Printer FriendlyThe doctoral program is designed to prepare research scientists and policy analysts with the ability to bring advanced research capabilities to the identification, control, and prevention of work-related health risks.
The program includes advanced graduate work in each of the five concentrations:
- Cleaner Production and Pollution Prevention
- Epidemiology
- Ergonomics and Safety
- Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
- Work Environment Policy
Candidates will, under the direction of a faculty advisor and dissertation committee, carry out original research culminating in a doctoral dissertation.
Admission Requirements
Doctoral training is built upon the substantial didactic training in the master's degree programs. The applicant must provide three letters of reference attesting to the ability to perform graduate work and a written statement of career objectives and the relationship of doctoral training to those objectives. Evidence of academic ability must be provided in the form of undergraduate and graduate transcripts detailing an acceptable grade point average (generally a minimum of 3.0, with 3.5 in quantitative sciences). Performance on the Graduate Record Examination Aptitude Test must be at a high level. An applicant who already holds a graduate degree may request waiver of the G.R.E. requirement. Finally, a personal interview will be required in selected cases.
To be eligible for admission to a doctoral program, an applicant will need to demonstrate appropriate undergraduate education with adequate preparation in quantitative sciences. For an applicant who has not obtained a master’s degree in work environment or a related field, direct admission to the doctoral program is possible but uncommon. Applicants are usually accepted into the master’s program, and may apply for transfer into the doctoral program in their second semester of full-time study. This first year of course work is generally the same for those in master’s and doctoral programs, so that admission to the master’s program does not usually lead to extra course work.
Academic Advisor
For a doctoral candidate, the primary responsibility for evaluating progress will rest with the student's academic advisor along with the Dissertation Committee. Upon matriculation, the student will be assigned a provisional advisor. Within one semester after completing the core courses, the student must select a final advisor and identify a research topic. The advisor will assist the student in complying with all the university requirements in achieving eligibility for the degree.
Requirements for the Doctoral Degree
Degree requirements will generally include 24 to 30 (minimum of 18) credit hours of courses beyond those required for the master's degree. Twelve credits of dissertation research are required. A student with a master's degree from another institution will need to show knowledge in all subject areas required for the equivalent Work Environment master's degree from the University of Massachusetts Lowell.
Courses will be selected to prepare each student in one major and two minor fields. The major field must include, at a minimum, six full courses (18 credits), and the minor fields, three courses (9 credits) each. Courses taken for the master's degree may be used to meet these requirements. There is no language requirement. The student will work with the advisor to propose a program of study meeting these requirements, and the program must be approved by the Department Graduate Committee.
The forms needed for preparing the doctoral plan can be found at Student Forms.
Following approval of the program, and completion of the course work, the student will be eligible to take a written qualifying examination in the major field. After passing this examination, the student must prepare and then orally defend a written dissertation proposal. Once the dissertation committee approves the proposal, the student proceeds to research.
Doctoral Dissertation
The doctoral dissertation will be based on a substantial body of original research carried out by the candidate. The selection of the research topic will be the responsibility of the student in consultation with the academic advisor. When the doctoral student has completed all course requirements for the doctoral degree, the student and advisor will propose to the Department Graduate Committee (DGC) a Dissertation Committee. Once approved, the Committee will meet at least as frequently as every six months to review the student's progress. The Committee will assess whether the student is making adequate progress toward completing the dissertation in the required years of study and will approve the dissertation. The dissertation will, in general, be in the form of three publishable manuscripts and will include an appropriate literature review and overview of the dissertation research. Alternatively, the dissertation may be written in monograph format. The student is required to give an oral defense of the dissertation before the Committee and other faculty members. The defense is open to the public.
Thesis and Dissertation Guide
All doctoral students are required to follow the guideline within the Thesis and Dissertation Guide. This guide outlines the requirements and procedures needed to successfully complete a doctoral dissertation.