PhD in Environmental Health (PhD)

The application deadline for the Jan 2027 intake is Nov 15, 2026. Tuition is The PhD in Environmental Sciences is a minimum of 48 semester credit hours and offers in-depth didactic and research training for students who want to focus their careers in academic, governmental, or other research institutions, and/or in high-level poli.

Students in this programme conduct research on worker well-being and develop policies to improve workplace health. They complete a field experience focused on implementing Total Worker Health practices. The programme is part of a NIOSH-funded research center and emphasizes practical application in occupational health settings. It integrates safety, health, and organizational practices in its training.

Focus areas include Total Worker Health, Occupational Safety, Occupational Health Psychology, Health and Safety Program Management, Worker Well-being, Industrial Hygiene.

The programme requires 48 semester credit hours, including 3 hours for a field experience, 9 hours for a minor in Community Health Practice, 12 hours of electives, and 3 hours for dissertation research. Coursework includes required seminars, research methods, and track-specific classes in occupational health and safety.

Graduates pursue careers in research institutions, government agencies, and policy development focused on worker health and safety.

Applicants must hold an MS or equivalent degree in Environmental Health Sciences or a related field. Required coursework includes calculus, organic chemistry, physics, and biological sciences. Application materials include transcripts and supporting documents as specified in the admissions section.

The programme totals about 48 credit hours. On-campus, full-time, with a typical duration of several years to complete the dissertation and coursework. For international students, tuition is well above the median for US programmes.

UTHealth Houston is organized around health education, research, clinical care, and service. Its six schools include Cizik School of Nursing, McGovern Medical School, the McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics, MD Anderson UTHealth Houston Graduate School, the School of Behavioral Health Sciences, the School of Dentistry, and the School of Public Health. Together, they offer 34 degree and certificate programs for students and trainees preparing to advance health care, research, science, and public service.

Research covers subjects such as firefighter health, obesity, brain aneurysms, addiction recovery, and genetics. The university has more than $430 million in total research expenditures. Its clinical practices include UT Physicians, the School of Dentistry, and UT Health Services, with more than 2,000 providers working across more than 80 subspecialties. This combination gives students a direct connection to clinical settings and applied health research.

The university is based in Houston, Texas, and its clinical practices serve patients across Greater Houston. More than 5,000 students study at UTHealth Houston, joining a community that includes faculty, staff, trainees, health professionals, and more than 57,000 alumni. International students should expect a focused health-sciences environment with opportunities across medicine, nursing, dentistry, biomedical informatics, behavioral health, public health, and graduate research.