• Description of Program
• Degree Requirements
• Special Opportunities
• Careers

Description of Program

The B.S.P.H. in Environmental Health, offered through the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, is a great match for students who are passionate about addressing human health issues related to the environment. The four-year program is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).

Environmental health majors are engaged in problem-solving to keep communities safe and healthy. They tackle issues including air and water pollution, environmental transmission of infectious disease, environmental causes of cancer, and environmental justice. They work in organizations including federal agencies, pharmaceutical and manufacturing firms, consulting firms, state and local governments, and nonprofit organizations. Some pursue graduate or professional degrees (including M.P.H. and medical degrees).

This program provides students with the knowledge and skills they need to understand and prevent harmful effects from pollutants in the environment—whether chemicals or infectious agents. Through a senior capstone project, students also build employment-critical skills in written and oral communication, collaboration, and problem-solving. They gain additional practical experience through a formal, for-credit internship program.

Degree Requirements

This is a four-year program leading to the B.S.P.H. in Environmental Health degree. There is a minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) entrance requirement. Graduation requirements include:

• completion of general education requirements.
• completion of environmental health major requirements.
• a minimum of 120 successfully completed credit hours which count toward the degree program.
• a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA.
• a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA in all courses used to fulfill the requirements of the major portion of this degree.
• no pass/fail grades except for free electives.

General Education (20–39 credits)

All undergraduate students must complete the IU Bloomington General Education Common Ground Requirements. Visit gened.indiana.edu to review them.

Major (63 cr.)

Public Health Core (15 cr.)
A minimum grade of C– is required in each course.
Complete each of the following courses:

• SPH-B 366 Community Health (3 cr.)
• SPH-E 311 Introduction to Epidemiology (3 cr.)
• SPH-P 309 Public Health Administration (3 cr.)
• SPH-Q 381 Introduction to Biostatistics (3 cr.)
• SPH-V 241 Foundations of Environmental Health (3 cr.) +N&M

Environmental Health Courses (24 cr.)
A minimum grade of C– is required in each course.
Complete each of the following courses:

• SPH-V 210 Environmental Health Seminar (1 cr.)
  
• SPH-V 235 Introduction to Public Health Biology (3 cr.) N&M
• SPH-V 342 Toxic Chemicals and Human Health (3 cr.) (P: ANAT-A 215 -AND- PHSL-P 215; or-MSCI-M 115; -AND- BIOL-L 112, BIOL-L 113, CHEM-C 117, CHEM-C 127; -AND- SPH-V 235 -or- BIOL-L 211).
• SPH-V 343 Environmental Sampling and Analysis (3 cr.) (P:BIOL-L 112, BIOL-L 113, CHEM-C 117, CHEM-C 127).
• SPH-V 422 Issues in Global Environmental Health (3cr.)
• SPH-V 450 Understanding and Preventing Environmental Risks to Human Health (3 cr.)
• SPH-V 460 Capstone: Environmental Health Problem-Solving and Communication (3 cr.)
• SPH-V 496 Field Experience in Environmental Public Health (5 cr.)
  

Foundational Science (12 cr.)
Complete each of the following courses:

• CHEM-C 117 Principles of Chemistry and Biochemistry I (3 cr.) +N&M
• CHEM-C 127 Principles of Chemistry and Biochemistry I Laboratory (2 cr.) +N&M
• BIOL-L 112 Foundations of Biology: Biologic Mechanisms (4 cr.) +N&M
• BIOL-L 113 Biology Laboratory (3 cr.)

Core Electives (12 cr.)
Select a total of 12 credits from the following lists.

+ Courses with an A&H notation may apply toward both major requirements and the general education, arts and humanities requirement.

+ Courses with a N&M notation may apply toward both major requirements and the general education, natural and mathematical sciences requirement.

+ Courses with a S&H notation may apply toward both major requirements and the general education, social and historical studies requirement.

Suggested Environmental Health Courses for the First-Year Student
Fall Semester
SPH-V 210 Environmental Health Seminar (1 cr.)
SPH-V 241 Foundations of Environmental Health (3 cr.)
IUB GenEd English Composition (3 cr.)
IUB GenEd Math Modeling (3-4 cr)
IUB GenEd Social & Historical Studies (3 cr.)
Free Electives (1-3 cr.)

Spring Semester
SPH-V 235 Introduction to Public Health Biology (3 cr.)
Introductory Chemistry according to placement: CHEM-C 117 Principles of Chemistry and Biochemistry I (3 cr.) and CHEM-C 127 Principles of Chemistry and Biochemistry I Laboratory (2 cr.), or if needed the preparatory course, CHEM-C 103 (5 cr.)
IUB GenEd Arts and Humanities (3 cr.)
Free Electives (4 cr.)

Special Opportunities

Degree programs in public health balance theoretical knowledge with professional experience through internships and opportunities to work with faculty on research, teaching, and service projects. Students benefit from the low student-to-faculty ratio, which provides many opportunities for one-on-one interactions with faculty.

Careers

A B.S.P.H. from SPH-B develops the skills necessary to become an environmental health professional by combining a public health foundation with targeted courses in assessing and managing environmental risks.

Our graduates have found jobs at organizations including local health departments, federal agencies such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, pharmaceutical companies such as Eli Lilly, manufacturing and construction firms like Turner Construction, consulting firms that advise industry on environmental health problems, and nonprofit organizations that help communities facing environmental threats to their health. Some graduates have pursued higher education, including master’s, Ph.D., and medical degrees.

The table below shows example career titles and professional placements.