What is Environmental Health?

Environmental Health Sciences is a multidisciplinary field that focuses on how the environment—ranging from chemical exposures to the built environment—affects human health. People in environmental health measure exposures, determine if they harm health and develop policies to prevent injury and disease.

Environmental Health professionals promote and enforce better environmental practices, monitoring air, water and food quality and working to combat climate change. The current job market for environmental health sciences graduates is extremely strong due to ever-increasing numbers of environmental and workplace pollutants and hazards. Graduates are well-prepared to work in universities, private companies and NGOs, national and international organizations, and state and local departments of health on health protection and promotion, applied research, education, and program development.

Positions Held by Graduates

Minnesota Department of Health
Biomonitoring & Engineering Contaminants Unit Supervisor

City of Minneapolis
Health Inspector

Minnesota Department of Health
Research Scientist

Neighborhood HealthSource
Quality Manager

University of Minnesota
Doctor of Medicine (MD) Program

George Washington University
Physician Assistant Program

The Ohio State University
PhD Student in Food Science & Technology