Master of Health Science (MHS) in Environmental Health
Offered By: Department of Environmental Health and Engineering
Onsite or Online | Full-Time or Part-Time | 9 months–2 years
About the MHS in Environmental Health Program
Want to learn how the environment impacts our health? Consider a Master of Health Science in Environmental Health! Part of the #1 school of public health, this graduate degree program prepares students for careers in medicine, research, advocacy, policy and practice.
One of the School’s shortest degrees, the full-time MHS is a nine-month, coursework-based degree for individuals who want a comprehensive understanding of the association between our environment and health. Students will learn how environmental hazards (not only in air, water and food but also neighborhood and social hazards) affect human health at the individual, population and systems level.
A flexible part-time format is also available.
Application deadline is June 1 for an August start. However, we strongly encourage international students to apply no later than May 1 to allow time to secure a visa.
MHS in Environmental Health Program Highlights
#1 ranked
by peers in Environmental Health Sciences - U.S. News & World Report
Customizable
Electives offered in 5 different areas
Online or Onsite
Online and part-time options available
Multidisciplinary
Take courses across engineering, business, and more
Areas of Interest
The Department offers courses in the following areas:
Food Systems, Water and Environmental Sustainability
Courses in Food Systems, Water and Environmental Sustainability cover the factors that are driving current changes in the global environment and how they can lead to adverse effects on human health at individual and population levels. Through coursework and seminars, students will be exposed to a range of sustainability topics relating to food systems, water quality, use and re-use, the built environment and the multiple impacts of climate change. Research interests can include chemical and biological threats to food safety and water quality and approaches to effective intervention/prevention. This foundation can be used to support plans for subsequent doctoral (e.g. PhD, JD) level training or to pursue a career in government or the private sector. Students interested in this area may also complete the course requirements to receive the Certificate in Food, Environment and Public Health.
Health Security
Courses in Health Security cover domestic and international health threats, including epidemics, natural disasters, technological accidents, and intentional attacks. Students examine major organizations and initiatives designed to prevent, detect, and respond to health security threats; assess the current status of health security preparedness; and evaluate strategies to enhance health security. These courses are designed for individuals who would like to begin careers in public health and healthcare preparedness, global health security, outbreak and epidemic management, disaster response, and related fields. A subset of courses are taught by faculty from the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security and informed by the Center’s two decades of scholarship and advocacy on health security policy.
Population Environmental Health
Courses in Population Environmental Health are for students whose research interests involve the use of epidemiologic methods to investigate of the impact of environmental hazards on the health of communities and high-risk populations. Courses in this area provide a strong foundation in epidemiology and biostatistics and the pathways through which environmental chemical and biological exposures lead to detrimental health outcomes. These courses offer skills needed for the use of statistical approaches and introduce students to quantitative skills used in epidemiologic research. Research interests can range from the use of epidemiology to investigate associations between exposure and adverse health outcomes to its applications in risk assessment and environmental health regulatory processes. These courses can be used to support plans for subsequent PhD-level training, applying to medical school with master’s-level research experience or to pursue a career in government or the private sector. Students interested in this area may also complete the course requirements to receive the Certificate in Risk Sciences and Public Policy.
Pre-med
Pre-med courses provide the foundation for students planning to attend medical school. These courses provide a strong understanding of statistics and epidemiology. Elective courses in physiology, advanced toxicology, and environmental and occupational disease not only emphasize knowledge covered on the MCAT but they also differentiate graduates from the typical medical school applicant. Ideal candidates present with a strong foundation in the basic sciences and math. The American Association of Medical Colleges site now lists our MHS as a post-baccalaureate program.
Toxicology for Human Risk Assessment
Courses in Toxicology for Human Risk Assessment are designed to match the needs of students with research interests that extend from laboratory-based study of the toxicological and pathophysiological mechanisms of environmental chemical and biological agent exposures to the methods for applying toxicology data to human risk assessment and the development of regulatory policy. Students interested in these courses should have strong backgrounds in the basic sciences and be considering subsequent PhD-level training, applying to medical school with master’s-level research experience, or who may decide to pursue a career in government or private sector research positions. Students interested in this area may also complete the course requirements to receive the Certificate in Risk Sciences and Public Policy.
