Frequently Asked Questions
We are currently updating our application process. Please wait to apply to the department until after October 1, 2008. Thank you.
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What criteria make an application competitive? |
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Q: |
How
competitive is the application process? (i.e. what is the comparison
between number of applicants vs. the number of spots available?)
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A:
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Typically
the department receives between 80 and 110 applications per
year.
Acceptance and enrollment in the program ranges between 22-28 new
students per year. This total includes all degree and program
areas.
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What
is the typical GRE score for acceptance?
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Our
students generally score in the 70th percentile or higher on
all three sections of the GRE. Applicants
with exceptional qualifications or experience and lower scores
will still be considered for admission.
For our master's programs, any
total score over 1,000 (Sum of verbal and quantitative scores)
is acceptable for review by the admissions committee. We also recommend
an analytical writing score of 4.5 of higher. Last year, the
average quantitative score for accepted applicants was
689 and average verbal score was 566. Please note that applicants
with exceptional qualifications or experience and lower scores
will still be considered for admission.
A score of 1266 or above (sum of verbal and quantitative scores)
and a score of 5.0 or above on the analytical writing section
are recommended for PhD program applicants. Last year, the
average quantitative
score
for accepted
applicants
was
691 and average verbal score was 571.
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What
is the typical GPA for acceptance?
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A minimum
3.0 grade point average for the last 90 credits of coursework is
required by the UW Graduate School. The department may request a
waiver of this minimum if an applicant has exceptional qualifications
or experience. The average GPA of accepted applicants is 3.48.
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Q: |
Which
aspect of the application is emphasized most during the selection?
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A: |
All
aspects of the application are reviewed holistically by the committee. This includes
review of GRE, GPA, satisfaction of prerequisites, letters of recommendation,
and the goal statement. There is no prescreening based upon GRE and
GPA only. |
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Questions
about Application Deadlines and Procedures |
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What
is the application deadline? |
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A: |
Domestic
Application Deadline: January 15
To ensure priority consideration, domestic applicants should complete
their application file with the Department and the Graduate School
by January 15 for autumn quarter admission. Domestic applications
completed after January 15 may be reviewed on a space-available
basis, but consideration of late applications is not guaranteed.
Applicants whose files are completed on time are assured consideration
for departmental financial support, if requested.
International Application Deadline: January 15
The department's international application deadline for autumn quarter
is January 15. You must submit the materials required by the department
and the Office of Graduate Admissions by January 15 to
be considered for autumn quarter admission.
Although the department's final deadline for international applications
is January 15, the Office of Graduate Admissions encourages international
applicants to submit the form for admission to the Graduate School,
the application fee, and one set of official transcripts to their
office by November 1st. Submitting these three items to the Office
of Graduate Admissions by November 1st allows them to be processed
in time to meet the department's January 15 deadline. Some materials
list the November 1 deadline, but the department has made the decision
to continue accepting applications until the January 15 deadline.
Please note: The department cannot accept international applications
any later than January 15 as a result of new procedures and requirements
instituted by the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Please
see the international
application instructions for a complete list of the materials
that must be submitted by the January 15 deadline.
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Q: |
What
institution and department codes should I use when requesting that
ETS send my GRE and/or TOEFL scores? |
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A: |
The
institution code for the University of Washington is 4854. A department code is unnecessary, as scores are received and processed into a central database. When submitting TOEFL scores,
you can use 50 (public health) as the department code.
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Can
the GRE, TOEFL, prerequisites, or fee be waived? |
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Can
the GRE requirement be waived? |
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A: |
No.
Official GRE scores must be submitted unless you have earned a doctoral
level degree (MD, DO, PhD) from an accredited US institution.
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Can
the TOEFL requirement be waived? |
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A: |
No.
Official TOEFL scores must be submitted by all international applicants.
This is a university requirement and cannot be waived by the department.
If
you are a citizen of Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, or
the United Kingdom; or you have received a bachelors degree or higher
from an accredited US institution or from an institution in one
of the countries listed above, you are exempted from the TOEFL requirement.
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Can
the application fee be waived?
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A: |
International
applicants: No, the university cannot waive the application fee
for international applicants. The $45 fee is required and must be
submitted to the university with the "Online Application for
Admission to the UW Graduate School" (https://www.grad.washington.edu/application/)
using a Visa or Mastercard.
In rare cases when the paper application must be used, you will need to submit a $50 check or money
order in United States currency and made out to the University of
Washington. The check or money order must be sent with the application
form to the Office of Graduate Admissions (Please do not send check
to the department).
Domestic
applicants: There are a limited number of need-based application
fee waivers available for US citizens or Permanent Residents. If
you feel that you may qualify, please contact the Office of Graduate
Admissions for a waiver application (uwgrad2@grad.washington.edu).
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Q: |
If
short on credits in certain subject areas, is it possible to be
accepted contingent upon completion of the missing credits, and
if possible, how common is it to complete such credits when enrolled
in the program?
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A: |
Students
are encouraged to complete as much of the required prerequisite coursework as
possible before applying. However, students who are missing a few
of the basic requirements yet feel that they have a strong enough
background in the area will still be reviewed by the admissions
committee. The committee may recommend acceptance based upon completion
of certain coursework once admitted.
