Doctor of Philosophy in Occupational and Environmental Health

The PhD field in Occupational and Environmental Health (OEH) program provides research-intensive doctoral-level training in occupational and environmental health topics with an emphasis on the role of the physical environment as a determinant of health.Occupational and Environmental Health (OEH) is recognized as one of the major, integral fields of study in public health. Its focus is on the physical environment, both natural and built, as a determinant of health. The term “occupational and environmental health” recognizes the unique and overlapping aspects of the workplace and community environments as health determinants. Occupational health research and environmental health research are intertwined, and many research methodologies developed for occupational health have been successfully applied in environmental health and vice-versa.Historically, the main research focus in occupational health was on exposures to material agents, such as chemicals, physical and biological materials that resulted in adverse effects on the health of workers. The reduction of exposures to many of these harmful substances in the workplace has been a success story that involved the application of research findings to policy and practice in the field. Partly as a result of this success, research in occupational health now addresses an even wider range of workplace hazards including shift-work, ergonomics, and psychological stress. Environmental health research has grown rapidly in the last two decades. New research methods, increasing availability of high-quality exposure data sets, and access to large administrative data sets on health outcomes have resulted in new insights into the sometimes subtle but important effects that exposures to naturally-occurring and anthropogenic substances in the environment can have on mortality and the incidence of chronic disease at the population level (e.g., urban air pollution, microbial agents, indoor chemicals, etc.). The use of biomarkers and the concept of exposome as the environmental analogue to the genome provides fertile ground for cutting edge research in this area. The PhD field in OEH provides research intensive doctoral level training in occupational and environmental health topics with the principal emphasis on the role of the physical environment as a determinant of health.

Master’s degree in a public health science-related discipline from a recognized university, with a minimum A- standing. Demonstrated educational and/or professional experience that indicates a capacity to undertake research-oriented doctoral studiesLetter of IntentCurriculum VitaeThe Graduate Department of Public Health Sciences requires two (2) letters of reference to accompany applications to DrPH, PhD, MPH, MSc, and MScCH degree programs. Only the MHSc in Bioethics program requires three (3) letter of refence. Applicants should only invite the required number of referees to submit letters of reference, as only 2 letters of reference will be assessed (3 for MHSc Bioethics) by the Admissions Committee. References are reviewed based on date of receipt, not in the order in which they were entered in the application.