Environmental Health at West Chester University prepares talented students for the technical and professional demands of careers dedicated to the protection of human health and the environment. At all levels, the program embraces the broad environmental ethic of sustainability through human cooperation with nature, including basic rights to a safe home and workplace; clean water supplies for human consumption, recreation and wildlife; safe and available food supply; waste and energy management; and careful resource management for the future.
We offer four programs:Minor in Environmental Health: The Environmental Health Minor provides students in a wide range of majors an opportunity to learn more about how the environment affects human health and how to protect people from environmental hazards. Students can use this knowledge in their daily lives and apply this knowledge to the practice of their major field of interest. Concepts and skills learned in these courses can enhance one's professional career.
Bachelor of Science Public Health/Environmental Health: B.S. graduates become entry level Environmental Health Scientists who work to improve the quality of air, water, soil and food using technology to measure and control pollutants, indoors and outdoors. B.S. graduates are widely employed by private industry, environmental consulting firms, regulatory agencies, hospitals and public utilities.
Graduate Certificate: Emergency Preparedness in Public Health: This certificate is designed for baccalaureate or higher degree holders, especially those in public health, environmental health or occupational health and emergency professionals, managers or educators who need to upgrade their skills in order to protect people in emergencies. Certificate courses provide a solid preparation in epidemiology and public health practice and emphasize development of the skills needed to identify, measure and control environmental hazards. The program focuses on emergency preparedness and the measurement, modeling, mitigation and communication of public health risks from chemical and biological hazards
Master of Public Health/Environmental Health: Master of Public Health/Environmental Health students build upon their undergraduate and professional backgrounds to become leaders in the field who direct multidisciplinary teams of professionals. These Environmental Health managers:
- Identify illness and injury causing agents in workplaces, residences, health care facilities and other institutions, and the outdoor environment.
- Measure biological, chemical and physical disease agents in any environment and assess compliance with environmental regulations and professional standards
- Analyze, interpret and evaluate toxicological, epidemiological and environmental exposure data
- Quantitatively assess risk using mathematical models
- Communicate risk information to the populations they serve
- Plan and manage emergency preparedness programs
- Integrate, implement and evaluate control strategies to reduce environmental risks
- Lead, manage and administer environmental health programs
- Apply appropriate research principles and methods in Environmental Health.
- Advance the profession of Environmental Health
