Masters in Environmental Health

Top Online Masters in Environmental & Public Health Degrees

Environmental health is a branch of public health that deals with the aspects of natural and built environments, and how they may affect the health of human beings. Environmental health experts assess potential environmental hazards to human health and pose unique solutions to such problems. A master's degree in environmental health may lead to careers with public health organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), state health agencies, and more. Below are the best accredited online colleges that offer masters degrees in environmental health and similar subjects.

Master of Public Health	University of Liverpool -- The Master of Public Health at the University of Liverpool recently went online. While the on-campus MPH focuses primarily on UK public health issues, the online program was created with the international student in mind. The program covers Public Health issues found across Europe and in developing countries, giving an unprecedented depth of knowledge to Public Health students.
Master of Public Health	Kaplan University -- The Master of Public Health degree from Kaplan University prepares students to take on administrative roles in managing, communicating, and creating programs to strengthen healthcare in their communities. Students go on to work for the government, nonprofit, and private organizations in the health industry. Specializations in Epidemiology, Health Education, and Public Health Program Development are available.
Master of Public Health	Walden University -- Walden University's Master of Public Health online program is designed for public health professionals who are ready to reach the next level in their careers and serve as advocates for healthy communities. The program takes an interdisciplinary approach, not only teaching core principles of public health, but also vitally important skills in communication within diverse populations, and leadership.
MS in Enviro. Health	Rochester Institute of Technology -- The Rochester Institute of Technology's MS in Environmental, Health and Safety Management online program teaches students to design and implement EHS management systems and programs effectively. Foundation courses are supplemented with electives to serve students main interests. While the program is mostly online, it does require two brief campus visits to complete executive leader sessions.
MS in Disaster Medicine	Philadelphia University -- The MS in Disaster Medicine & Management from Philadelphia University teaches students who work in government, nonprofit, or corporate settings how to effectively prepare for health-related disasters. Whether it's a pandemic influenza or an earthquake that damages and contaminates water supplies, effective managers will be prepared to lead employees and communities.
Master of Public Health	Grand Canyon University -- Grand Canyon University offers both campus and online programs for their Masters of Public Health degree. However, the online program brings convenience and flexibility to their highly-regarded programs by allowing students to choose when and where to work on and submit assignments. This proves to be a great choice for students who balance work schedules with school.
MPH in Enviro. Health	New York Medical College -- The MPH in Environmental Health Science at New York Medical College illuminates a multi-faceted field that relies on the expertise of engineers, hydrologists, industrial hygienists, toxicologists, epidemiologists and molecular biologists, among others. The program provides environmental health professionals with the analytical skills and background in these subjects that allow them to determine safety, and recognize, and evaluate environmental hazards.
MPH in Enviro. Health	Benedictine University -- Benedictine University's Master of Public Health program is the second largest in Illinois. The program teaches students how to effectively recognize and create programs to respond to needs specific to their communities. Every course has a conceptual, factual, and skill component, ensuring that students leave knowing how to put theory into practice in the jobs they already have, and the careers they hope to have.
Master of Public Health	Capella University -- Capella University's Master of Public Health program is unique among online masters programs because it not only teaches the core principles behind public health, but also gives a wider scope of information on behavioral, psychological and social factors that influence the health of communities, nationally and abroad. Research methodologies, program planning and assessment, and creating public health information for diverse communities are only some of the skills graduates master.
Master of Public Health	A.T. Still University of Health Sciences -- A.T. Still University of Health Sciences offers an online Master of Public Health that prepares students to lead in the field. The faculty consists of experts in the field of public health who teach their students the management and communication skills vital to maintaining healthy and informed communities. This program is completely online.
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What is a Masters in Environmental Health?

Environmental health is a branch of public health that deals with the aspects of natural and built environments, and how these environments may affect human health. For a clear overview, the World Health Organization defines environmental health in the following way:
“Environmental health addresses all the physical, chemical, and biological factors external to a person, and all the related factors impacting behaviors. It encompasses the assessment and control of those environmental factors that can potentially affect health. It is targeted towards preventing disease and creating health-supportive environments. This definition excludes behaviour not related to environment, as well as behaviour related to the social and cultural environment, and genetics.” It also refers to the theory and practice of assessing and controlling factors in the environment that can potentially affect health.

Environmental health experts assess potential environmental hazards (such as chemicals, radiation, biological agents, as well as the effect on health and well-being of the broad physical, psychological, social, and cultural environment like urban development, land use, and transport) to human health and pose unique solutions to such problems. A master’s degree in environmental health, sometimes also known as a master in occupational and environmental health and safety, may lead to careers with public health organizations, such as the World Health Organization, or state health agencies, and more. It’s a career that stretches across the world and is useful to humans everywhere.

