School of Health Sciences - Environmental Health Sciences
Undergraduate Major
The Demand
During the past three decades, public concern about the quality of the environment has increased. This concern has resulted in several major environmental policy decisions, including the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA); and passage of legislation including the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Clean Air Act, the Federal Environmental Pesticide Control Act, and the Resource Conservation Recovery Act (RCRA). The development of such agencies and policies has created a demand for professionals trained to evaluate environmental problems and provide feasible solutions.
The Purpose
The purpose of the environmental health science program is to develop individuals who have the education and training required to deal with the complex environmental problems and issues of today and tomorrow.
The Purdue Environmental Health Sciences Major
The curriculum is designed to provide a sound scientific base while allowing flexibility in the choice of advanced courses. Through selection of electives during the junior and senior years, students can develop programs that emphasize one of several areas of environmental health, with coursework in toxicology, environmental assessment, ecology, or environmental engineering. The four-year environmental health science curriculum may qualify the graduate for employment by governmental agencies and industries. However, additional coursework and specialization, through the M.S. degree, is recommended for capable students.
All students working toward the B.S.E.H. (Bachelor of Science, Environmental Health) degree must complete the degree requirements of 128 credit hours presented in the environmental health science plan of study, including the technical electives as well as other electives as specified.
Plan of study