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Environmental Health Science - B.S.E.H.

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General Information

 
 
Degree & Major: Environmental Health Science - B.S.E.H.
College Name: College of Public Health
Contact:
Dr. Anne Marie Zimeri
Associate Professor and Undergraduate Coordinator
zimeri@uga.edu
(706) 542-9567
   
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Degree Requirements

College-wide Requirements

University-wide Requirements
 
Description: Environmental health scientists are in demand by private industries, consulting firms, governmental agencies, and institutions. A wide range of opportunities for employment exist in corporate environmental and occupational health departments, public health agencies, solid and hazardous waste management, general sanitation engineering, and pollution control. Environmental health scientists are employed in programs of water and air pollution control, industrial hygiene, occupational health and safety, and a variety of other activities by a significant number of agencies and commercial concerns.

The need for environmental health scientists in Georgia is increasing and employment opportunities for academically qualified personnel are increasing proportionately. The demand for trained environmental health scientists, however, is not restricted to the state of Georgia. Due to the limited availability of college training programs for this field, numerous other states rely upon the resources of the University of Georgia for graduates in this subject matter area. Students successfully completing the program of study receive the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Health (B.S.E.H.) degree. Students may pursue their interests in the areas of environmental protection, industrial hygiene, or public health. The degree program is nationally accredited and is the only undergraduate environmental health program in Georgia. A dual degree program within the College of Public Health allows students to earn both the B.S.E.H. degree and a Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) degree in a five-year course of study. In addition, the basic science training for EHS majors will satisfy entrance requirements for professional degree programs such as medicine (MD, OD), veterinary medicine (DVM), dentistry (DDS, DMD), optometry (DO), and Pharmacy (PharmD). A cumulative GPA of 2.3 is strongly encouraged for students selecting the Environmental Health Science major. Please contact the department for additional information.

Areas of Emphasis:
You can choose between the Environmental Health Science Major with the Environmental Health Science Major Track (Advanced Science and Pre-Med) OR Environmental Health Science Major with an Area of Emphasis in Public Health Practitioner.

The Environmental Health Major Track prepares students for graduate-level work or professional school. Examples might include pre-master’s of science, pre-PHD, pre-medical, pre-dental, pre-pharmacy, or pre-law.

The Public Health Practitioner (PHP) area of emphasis prepares students for graduate-level work or employment in the field of public health. Courses include obtaining certifications that will make students competitive in the job market: HAZWOPER (Hazardous Waste) and HACCP (Food Safety).
 
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Details

 
Career Opportunities: Job Placement Service:
No "official" placement services are available, but a job board is maintained outside the departmental office. Students also receive career guidance and employment leads from EHS faculty.
Expectations
of Transfer Students:		 A minimum 2.3 grade point average is required for students who transfer into the program. The decision for admission to the EHS program is made by an EHS faculty committee and is based on the student's qualifications and availability of space and resources.
Scholarships: Scholarships include the Rowe Environmental Health Award, the John J. Sheuring Scholarship, the Harold and Mary Barnhart Scholarship, the Randall Manning Award, the Environmental Health Science Scholarship, and the Georgia Power Scholarship.
Study Abroad: The College of Public Health sponsors Maymester programs in Taiwan, Australia, and Croatia. Other programs relevant to the EHS major are Agriculture and Ecology in Tropical America - Guatemala (odd-numbered years) and Costa Rica (even-numbered years); Agriculture and Ecology of Tropical America - Pernambuco Brazil; Costa Rica Ecology Program; Costa Rica Study Abroad; Sustainable Agriculture in Mediterranean Regions.
Internships: All environmental health students are required to complete an internship or co-op as a part of the Undergraduate Program Requirements.
Cooperative Education: All environmental health students are required to complete an internship or co-op as a part of the Undergraduate Program Requirements.
Other Learning Opportunities: Students may conduct research and service learning projects with EHS faculty.
Student Organizations: Several student organizations are available to students specifically interested in Environmental Health Science, including the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA)/Georgia Environmental Health Association (GEHA), the Environmental Health Science Club, Adopt-A-Stream, Student Chapter of the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), and Epsilon Nu Eta (EHS national honor society). Information on all EHS student organizations is available at https://publichealth.uga.edu/about/student-organizations/. Please contact the department at 706-542-2454 for additional information.
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