Doctoral Program in Occupational Health

An ScD or a DrPH may be earned by students who wish to concentrate in one of the following areas: occupational health, occupational epidemiology, or environmental and occupational molecular epidemiology. Students interested in the epidemiology of occupational disease and injury may elect to pursue training in this area. The curriculum includes courses in epidemiology, exposure assessment, occupational health, biostatistics, and toxicology. The area emphasizes the application of biomarkers to occupational health and the statistical modeling of exposure-response relationships.

For the environmental and occupational molecular epidemiology concentration, the curriculum is augmented by the study of molecular biomarkers, genetics, and molecular biology.

Academic Information

In addition to School-required core courses, students subscribe to courses that include:

• design of epidemiologic studies
• occupational and environmental epidemiology
• exposure analysis for epidemiology
• biomarkers for occupational and environmental epidemiology

Major content areas addressed in targeted courses of occupational health, occupational epidemiology, and occupational and environmental molecular epidemiology curricula include:

• molecular biology for epidemiologists
• biomarkers
• advanced pathophysiology
• ergonomics
• occupational safety
• advanced epidemiologic methods

The doctoral program is structured to give students exposure to the critical areas of the research process including:

• hypothesis formation
• field observations and data-collection skills
• statistical modeling
• laboratory training (where appropriate)

Normally, three to four years are required following Master's-level preparation to complete requirements for awarding of the doctoral degree. The Master's degree program (described above) provides the majority of required core courses in the first two years of the doctoral training program.

Program Director

David C. Christiani, MD, MPH, MS, Director, Education and Research Center of Occupational Safety and Health

Director, Occupational Epidemiology Training Core and Doctoral Programs in Occupational Safety and Health

Harvard School of Public Health
Environmental and Occupational Medicine and Epidemiology
665 Huntington Avenue, SPH I-1407
Boston MA 02115
Telephone: (617) 432-3323
E-mail: dchris@hohp.harvard.edu

Admissions Requirements

Applicants to the doctoral program with an appropriate background in biologic or health sciences may be admitted directly to doctoral training. Applicants to the program may be required to complete the Master's degree program prior to being granted admission into doctoral study.

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