+ Environmental Health

223 Health Center, 419-372-6062
http://www.bgsu.edu/departments/envh/

Environmental health graduates are specialists in protecting the environment and public health. They are prepared to evaluate and control threats to air, water, food, and soil. Examples of threatened and threatening environments include such disparate settings as remote mountain lakes, steel mills, rural housing, print shops, restaurants, groundwater aquifers, plastics formulators, and wetlands. The environmental health scientist may focus on the health of a particular occupational workforce or the general well-being of a community. In all cases, the ability to look comprehensively at environmental problem solving is critical.

Graduates meet the educational requirements to become Registered Sanitarians (RS) and Certified Industrial Hygienists (CIH) after gaining sufficient experience and passing the appropriate professional examinations. Primary places of employment are in industry, government, risk management agencies, environmental engineering firms, consulting firms, testing laboratories, health care facilities, and educational institutions.

The curriculum emphasizes the biological, chemical, and physical sciences, with additional requirements linking policy with successful practice. Students learn to investigate and sample indoor and outdoor environments, and implement techniques to solve environmental problems. Further hands-on experience is obtained working in our dedicated environmental health laboratories. Study is enhanced through an internship experience as a working professional in either an agency or a private company. Opportunities for individual research also are available.

Graduates are well prepared to continue with their education. The environmental health program can provide the credentials needed to enter graduate school in a number of disciplines (e.g., toxicology and epidemiology) and professional schools (e.g., medicine and law). Graduates have the luxury of deciding between immediately starting their professional career or pursuing additional credentials.

As one of only 27 nationally accredited environmental health programs in the United States, the educational experience is notably comprehensive and well-directed. Please check with the program office for further specifics about the program and for information about enrollment policies.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the baccalaureate degree, students in environmental health are expected to:

• Think critically and creatively while demonstrating knowledge and abilities useful in the professional workforce;
• Function as a member of an environmental health team in the public or private sector;
• Fully participate in the art and science of identifying, evaluating, and managing environmental factors that can adversely impact the health of humans and their environment.

Click for 2009-2010 course requirements

Minor (22 hours)

Required courses include:

• 10 credit hours of foundational biological sciences, to consist of BIOL 2040 and BIOL 2050, or 10 credit hours of foundational chemical sciences, to consist of CHEM 1250, CHEM 1270, and CHEM 1280;
• 9 credit hours of foundational environmental health courses, to consist of ENVH 2100, ENVH 3010, and ENVH 3060;
• 3 credit hours of an advanced environmental health course, consisting of ENVH 4070 or ENVH 4490.

Other environmental programs are also offered by the College of Arts and Sciences. Students should contact the Environmental Health Program, 419-372-6062, for help in selecting the program that most closely meets their career objectives.