Master of Environmental Health programs usually take 1-2 years to complete. There isn’t necessarily a baccalaureate degree you must have to go into the environmental health field, although backgrounds in public health, health education, or biology would be helpful. Every school’s program is different, with different degree titles and discipline focuses. For the most part though classes will cover topics such as toxicology, epidemiology, city planning, and environmental technology, among others.

What are the Disciplines of a Master in Environmental Health?

There are generally three basic disciplines, or areas of study, within a Master of Environmental Health degree. These disciplines each contribute different information to describe problems in the field of environmental health. When studying for your master’s degree it’s good to know what area you’re interested in. These disciplines include:

• Environmental Epidemiology:This is the study of the relationship between environmental exposures (chemicals, radiation, microbiological agents, etc.) and human health. Environmental epidemiology often uses observational studies, meaning they observe exposures that people have already experience, as humans ethically cannot be used as experiments with exposing agents.
• Toxicology:This area of environmental health studies how environmental exposures lead to specific health outcomes. Generally animals are used to understand possible health outcomes in humans. Randomized controlled trials and other experimental studies with animals are used in toxicology.
• Exposure Science:This area focuses on human exposure to environmental contaminants. Exposure science both identifies and quantifies exposures. Environmental epidemiology can use exposure science as support to describe environmental exposures that could lead to a particular health concern in humans, or could be used as a risk assessment to determine whether current levels of exposure might exceed recommended levels. Overall though, exposure science does not generate any information about health outcomes like environmental epidemiology or toxicology.

What Career Concerns Exist for Master of Environmental Health Students?

Once you’re out in the environmental health field, there will be many health concerns that you’re confronted with. Environmental health deals with both the natural and built environment. A list of concerns that you may address as an environmental health official includes:

Career Opportunities of Masters in Environmental Health Students

The environmental health field combines nature with medicine and would be a great fit for anyone with interests in both topics. Environmental health professionals can’t be afraid to get their hands dirty—spending a lot of time outsides and learning about the environment are definite requirements of the profession. Being a part of a larger research team or talking to public are components of this career, so being a people person is also helpful.

This field is growing rapidly, in fact one of the fastest growing professions, with many online programs to help you further your education. For public health technicians the career is expected to surge 28% in the next decade. Nearly 25% of all environmental health related job are with local, state, or federal government agencies, so jobs within these areas are also promising. Manufacturing firms, hospitals, educational facilities, consulting services, and mining companies are also locations seeking out environmental health professionals, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Some careers involve working in the field by gathering data and studying fist-hand how humans and the environment affect one another. Other professionals work in laboratories and put together research projects and study the findings. Some professionals within the field do on-the-job training or teach the general public about environmental health issues, dispelling myths and instructing people on the best environmental health practices in their communities.

With a master’s degree in environmental health, you’ll be considered for some of the top job positions in the field, with some of the best salaries. Some titles you may obtain include: technician, health and safety specialist, director of public health, environmentalist, environmental health coordinator, or manager. Duties within these titles include: directing, administering, policymaking, training, research, management, advisement, marketing, coordinating, or advocacy. As in all careers, location is a major factor in the salary you’ll receive. Also, working in a high-needs area can contribute to a higher paycheck. Experience, the company you work for, and your level of management within a company are contributing factors to your salary within this field. Environmental health scientists made an average of $31.39 per hour and $65,280 per year in 2008, and they usually receive great benefits packages, year-end or project-end bonuses, and a number of other perks.

A look at a few career choices and potential salaries:

• Environmental Health and Sanitation Worker: $50,000
• Environmental Scientist: $52,000
• Environmental Engineer: $65,000
• Environmental Health Manager: $65,000
• Support activities for mining: $56,060
• Local Government: $45,320
• Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools: $44,990
• General Medical and Surgical Hospitals: $41,490
• Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting: $41,100

In general, managers in this field can expect to make $58,000 to $93,000 annually. Becoming a consultant is also a career choice that some environmental health graduates choose. This involves running your own environmental health business and can be very rewarding financially.

Further Resources for Masters in Environmental Health

• Public Health Foundation: The PHF is dedicated to achieving health communities through research, training, and technical assistance. Public health includes environmental health, and the website provides resources to those interested in the environmental health field.
• National Environmental Health Science and Protection Accreditation Council: The EHAC develops and applies accreditation guidelines for institutions of higher education that wish to ensure premium education and training of environmental health science. Use this as a resource for programs you’re considering for a master in environmental science.