Ecotoxicology & Environmental Health
The EEH program focuses on understanding how pollutants affect the health of people and ecosystems. We take a multidisciplinary approach that incorporates toxicology, environmental chemistry, risk assessment, and ecology to assess the fate, effects, and risks of pollutants in natural ecosystems and human populations. EEH is one of eight available concentrations in the two-year residential Master of Environmental Management (MEM) program.
OUR VISION
Our program provides students with a strong scientific basis to understand the complex linkages among environmental processes, chemical stressors, and ecological and human health. Students enjoy a small class size and low student-faculty ratio as they gain the knowledge and skills to apply risk assessment frameworks and address pollution-related ecological and human health problems.
THE CURRICULUM
Your faculty advisor will help you select a curriculum track and area of specialization based on your interests, experience, and goals. You’ll gain knowledge of historical and current environmental health problems at regional and global scales, as well as practical skills applying the quantitative tools used in risk evaluation and management. You can choose from courses across Duke and at our partner institutions.
YOUR FUTURE
The Nicholas School’s dedicated Career Center has helped our graduates find positions in environmental consulting and risk assessment, government agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, public health departments, and non-profit organizations such as the Environmental Defense Fund.
PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS
Find out if our program is right for you. Feel free to contact us with questions.
• Full Program Description
• Prerequisites & Required Courses
• How to Apply
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ADMITTED AND CURRENT STUDENTS
Welcome to the family! Here are some resources to get you started.
- Before You Arrive
- When You Arrive
- Student Advising
- Curriculum Planning Spreadsheet
- Master’s Projects
Lauren Gloekler MEM’13
"The Nicholas School not only provided a stimulating and collaborative learning environment in which to diversify my interests and expand my knowledge, but also mentorship from key scientists in my field of interest, as well as practice in honing professional skills and gaining experiences that made me an attractive candidate to employers."
Peyton Ward (right) MEM’15
"I have been able to study the hard science of environmental issues while also collaborating across disciplines and schools. The varied perspectives you experience here allow you to apply what you’ve learned to real-world problems."
Heather Stapleton, Dan and Bunny Gabel Associate Professor of Environmental Ethics and Sustainable Environmental Management
“While advances in technology and land use have improved our day-to-day life in numerous ways, there are often unintended consequences that result in environmental contamination. The EEH program encourages students to critically examine these very complex and intricate relationships…to help identify potential risks and develop feasible solutions.”
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A WORD FROM THE CHAIR
“The health of our environment is intimately linked with human health. While advances in technology and land use have improved our day-to-day life in numerous ways, there are often unintended consequences that result in environmental contamination. Environmental health research has demonstrated that exposures to chemical pollutants can negatively affect both ecological and human health. However, it has been challenging to identify effective environmental management plans to prevent or remediate pollution. The EEH program encourages students to critically examine these very complex and intricate relationships between the environment and health to help identify potential risks and develop feasible solutions.”
Heather M. Stapleton
EEH Program Chair
Dan and Bunny Gabel Associate Professor of Environmental Ethics and Sustainable Environmental Management
(919) 613-8717
heather.stapleton@duke.edu
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