Chennai: Sri Ramachandra University (SRU), in collaboration with University of California, Berkeley (UCB) has launched a master's degree programme in public health (occupational and environmental health). As per sources, before the launch the programme, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between S.P.Thyagarajan, Pro-Chancellor (research), representing SRU, and Stephen M.Shortell, Dean, School of Public Health, representing UCB. To be eligible for the course, candidate must have a medical or engineering degree or a Master of Science post-graduate degree.
Kalpana Balakrishnan, HOD Environmental Health Engineering of SRU said that the course aims to prepare students in public health laying special emphasis on occupational and environmental aspects. As a result, the course would allow the graduates to improve their career aspects by becoming environmental and health safety experts and consultants for the organized and unorganized sectors. She further mentioned that the SRU-UCB collaborative venture was being supported by the International Training and Research Program in Environmental and Occupational Health Program of the Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, U.S.
SRU already offers two courses - Master of Science in Industrial Health and Safety and a PG certificate course in Industrial Health. As per sources, the department of environmental health engineering is in the process of being recognized as a Centre for Advanced Research for Environmental Health: Air Pollution by the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR).
