Major in Biomedical Sciences, Environmental Public Health Concentration

Environmental Public Health is a branch of public health that studies how biological, chemical, and physical factors in natural and built environments impact human health and disease. Students will learn how to help prevent injuries and disease by managing environmental hazards and promoting healthier air, water, soil, homes, workplaces, and communities. The EPH concentration within the Biomedical Sciences major is one of only 30 programs nationwide to be fully accredited by the standards of the National Environmental Health Science and Protection Accreditation Council, and the only such program in Colorado.

The Environmental Public Health concentration prepares students for immediate employment in the public and private sector as well as graduate study in toxicology, epidemiology, industrial hygiene & occupational health, public health, and related biomedical and health fields. Options are available within the basic science requirements for the concentration that will meet admission requirements for accredited medical and veterinary medical schools in North America.

Students begin their studies with foundational science courses in biology, physics, general chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, physiology, math, and statistics, and then use these basic sciences as tools to solve environmental public health problems. Students are involved in actual and simulated field projects with data gathering and analysis, characterization of environmental public health problems, evaluation of alternative solutions, and presentation of results in written and oral formats. All Environmental Public Health students complete a professional internship for academic credit with a private sector company or public health agency.

Learning Outcomes
Students will:
• Effectively communicate the health consequences of actions, behaviors, or environmental degradation to the public, political community, legal experts, or the media
• Demonstrate critical thinking and problem solving abilities for environmental public health issues as an individual and as a member of a problem solving team
• Integrate knowledge in social, physical, and biological sciences to evaluate environmental public health issues
• Apply knowledge of scientific methods to evaluate compliance with environmental public health standards and assess risks to workers and the public

Potential Occupations
Career opportunities include, but are not limited to: environmental health specialist, public health specialist, industrial hygienist, toxicologist, epidemiologist, air and water pollution specialist, hazardous and solid waste specialist, occupational safety specialist, environmental consultant, and health educator. 

Effective Summer 2020

1	Must be related to major and approved by an ERHS key advisor.
2	Select enough elective credits to bring the program total to a minimum of 120 credits, of which at least 42 must be upper-division (300- to 400-level).

Distinctive Requirements for Degree Program:
TO Declare Major: competitive entry controls required and capped enrollment in place. Please contact Director of Student Success in the CVMBS Student Success Center for more information.