Specializations - Environmental Health
The environmental health specialization provides students with the education necessary to identify, evaluate and control (prevent or mitigate) environmental conditions which may have significant impacts on human health. Examples of the problem areas requiring environmental health expertise are:
- maintaining adequate quality and quantities of food and drinking water
- safe treatment and disposal of domestic and industrial waste materials
- limiting or reducing air and noise pollution
- reducing occupational exposure to hazardous substances and unsafe conditions
- assuring safe and healthful housing
- controlling the spread of insect and rodent-borne illnesses
- proper selection and use of pesticides
- understanding the effects of global climate changes on human health
The environmental health specialization prepares students to assess the health impacts of physical, chemical, and biological agents in the environment and workplace and to explore means for their determination and management control. Students will gain the essential knowledge, skills and experience to prepare for the environmental health practitioner’s examination to become licensed environmental health practitioners. Graduates can be employed with a job title such as environmental health specialist, industrial hygiene specialist, occupational health specialist, environmental auditor, public health specialist, or health and safety officer.
Sample Curriculum for the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences, Specialization in Environmental Health
Year 1 (Fall Semester)
(4) CHEM 121A General Chemistry (BPS)
(1) CHEM 125A General Chemistry Lab (EL)
(3) ENG 101 English Composition I (FW1)
(5) MATH 150 Calculus I (FQR)
(3) ACS 103 Interpersonal Communication Skills or ACS 101 Public Speaking (FSPC)
(1) FST 101 Succeeding & Engaging at SIUE
17 - Total Credits
Year 1 (Spring Semester)
(4) BIOL 150 Biology I (BLS, EL)
(4) CHEM 121B General Chemistry (BPS)
(1) CHEM 125B General Chemistry Lab
(3) ENG 102 English Composition II (FW2)
(3) RA 101 Reasoning & Argumentation (FRA)
15 - Total Credits
Year 2 (Fall Semester)
(4) BIOL 151 Biology II (BLS)
(3) CHEM 241A Organic Chemistry
(3) ENSC 125 Topics of Environmental Health & Toxicology
(3) Breadth Humanities (BHUM)
(3) ECON 111 Principles of Macroeconomics (BSS)
16 - Total Credits
Year 2 (Spring Semester)
(4) BIOL 220 Genetics
(3) CHEM 241B Organic Chemistry (BPS)
(2) CHEM 245 Organic Chemistry Lab
(4) STAT 244 Statistics (BICS)
(3) Breadth Fine & Performing Arts (BFPA)
16 - Total Credits
Year 3 (Fall Semester)
(4) BIOL 350 Microbiology (recommended ) or BIOL 319 Cell and Molecular Biology
(3) ENSC 220 Principles of Environmental Sciences
(1) ENSC 220L Principles of Environmental Sciences Lab
(1) Experiences Health (EH)
(4) PHYS 131 College Physics I (BPS)
(1) PHYS 131L College Physics I Lab
14 - Total Credits
Year 3 (Spring Semester)
(3) ENSC 325A Toxicants in the Environment
(3) ENSC 330 Environmental Health & Waste Management
(1) ENSC 499 Research in Environmental Sciences
(3) IS 322, IS 334, IS 336, IS 363, IS 375, or IS 399 (IS)
(4) PHYS 132 College Physics II (BPS)
(1) PHYS 132L College Physics II Lab
15 - Total Credits
Year 4 (Fall Semester)
(3) ENSC 402 Environmental Law (POLS 497)
(3) ENSC 431 Environmental Toxicology
(1) ENSC 431L Environmental Toxicology Lab
(1) ENSC 498 Senior Project
(3) ENSC Elective Course (ENSC 325B, ENSC 401, ENSC 437, ENSC 473, ENSC 475, ENSC 477)
(3) Experience U.S. Race, Gender, and Equity (ERGU)
14 - Total Credits
Year 4 (Spring Semester)
(3) ENSC 436 Environmental Epidemiology
(1) ENSC 490 Senior Assignment
(1) ENSC 497 Environmental Health Practicum
(6) ENSC Elective Courses (ENSC 325B, ENSC 401, ENSC 437, ENSC 473, ENSC 475, ENSC 477)
(3) Experience Global Cultures, Race, and Equity Education (EREG)
14 - Total Credits
Total Hours 120
Transfer Students: To maximize your transfer experience, complete the bolded courses/requirements pre-transfer and satisfy either the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI) General Ed Core or receive an AA, AS, or AAT (early childhood, special ed or math) degree from an IAI community college. If ‘Minor’ requirements are shown, discuss careful course selection with the academic advising contact. Visit the transfer credit website to find course equivalency guides.
