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Division of Environmental Science
Environmental Health

Focuses on the study of how people interact with their environment: the air and water around us, the plants and animals we encounter, and the workplaces and homes where we spend much of our lives.

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ESF HOME > 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 in biology and both general and organic chemistry, with classwork and labs; environmental health; information literacy; calculus; physics; environmental microbiology; environmental sampling methods; food safety and quality assurance; atmospheric sciences; epidemiology; environmental risk assessment; 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 biology, chemistry, calculus, writing, humanities, social science, the arts and world civilizations. Electives are also recommended in areas such as biochemistry, vertebrate anatomy, immunology, ecology, conservation biology and parasitology.

Students will also take credits in one of seven focus areas: built environment, geospatial technology, soils, water and wastewater, solid/hazardous materials and waste management, hydrogeology, and food production.

Students will earn 122 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 currently understaffed national environmental health workforce.

 

Producing excellent graduates.

Graduates from our program:

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

Meeting academic accreditation.

Our program is designed for accreditation 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.

 

Environmental Health Degree Outcomes

The outlook for students in the environmental health field is promising and New York State is a leader in the field. Employment opportunities exist with public health departments, no-profit organizations, government agencies, private companies, environmental research corporations, and state environmental health associations.

Career Options

  • Air Pollution Analysis and Control
  • Surface Water Monitoring and Regulation
  • Drinking Water and Ground Water Remediation and Testing
  • Hazardous Waste Reduction and Remediation
  • Solid Waste Control
  • Toxicology
  • Industrial Hygiene
  • Emergency Management
  • Epidemiology
  • Emergency Response
  • Environmental Remediation
  • Occupational Safety
  • Food Safety