemistry. Interpret and critically analyze the data on environmental chemical analysis; conduct research independently and be able to perform basic statistical analysis of data generated from laboratory or field studies.

Environmental and Occupational Health

Have a broad knowledge of the field of environmental health including an understanding of the interaction of principles contained in fundamental environmental chemistry, biology, toxicology, epidemiology and general environmental health. Using this fundamental knowledge the students will then develop a refined knowledge related to their particular field of study within environmental or occupational health.
Have the skills, obtained during their course of instruction, to apply technical knowledge to both field and laboratory investigations. This will include recognizing the elements needed for a successful investigations, acquisition and integration of the information to meet study objectives and investigation resolution.
Assess risks from either environmental or occupational exposures and identify measures to mitigate the risks.
Manage data acquired during field and laboratory investigations. This includes the basic knowledge of statistics including hypothesis development, hypothesis testing and fundamental concepts involving data manipulation using parametric and non-parametric analyses.

Requirements and Admission Criteria for PhD in Environmental Health Sciences at University at Albany

Entry Requirements

Original & Translated Transcripts

Your academic transcripts must be provided in the original language, accompanied by certified translations into English.

If you attended an institution where instruction was conducted in English and your transcript is in English, then that transcript is sufficient. However, you must also provide official documentation on the language of instruction.

(Official copies of your transcripts will be required upon admission. For instructions, please visit our Apply to a Degree or Certificate Program page.)

Students from India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan

We require official and complete individual mark skeets for each examination attempt, including subsidiary exams.

These documents must be issued by the University Registrar or Controller of Examinations.

We will only accept photocopies of your mark sheets when they are attested by the University Registrar or Controller of Examinations and placed in a sealed, stamped envelope that is sent directly to the Graduate School.

We will accept a Provisional Certificate of Degree or Degree Certificate as proof of degree completion.

Students from China

We require both the Graduate Certificate and the Bachelor’s Degree Certificate for proof of earned degree.

Students from Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Moldova

We will accept apostilled photocopies of your official academic record, in lieu of those records being officially sent to us by the institution of higher education.

Transcript Evaluation

Although not required, we accept WES Evaluations sent directly to UAlbany from WES.

A transcript evaluation allows the review committee to correctly compare the quality of your school, coursework and grades with all other applicants.

Other evaluation services can only be used if they require official documents directly from the institution of higher education, not the student, to evaluate coursework.

Proof of Degree

An official document showing award of degrees is required.

If you do not submit acceptable documents showing proof of a U.S. bachelor’s degree or its equivalent with your admissions application, UAlbany must receive official proof of degree by the end of your program’s first semester. Otherwise, a hold will be placed on your account, preventing you from registering for the following term.

English Requirements

PTEMin 53
IELTSMin 6.5
TOEFLMin 79

Career Opportunities after Completing PhD in Environmental Health Sciences

As a graduate of this environmental health sciences program, you'll be prepared for academic, technical, professional, and supervisory careers in higher education institutions, public health organizations, NGOs, government research agencies, medical centers and hospitals, and pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.

Sample job titles: environmental toxicologist; senior human health risk assessor; environmental health and safety analyst; industrial hygienist; ecological statistician; water quality specialist; environmental epidemiologist.

Tuition and Fee Information for PhD in Environmental Health Sciences at University at Albany

Application Fee 75

How to Apply for PhD in Environmental Health Sciences at University at Albany

Step 1: Gather your application materials

We suggest you have all required elements for your application in place before you apply.

Please read the Instructions for Application Materials below for detailed information on each required material.

Gather these general application materials:

Transcripts of all post-secondary schools attended
Statement of Background and Goals
Resume
Graduate Assistantship/Fellowship Application
Your recommenders’ names and email addresses
Any program-specific application materials listed above (such as standardized test scores, a writing samples, a portfolio, etc.)

Step 2: Apply for graduate funding

Most tuition scholarships, assistantships and fellowships are offered and administered by academic departments. Please contact your program for information on eligibility and availability.

You will have the option to apply for an assistantship or fellowship when you fill out your admissions application using the application portal. For more information, visit our Funding Graduate Studies page.

Eligible students can also apply for a funding program that supports our diversity (such as the Graduate Opportunity Program and/or Carson Carr Graduate Diversity Fellowship) by submitting the appropriate application materials with their admissions application.

Other types of financial aid — including federal loans, work-study, state aid and other types of assistance — are also available to graduate students. We encourage our students to file the FAFSA each year, if they are eligible.

Please review these instructions for applying for financial aid as a graduate student.

International students: If you plan to attend UAlbany on an F1 student visa, you must document your ability to meet all expenses while attending UAlbany by submitting a financial affidavit and financial documents. Please review our Information for International Applicants page for more information.

Step 3: Submit your standardized test scores

Many graduate programs require applicants to submit standardized test scores, such as the GRE or GMAT. Use the search bar above to determine if your program requires standardized test scores.

International students: If your native language is not English, you’ll have to submit English language proficiency exam scores. Please review our Information for International Applicants page for more information.

Applicants cannot submit photocopies of test results. It can take one to three weeks for official scores to be received from the testing services and processed by the University, so be sure to request your test scores well in advance of the application deadline.

Step 4: Submit your application

Create an account within our application portal, which you will use to submit your application and application fee. Please see the "Using the Application Portal" instructions below for additional information.