4+1 Accelerated MS in Environmental Health Sciences
Drive change for the planet with an accelerated environmental health sciences degree.
Environmental health has taken on a new sense of urgency in the 21st century. The field needs leaders with the passion, skills, and education to understand the impact of environmental agents on human health and create solutions to these pressing problems. UMass Amherst’s MS in environmental health sciences (EHS) prepares you to take on these challenges.
The 4+1 accelerated master of science (BS/MS) program is rigorous, offering high-achieving undergraduates a pathway to a graduate degree that is highly respected and in demand. With a total of 42 graduate credits, the program is designed to be finished in four semesters; two of these semesters are completed during an undergraduate's senior year. Students finish with both a BS and an MS degree.
MS in environmental health sciences course requirements:
- Four EHS core courses (12 credits): environmental health practices; risk assessment; occupational and environmental toxicology; research methods
- Three biostatistics and epidemiology courses (9 credits)
- Challenges in public health (1 credit)
- Four EHS electives (11 credits)
- Master’s thesis (9 credits)
Benefits list
Get Started as an Undergraduate
Students interested in the 4+1 MS degree should get involved in environmental health sciences research as early as possible prior to applying to the accelerated program. This helps develop the analytical research skills that will strengthen their application and help complete a master’s thesis.
Newly Renovated Research Facilities
With access to more than 25,000 square feet of modern laboratory facilities, including space for cell culture, microscopy, molecular analyses, microbalances, and histopathology, students will gain the laboratory-based skills necessary to thrive as environmental health professionals.
Master’s Thesis
MS candidates in EHS complete a thesis that represents an in-depth research inquiry into an area of environmental health sciences. They will collaborate with dynamic faculty on research projects investigating environmental contaminants, toxicology, air quality, or pollution.
Featured class
Concepts of control methods used by environmental health and engineering practitioners. Topics include water, wastewater, solid wastes, food sanitation, vector control, housing, and accident control measures.
Featured faculty
Alexander Suvorov
Graduate Program Director, Environmental Health Sciences
Focus on developmental toxicology, epigenetics, chromatin structure, endocrine disruptors, animal models.
Richard Peltier
Focus on aerosols, exposure, chemistry, measurements, and fieldwork.
Alicia Timme-Laragy
Focus on developmental toxicology, oxidative stress, Nrf and Ahr transcription factors, glutathione
Carrie Nobles
Focus on air pollution, reproductive health, perinatal epidemiology
Application information & deadlines
Interested students should apply for the 4+1 program during their junior year and must meet all eligibility requirements.
Application Deadline
Applications are submitted to the Department of Environmental Health Sciences.
Environmental Health Sciences
Helping to mitigate the effects of environmental agents on human health.