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Other
common questions regarding international applications |
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Is
the TSE required for admission? |
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A: |
No.
We do not require the TSE for admission to our programs. International
doctoral students who will be required to TA can either submit official
TSE scores or take the SPEAK test administered at the University of
Washington after enrolling. |
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Q: |
Can
the TOEFL requirement be waived?
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A: |
No.
Official TOEFL scores must be submitted by all international applicants.
This is a university requirement and cannot be waived by the department.
If
you are a citizen of Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, or
the United Kingdom; or you have received a bachelors degree or higher
from an accredited US institution or from an institution in one
of the countries listed above, you are exempted from the TOEFL requirement.
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Q: |
Can
the application fee be waived?
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A: |
No.
The university cannot waive the application fee for international
applicants. Also, the application fee is a university requirement
and cannot be waived by the department. The department is not permitted
to process or consider an application until the application fee
has been paid.
The
$45 fee is required and must be submitted to the university with
the Online Application for Admission to the UW Graduate School (https://www.grad.washington.edu/application/)
using a Visa or Mastercard. If you are using a paper copy of the
"International Application for Admission to Graduate School",
then you will need to submit a $50 check or money order in United
States currency and made out to the University of Washington. The
check or money order must be sent with the application form to the
Office of Graduate Admissions.
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Q: |
Why
are there two different deadlines for international applicants (November
1 and January 15)?
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A: |
Although
the department's final deadline for international applications
is January 15, the Office of Graduate Admissions encourages
international applicants to submit the form for admission to the
Graduate School, the application fee, and one set of official transcripts
to their office by November 1. Submitting these three items to
the Office of Graduate Admissions by November 1 allows them to
be processed in time to meet the department's January 15 deadline.
Some materials list the November 1 deadline, but the department
has made the decision to continue accepting applications until the
January 15 deadline.
Please note: The department cannot accept international applications
any later than January 15 as a result of new procedures and requirements
instituted by the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Please
see the international
application instructions for a complete list of the materials
that must be submitted by the January 15 deadline.
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Questions
about Distance Learning and Related Programs |
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Q: |
Do
you offer distance learning courses or graduate programs? |
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A: |
Although
the Department of Environmental Health does not offer graduate programs
or courses through distance learning, the Department of Health Services
in the School of Public Health and Community Medicine offers a three-year,
part-time Extended MPH
Degree Program. The program requirements are partially completed
through distance learning and the program is designed for mid-career
public and community health professionals with three or more years
experience in public health or a related health care field. |
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Q: |
What
is the Risk Analysis Emphasis? |
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A: |
The
Department of Environmental Health established the Institute
for Risk Analysis and Risk Communication (IRARC) in 1996 to provide
a supportive infrastructure for risk-related activities within the
department, throughout the school, and across the University. Our
graduates increasingly find themselves in employment situations where
they are required to perform risk analysis or risk assessment.
Risk Emphasis directs our students to the basic courses that will
provide knowledge for pursuing risk-related careers. The courses
required to obtain a Risk Emphasis (in conjunction with an MS or PhD)
are listed below.
| ENV
H 577 |
3/4 |
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Risk
Assessment for Environmental Health Hazards
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| ENV
H 552 |
4 |
W |
Environmental
Chemistry of Pollution
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| ENV
H 556 |
3 |
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Quantitative
Occupational Exposure Analysis
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| ENV
H 574 |
3 |
Sp |
Probabilistic Exposure Analysis |
| ENV
H 593 |
1, max. 6 |
W |
Current
Topics in Risk Assessment |
Course
requirements are subject to change. Contact Dr. Elaine Faustman if
you are interested in Risk Emphasis. |
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Q: |
Are
any associated degree programs offered? |
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A: |
Yes,
there are two. The Occupational
Health Services Research Training Program is a doctoral
and postdoctoral program housed within the Northwest Center for
Occupational Health and Safety and administered by the Department
of Health Services. The core faculty come from both the Department
of Health Services and the Department of Environmental Health. Applications
should be directed to the Department of Health Services.
The
second is an Occupational
Health Nursing Program. It focuses on the promotion and
preservation of the health of working populations. This program
offers both MS and PhD degrees. The nursing theory and coursework
is acquired through core courses taken within the School of Nursing
and the Department of Environmental Health. Applications should
be directed to the School of Nursing.
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What
employment opportunities will be available to me? |
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Q: |
What
kind of career opportunities are available to your graduates?
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A: |
The
field of Environmental health is growing as a result of increased
awareness of physical, biological and chemical hazards in our world;
greater knowledge of their potential effects on human health; and
more emphasis on personal and worker safety. Graduates can make
a difference in improving quality of life and have a career that
provides a good salary and promising professional opportunities.
A career in environmental health provides a diversity of career
paths at any point in your professional life. Jobs are available
in both the public and private sector. You can easily move from
the role of researcher to manager to practitioner. Recent graduates
surveyed are working as educators, toxicologists, risk assessment
investigators, hazard specialists, compliance officers, industrial
hygienists, ergonomists, occupational health physicians, research
scientists, and public health advisors.
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