Overview

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
• Health and safety officer