Little Rock, Arkansas – Starting in the fall semester of 2025, the Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) will offer a PhD degree in Environmental Health Sciences (EHS).
Students in multidisciplinary programs will discover how human health is impacted by the environment. According to Dr. Gunner Boysen, Ph.D., an associate professor in the college’s Department of Environmental Health Sciences, students will get comprehensive instruction in a variety of subjects:
• Environmental Toxicology
• Environmental Origins of Cancer Exposure Science
• Exposure Assessment
• Nutrition and Dietary Supplements
• Public Health Microbiology
• Geographical Information Systems
• Biomarkers of Exposure
• Climate Change and Public Health
According to Boysen, the area of environmental health sciences connects environmental studies with human health research.
Environmental Health Sciences is an interdisciplinary field that bridges studies of the environment with human health — specifically population health and behavior,” Boysen said. “Our doctoral program will be targeted to the field of environmental health sciences’ needs, thereby complementing other Ph.D. programs at UAMS and in the state. The EHS program will give young Arkansans an additional educational opportunity in-state that can lead to a high-paying job that itself will have a positive impact in the state for generations to come.
More environmental health specialists are needed in Arkansas, according to surveys the department conducted among public health organizations, government agencies, and other academic institutions.
In the past, firms were forced to hire out-of-state candidates for specialized roles or self-train employees due to the lack of a comparable doctoral program in the state. Enrollment in Environmental Health Science programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels has steadily increased in recent semesters. In addition to teaching students how to conduct original research, evaluate findings, and advance the field’s understanding, the curriculum will prepare them for a future in environmental health sciences.
