+ Environmental Health

223 Health Center, 419-372-6062

Environmental health graduates are specialists in protecting the environment. They are prepared to evaluate and control threats to air, water 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. An exchange program with the University of Veszprem in Hungary offers an exciting opportunity for the student interested in an international experience.

As one of only 24 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.

Required courses

• MATH 128 or 130 or 131 or 122 and 129
• ENVH 301, 302, 304, 306, 309, 310, 402, 405, 407, 449, 491, 492
• ENG 388
• PHYS 201
• CHEM 125, 127 and 128, 306
• BIOL 204 and 205 or 104 and 331 and 332
• One computer science course
• One statistics course
• Completion of the "Program Option"
1. Public health and environmental protection option: ENVH 210, BIOL 313, GEOL 104
2. Industrial hygience option: ENVH 307, 308; PHYS 202
3. Pre-graduate or Medical School option: CHEM 341, 344 and 345/346; PHYS 202; MATH 131
4. Alternate program option as arranged with faculty adviser
• Additional courses as necessary to complete remaining University degree requirements (e.g., total credit hours, BG Perspective requirements)

Minor (22 hours)

Required courses include:

• 10 credit hours of foundational biological sciences to consist of BIOL 204 & BIOL 205 or 10 credit hours of foundational chemical sciences to consist of CHEM 125, CHEM 127 and CHEM 128
• 9 credit hours of foundational environmental health courses to consist of ENVH 210, ENVH 301, and ENVH 306;
• 3 credit hours of an advanced environmental health course consisting of ENVH 407 or ENVH 449.

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.