CAREERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

Environmental Health at West Chester University is a great academic and career choice. We are a nationally-accredited B.S. program that prepares young professionals for an exciting career working to solve the most pressing environmental problems of today and tomorrow. Environmental Health professionals anticipate, recognize, evaluate and control hazards that can affect human health in both the natural and built environment. Environmental Health professionals are proficient scientists who apply their skills to solving environmental problems. 

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Our graduates are in demand and are widely employed in hospitals; universities; environmental consulting firms; a variety of industries including the water and wastewater management industry, chemical and medical products; food supply and distribution companies; state and federal government and county health departments. Experts trained in Environmental Health are increasingly short in supply but high in demand; for a brief illustration of what we do, watch the video at this link. Other valuable videos which address workers' health, chemical safety and the role of Environmental Health Professionals in managing safety during a variety of situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic are “The Right Thing to Do" and "What is Industrial/Occupational Hygiene?". 

For more information you can also visit the websites of the Association of Environmental Health Academic Programs AEHAP and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). 

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During the final semester of the senior year, environmental health students gain hands-on experience through a 12-credit professional internship that prepares them for their career. Many of our students are subsequently hired into full-time jobs directly from their internships.

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Graduates of our program are also eligible for entering the US Public Health Service (USPHS) and US Army and Navy Environmental Science and Engineering careers. Additionally, our graduates meet the criteria to take the NEHA Registered Environmental Health Specialist/Registered Sanitarian (REHS/RS) upon graduation. After completing the required work experience qualification, our program's graduates can take the Certified Safety Professional (CSP) and Certified Industrial Hygienist  (CIH) exams.