1. Question: Is EHG a new Ph.D. degree? Answer: No. The Earth and Health Geosciences Program is a new Ph.D. emphasis within the established Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences within the Johns Hopkins University.
2. Question: Why isn't EHG housed in the School of Public Health or the School of Medicine, instead of in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences? Answer: The EHG program is designed to highlight the environmental and geologic components of human disease; in this way, our mission is distinct from that of the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions. However, extensive collaborations with the Department of Epidemiology, the Department of Internal Medicine and the School of Public Health exist within EHG, and give our students tremendous exposure to the relevant health research.
3. Question: Does the EHG program have a Masters Degree (M.S.) program? Answer: No. The Environmental and Health Geosciences Program will train only Ph.D. scientists.
4. Question: Are the projects listed on these pages the only projects possible in the EHG program? Answer: No. The projects described are example projects, although many of them are already underway. We welcome student ideas, and look forward to pursuing additional directions based on student input.
5. Question: Is it required that EHG applicants identify a potential advisor within their application? Answer: Yes. Applicants are stronly encouraged to forge a link with a potential professor prior to application; however, we envision that many students will be team-advised, both by Professors within and outside of the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences.
6. Question: What kind of background is necessary to be accepted into the EHG program? Answer: We expect successful applicants to be unusually motivated, creative and talented students from diverse backgrounds. We will consider any applicant with a B.A. or B.S. degree in any science or health-related field. Good GPA and GRE scores are important, but previous research experience is key.
7. Question: How are EHG students supported? Answer: A student's first year is supported by a scholarship, which covers both tuition and a stipend, from the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences. Continued support is dependent upon a student's successful progress through the program. Students are usually supported by either Teaching or Research Assistantships, sometimes by a mix of both.
8. Question: What are the milestones of the EHG program? Answer: General progression is the following: A departmental oral exam in the second year; A Graduate Board oral exam in the second year. Students are expected to complete and defend a dissertation during the fourth or fifth year.
9. Question: What can I do with a Ph.D. from the EHG program? Answer: Our goal is to train Ph.D. scientists with a passion for studying the interface between the geological and human environment, ready to tackle a new generation of Climate Change and Public Health issues in academic, policy and international spheres.