Master of Science in Environmental Health, Plan A

Program Overview

The Master of Science in Environmental Health at Colorado State University empowers students with a comprehensive understanding of environmental health principles and practices. The program's flexible structure enables students to customize their studies, preparing them for various careers in the public and private sectors, including environmental health specialists, scientists, educators, and policy analysts. By emphasizing the interplay between environment and health, the program fosters critical thinking, problem-solving, and effective communication skills, equipping graduates to navigate emerging environmental health challenges and contribute to a healthier future.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Master of Science in Environmental Health, Plan A program at Colorado State University provides students with a comprehensive understanding of environmental health principles and practices. The program is guided by the National Environmental Health Association's definition of environmental health, which emphasizes the prevention of human injury and illness through the identification and evaluation of environmental hazards. The program's objectives are to:

• Equip students with the knowledge and skills to evaluate environmental risks to public health.
• Prepare students to anticipate emerging environmental health issues.
• Develop students' ability to assess the health impacts of environmental exposures.
• Train students to interpret control and remediation strategies for mitigating environmental hazards.
• Foster students' understanding of management strategies for achieving programmatic goals in environmental health.
• Enhance students' skills in developing strategies for compliance within an environmental health regulatory framework.
• Improve students' communication skills in conveying environmental risk to both technical and lay audiences.
The program's flexible structure allows students to tailor their coursework to meet their specific professional goals. It prepares students for careers in various settings, including public and private sectors as well as academia. The program aims to provide students with critical analytical tools, subject-matter expertise, and problem-solving skills to become leaders and scholars in the field of environmental health.

Outline:

The program requires a minimum of 30 credits and includes the following core requirements:

• CIVE 526 Pollution, Exposure, and the Environment (3 credits): This course explores the sources, pathways, and impacts of pollution on human health and the environment.
• ERHS 503 Toxicology Principles: This course delves deeper into the principles of toxicology, covering topics such as toxicokinetics, toxicodynamics, and the development of toxicological data.
• ERHS 504 Occupational and Environmental Toxicology: This course focuses on the specific toxicological hazards associated with occupational and environmental exposures.
• ERHS 520 Environmental and Occupational Health Issues: This course examines current environmental and occupational health issues, including air pollution, water contamination, and workplace hazards.
• Group B:
• ERHS 532 Epidemiologic Methods (3 credits) or PBHL 570 Epidemiology for Public Health (3 credits):
These courses provide an introduction to the principles and methods of epidemiology, including study design, data analysis, and interpretation of results.
• ERHS 560 Health Impact Assessment (2 credits): This course explores the process of assessing the potential health impacts of proposed projects or policies.
• STAR 511 Design and Data Analysis for Researchers I (4 credits): This course introduces students to the principles of research design and data analysis, including statistical methods and software applications.
• Select one course from the following (1 credit):
• PBHL 696 Public Health Group Study: This course provides students with the opportunity to engage in collaborative research projects in public health.
• ERHS 699 Thesis (3-6 credits): This course allows students to conduct independent research and write a thesis on a topic of their choice.

Careers:

The program prepares students for a variety of careers in environmental health, including:

• Environmental Health Specialist: This role involves conducting environmental health assessments, investigating environmental hazards, and developing and implementing public health programs.
• Environmental Health Scientist: This role focuses on research and analysis related to environmental health issues, including risk assessment, exposure assessment, and health impact assessment.
• Environmental Health Educator: This role involves educating the public about environmental health issues, promoting healthy behaviors, and advocating for environmental protection.
This suggests that the program may incorporate coursework or research opportunities related to environmental psychology, landscape architecture, or urban planning. The program also encourages students to engage in research and scholarship, which may involve opportunities for fieldwork, laboratory research, or collaboration with faculty on research projects.