State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry
Bachelor of Science in Environmental Health
Syracuse, USA
BSc
DURATION
4 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
12 Jan 2026
TUITION FEES
USD 10,015 / per semester *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* maximum total tuition for 12 credit hours or more
Key Summary
The Environmental Health program educates students about the intersection of human health and the environment, specifically, the analysis, prevention, and mitigation of potential environmental hazards that could be biological, chemical or physical. The field of environmental health is broad, encompassing the direct effects of the environment on human health and the factors that adversely affect the ecological balances essential to human health and environmental quality.
Preparing graduates for impactful careers
Our program prepares students for employment in private industry, government agencies, and non-governmental agencies concerned with pollution abatement, protection of public health, and research in health science or advanced study in the science of environmental health or the allied health professions.
Gain critical and in-demand skills
In addition to knowledge of the subject matter, graduates will have important skills in critical thinking and applied problem solving to help face current and future environmental threats. Graduates will be prepared for jobs in the national environmental health workforce. This area of employment is experiencing rapid growth with a need for new, young professionals to address developing concerns.
Coursework for the Environmental Health major includes core courses such as biology and both general and organic chemistry, with classwork and labs; environmental health; information literacy; calculus; physics; and environmental microbiology. The major also includes specialized environmental health courses such as environmental sampling methods, food safety and quality assurance, atmospheric sciences, epidemiology, environmental risk assessment, occupational health and safety, and hazardous/solid waste management. A summer internship/professional experience and a senior synthesis are also required.
In addition, students will take general education electives covering writing, humanities, social science, the arts and world civilizations. Because environmental health often deals with social justice issues, coursework in diversity and equity is critical to the major.
Students will also take credits in nine focus areas: built environment, geospatial technology, soils, water and wastewater, solid/hazardous materials and waste management, hydrogeology, food production, public health, or pre-medical/pre-vet.
Core Courses
- Survey Of Calculus & Applications I
- Survey Of Calculus & Applications II
- Introduction/Probability & Statistics
- General Bio I: Organismal Biology & Ecology G 3
- General Biology I Laboratory
- General Biology II: Cell Biology & Genetics
- General Biology II Laboratory
- Introduction to Environmental Microbiology
- Epidemiology
- Toxic Health Hazards
- Foundations/Environmental Health
- Disease Prevention
- Environmental Health Management
- Environmental Sampling Methods
- Professional Internship/Environmental Health
- Occupational Health and Safety
- Hazardous Waste Management
- Orientation Seminar: Environmental Science
- Environmental Risk Assessment
- Capstone Seminar
- Information Literacy
- Writing And The Environment
- General Chemistry I
- General Chemistry I Laboratory
- General Chemistry II
- General Chemistry II Laboratory
- Organic Chemistry
- Organic Chemistry Laboratory
- Organic Chemistry II
- Organic Chemistry Laboratory II
- Introduction/Atmospheric Sciences
- Food Safety/Quality Assurance
- Major Concepts of Physics I
- Major Concepts of Physics II
General Education Electives
- General Education Course in two of the following categories:
- US History & Civic Engagement
- The Arts
- Social Sciences
- World History and Global Awareness
- World Languages
- General Education Course in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Social Justice
ESF is consistently ranked highly for its outstanding academics, unwavering commitment to sustainability, global impact, affordability, and more. This recognition demonstrates our commitment to providing the best experience and outcomes for our students.
Number 1
- #1: Most Affordable School for Women in STEM | study
- #1: Sustainability Curriculum | Sustainable Campus Index, AASHE
- #1: Sustainable Investments and Finance | Sustainable Campus Index, AASHE
Top 5
- #2: Green Matters: Everyone Cares About Conservation | The Princeton Review
- #2: Zero Waste Campus | Post Landfill Action Network
- #3: Sustainability Research | Sustainable Campus Index, AASHE
- #4: Public Engagement | Sustainable Campus Index, AASHE
- #4: Top Green College | The Princeton Review
Graduates from our program:
- Are knowledgeable of examples of global, regional, and local environmental health problems and issues.
- Are competent to perform in a graduate education or entry-level work environment.
- Have the ability to conceptualize environmental problems in terms of unifying principles.
- Are capable of utilizing a systems approach to problem solving.
- Can communicate their ideas and expectations effectively, especially when dealing with the public.
The outlook for students in the environmental health field is promising, and New York State is a leader in the field. Employment opportunities exist with public health departments, non-profit organizations, government agencies, private companies, environmental research corporations, and state environmental health associations.
- Officer in the U.S. Public Health program
- Air Pollution Analysis and Control
- Surface Water Monitoring and Regulation
- Drinking Water and Ground Water Remediation and Testing
- Hazardous Waste Reduction and Remediation
- Solid Waste Control
- Toxicology
- Industrial Hygiene
- Emergency Management
- Epidemiology
- Emergency Response
- Environmental Remediation
- Occupational Safety
- Food Safety