Online Masters in Environmental Health

Preventive healthcare is a subject that has been receiving increased attention in recent years. If illnesses and accidents can be prevented from occurring, after all, it frees valuable resources to care for those in need of medical attention with issues that could not have been prevented.

A surprising number of illnesses can be prevented just by paying attention to the condition of the environment around us. For most of the 20th century, for example, the issue of smog over populated areas was a major environmental health factor contributing to such illnesses as emphysema, bronchitis, asthma, and others. Thanks to pollution controls initiated to combat smog, this issue in many parts of the developed world is now a thing of the past.

Environmental health focuses on the impact of the natural and man-made environment on the health and well-being of those in a specific community. The demand for specialists working in this field is very strong. Environmental health professionals can be found working in many different settings as well as for governmental agencies such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Environmental health specialists work in the fields of environmental management, toxicology, air and water pollution, occupational safety, and many others.

If a career working in the field of environmental health interests you, you might want to consider earning an online Master of Public Health (MPH) in Environmental Health. Earning a graduate degree entirely online is now very common and by doing so you can continue working in your current career without having to quit your job to pursue your studies full-time on campus. Online graduate degrees are equivalent to those earned on campus and the word “online” is not mentioned on either the diploma or transcript.

Pursuing an Online MPH in Environmental Health

An MPH in Environmental Health prepares students for a variety of careers. Graduates will be able to identify potential environmental factors that negatively impact the lives of those living in the surrounding community, formulate policies to address the environmental factors, and implement the policies they created.

Typical admissions requirements for most online MPH in Environmental Health programs include the completion of a bachelor’s degree in any subject from an accredited college or university. In addition, students should expect to submit GRE exam scores in addition to letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, and possibly a resume or curriculum vitae (CV).

The typical online MPH in Environmental Health degree requires the completion of approximately 45 credit hours to graduate. All coursework can be completed entirely online. Also, depending on each school’s requirements, you may be required to complete some type of field experience as part of the graduation requirements. Field experiences can usually be completed locally with the MPH department’s approval.

Students pursuing an online MPH in Environmental Health can expect to take core MPH courses in addition to several specialized courses in environmental health such as Exposure to Environmental Hazards, Environmental Health Effects, Environmental Health Policy, and others.

Potential MPH in Environmental Health Career Path

Earning an online MPH in Environmental Health can open up many different doors. One specific career path that graduates can pursue is that of environmental specialist. Environmental specialists do work in the cleanup of polluted areas, work for companies to help them reduce waste, and help to formulate environmental public policy.

According to the United States Department of Labor, Department of Labor Statistics, environmental specialists earn an average of $52,494 per year, with a pay range of $36,475 to $80,806.

Sources:

http://www.acpm.org/?page=WhatisPM
http://www.journals.elsevier.com/preventive-medicine/
http://www.who.int/topics/environmental_health/en/
https://www.publichealth.arizona.edu/academics/masters/mph/eoh
http://www.soph.uab.edu/enhq
https://www.publichealth.arizona.edu/academics/masters/mph/eoh/ih http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Environmental_Specialist/Salary