Environmental Health Sciences

The Environmental Health Policy Track provides rigorous training in both environmental health science and policy analysis, and gives students a framework for working at the boundary between scientific research and environmental decision-making.

Increased scientific understanding of environmental health risks has created substantial opportunities to improve human health. To maximize these opportunities, however, society needs a new generation of leaders who understand both the science of environmental health and the policy process. The Policy Track is premised on the idea that impassioned, well-trained individuals can improve health by bridging the boundary between environmental health science and environmental decision-making. Graduates of the program will be equipped to help environmental regulators, advocates, and other policy players evaluate complex, dynamic, and sometimes uncertain bodies of knowledge and to help science research organizations plan, carry out, and communicate salient, credible research.

A rich array of courses in health policy, environmental policy, and environmental economics are available to Policy Track students not only through EHS and other departments within the Mailman School, but also through the School of Public and International Affairs (SIPA) and other Columbia University graduate schools.

While the program is appropriate for individuals with either policy or
science backgrounds, applicants are required to have prior biology course
work, while prior class work in chemistry is recommended. Beginning in fall 2011, this track will no longer have a summer start option
and will begin in the fall semester.

If you have any questions about this track, please contact Dr. Darby Jack.