Environmental Health professionals are primarily concerned with the investigation and prevention of health-related problems, such as air and water pollution, solid and hazardous waste disposal, food-borne illnesses in public eating establishments, water and wastewater treatment, and insect and rodent vectors of disease.
Environmental health professionals are employed by local and state health departments, other government agencies, and by private industry.
Recommended high school courses for students who wish to pursue this degree program include algebra, trigonometry, calculus, chemistry, biology and physics.
USU’s Environmental Health Program
Through the Biology Department, USU offers a bachelor’s degree in public health with an environmental health emphasis for those who wish to pursue a career in environmental health. Graduates of USU’s program are qualified to take the Registered Environmental Health Specialist/ Sanitarian (REHS) examination.
Requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree include:
FRESHMAN YEAR
Fall Semester
BIOL 1610 Biology I (4 credits)
CHEM 1210 Principles of Chemistry I (4)
CHEM 1215 Chemical Principles Laboratory I (1)
University studies or MATH prerequisite courses* (6)
Spring Semester
BIOL 1620 (BLS) Biology II (4)
CHEM 1220 (BPS) Principles of Chemistry II (4)
CHEM 1225 Chemical Principles Laboratory (1)
University studies or MATH prerequisite courses* (6)
*Students must complete math prerequisites to MATH 1210, Calculus I.
SOPHOMORE YEAR
Fall Semester
BIOL 2420 Human Physiology (4)
CHEM 2300 Principles of Organic Chemistry (3)
CHEM 2315 Organic Chemistry Laboratory I (1)
MATH 1210 (QL) Calculus I (4)
PUBH 3310 Occupational Health and Safety (3)
Spring Semester
BIOL 2220 General Ecology (3)
PUBH 5000 Public Health Seminar (1)
STAT 3000 (QI) Statistics for Scientists (3)
University studies or elective courses (8-11)
JUNIOR YEAR
Fall Semester
PHYS 2110 Physics of Living Systems I (4) or
PHYS 2210 (QI) General Physics – Science and Engineering I (4)
PUBH 4310 Industrial Hygiene Recognition of Hazards (4)
PUBH 5730 Analysis and Fate of Environmental Contaminants (3)
University studies or elective courses (2-5)
Spring Semester
BIOL 3300 General Microbiology (4)
PHYS 2120 (BPS) Physics of Living Systems II (4) or
PHYS 2220 (BPS/QI) General Physics – Science and Engineering II (4)
Public Health elective courses, University studies courses or other elective courses (6-9)
Summer Semester
PUBH 4000 Public Health Field Experience (3)
SENIOR YEAR
Fall Semester
CEE 3870 Professional/Technical Writing in Civil and
Environmental Engineering (2)
PUBH 3610 Environmental Management (3)
PUBH 4030 Communicable Disease Control (3)
Public Health elective courses, University studies courses or other elective courses (7-10)
Spring Semester
PUBH 4040 Fundamentals of Epidemiology (3)
PUBH 5500 (CI) Public Health Management (2)
NFS 5110 (CI) Food Microbiology (4)
Public Health elective courses, University studies courses or other elective courses (6-9)
For More Information
For more information, contact undergraduate advisor David Wallace in the Department of Biology at 435-797-7155. Further information is also available on the department’s Web site.