Division of Environmental Science
Environmental Health

The Environmental Health program educates students about the intersection of human health and the environment, specifically, the analysis, prevention, and mitigation of potential environmental hazards that could be biological, chemical or physical. The field of environmental health is broad, encompassing the direct effects of the environment on human health and the factors that adversely affect the ecological balances essential to human health and environmental quality.

Flexible and focused coursework.

Coursework for the Environmental Health major includes core courses such as biology and both general and organic chemistry, with classwork and labs; environmental health; information literacy; calculus; physics; and environmental microbiology. The major also includes specialized environmental health courses such as environmental sampling methods; food safety and quality assurance; atmospheric sciences; epidemiology; environmental risk assessment; occupational health and safety; and hazardous/solid waste management. A summer internship/professional experience and a senior synthesis are also required.

In addition, students will take general education electives covering writing, humanities, social science, the arts and world civilizations. Because environmental health often deals with social justice issues, coursework in diversity and equity is critical to the major.

Students will also take credits in nine focus areas: built environment, geospatial technology, soils, water and wastewater, solid/hazardous materials and waste management, hydrogeology, food production, public health, or pre-medical/pre-vet.

Students will earn 127 credit hours in obtaining the degree.

Program Requirements

Preparing graduates for impactful careers.

Our program prepares students for employment in private industry, government agencies, and non-governmental agencies concerned with pollution abatement, protection of public health, and research in health science or advanced study in the science of environmental health or the allied health professions.

Gain critical and in-demand skills.

In addition to knowledge of the subject matter, graduates will have important skills in critical thinking and applied problem solving to help face current and future environmental threats. Graduates will be prepared for jobs in the national environmental health workforce. This area of employment is experiencing rapid growth with a need for new, young professionals to address developing concerns.

Producing excellent graduates.

Graduates from our program:

• Are knowledgeable of examples of global, regional, and local environmental health problems and issues
• Are competent to perform in a graduate education or entry-level work environment
• Have the ability to conceptualize environmental problems in terms of unifying principles,
• Are capable of utilizing a systems approach to problem solving
• Can communicate their ideas and expectations effectively, especially when dealing with the public

Meeting academic accreditation.

Our program is accredited by the National Environmental Health Science and Protection Accreditation Council, demonstrating we meet high-quality academic standards in preparing our graduates for success by providing a strong educational foundation. This accreditation allows students to be eligible for undergraduate internships that are available only to students in accredited programs, including the US Public Health Junior Commissioned Officer Student Training and Extern Program.