What Can You Do With a Graduate Degree In Environmental Health?
Individuals with this degree go on to work in environmental health policy, climate science, government and NGO settings, continuing graduate study, or medical school. Meet some of our graduates.
Alumni Spotlight: Mona Dai, MHS '17
Mona is a PhD student in environmental science & engineering at Harvard University, working on global pollutants including perfluorinated compounds (PFAS).
Jonathan Josephs-Spaulding, MHS '17
Jonathan is a computational microbiology doctoral student at a German University hospital.
Spotlight: Yinka Bode-George, MHS '17
Yinka N. Bode-George, MHS ’17, leads a national philanthropic nonprofit that transforms sustainability to maximize community impact and achieve environmental justice.
Curriculum for the MHS in Environmental Health
Browse an overview of the requirements for this master's program in the JHU academic catalogue, explore all course offerings in the Bloomberg School course directory, and find many more details in the program's student handbook.
Admissions Requirements
For the general admissions requirements see our How to Apply page.
Standardized Test Scores
Standardized test scores (GRE, MCAT) are optional for this program. The admissions committee will make no assumptions if a standardized test score is omitted from an application, but will require evidence of quantitative/analytical ability through other application components such as academic transcripts and/or supplemental questions. Applications will be reviewed holistically based on all application components.
Tuition and Funding
Limited number of partial-tuition scholarships
Which degree is right for you?
We have a number of degrees designed to meet various professional and educational goals.
Master of Health Science in Environmental Health (MHS)
DURATION: 9 months full-time, onsite/online; 2 years, part-time, onsite/online
BEST FOR: Applicants who wish to pursue a PhD or a career in the intersection of environmental and public health
BOTTOM LINE: One-year program culminates in a short essay
GOOD TO KNOW: Academic degree focusing on a specific area of public health, typically science-oriented
Master of Science in Environmental Health (ScM)
DURATION: 2 years, full-time, onsite
BEST FOR: Applicants interested in hands-on experiences leading to research careers; good for students considering PhD programs
BOTTOM LINE: The first year involves classes, while the second year involves full-time research with faculty (based on a proposal from year one), culminating in a thesis
GOOD TO KNOW: Students get hands-on experience and conduct their own research
Master of Science in Toxicology for Human Risk Assessment (MS)
DURATION: 9 months (onsite) followed by a 7- to 12-month internship
BEST FOR: Those seeking a career in the field of human health and environmental risk assessment
BOTTOM LINE: Professional degree focused on fundamental concepts and testing approaches used in classic risk assessment processes
GOOD TO KNOW: Only program of its kind in the U.S. Students completing the program can also earn the Certificate in Risk Sciences and Public Policy.
Full-time Master of Science in Occupational and Environmental Hygiene (MSOEH)
DURATION: 1.5 years full-time (onsite)
BEST FOR: Applicants with prior coursework in basic sciences who want a career in occupational health
BOTTOM LINE: Designed to prepare students to pass the Certified Industrial Hygienist Examination
GOOD TO KNOW: Complete an internship between years one and two to get work experience in industrial hygiene. This program is administered by the Whiting School of Engineering, but all classes are offered through the Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Part-time Master of Science in Occupational and Environmental Hygiene (MSOEH)
DURATION: up to 5 years part-time (hybrid)
BEST FOR: Professionals currently working in the field who want to advance their career in occupational health
BOTTOM LINE: Designed to prepare students to pass the Certified Industrial Hygienist Examination
GOOD TO KNOW: Flexible format; complete independent project at your place of employment. This program is administered by the Whiting School of Engineering’s Engineering for Professionals program, but all classes are offered through the Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Contact Us
Questions about the program? We're happy to help.
EHE-Academics@jh.edu