Environmental Public Health
(Printable version)
Do you have a strong interest in science and concern for public health and the environment? Would you like to be responsible for protecting us from biological, chemical and physical hazards that exist in our human environment? This major prepares you for employment in regulatory agencies, industries or consulting firms concerned with environmental quality and protection. You’ll learn how you can play an important role in the reduction and elimination of environmental health hazards as well as preserving and improving environmental factors for optimum health, safety, comfort and well-being. If this sounds like a perfect match then a degree in Environmental and Public Health is the major for you.
Well trained, well paid
ENPH Program provides the education and training to have graduates earn starting salary + benefit packages of $45-65,000/year. Personable and caring faculty, paid internships and faculty-student research opportunities all help to make our graduates very competitive in the job market.
Top ranked program
UW-Eau Claire offers the only accredited undergraduate environmental health program in the upper Midwest, accreditation is by the National Environmental Health Science & Protection Accreditation Council (EHAC).
Great facilities
Students have access to excellent laboratories with the latest equipment used in environmental public health. Many field trip experiences are incorporated into the classes. A technology computer laboratory offers the ability to provide computer-supported instruction using the innovative Desire 2 Learn system.
Student Orgs
Students can participate in campus organizations such as the National Environmental Health Association and the Conservationists.
Ideal major for pre-professionals
The Environmental Public Health major meets all basic science requirements to enter the pre-medicine, pre-veterinary, pre-dentistry, or pre-optometry programs.
Course work
All undergraduate environmental public health majors complete a core of course work in biology, chemistry, physics, algebra, calculus and English.
Suggested freshman curriculum
- Intro to Environmental
Health
- Chemical Principles
- Essentials of Cell
Biology and Genetics
- Elementary Statistics
- Intro to College Writing
- General electives
More advising information
Our graduates
Work for local, state or federal health-related regulatory agencies. Work as an industrial environmental
sanitarian or quality control specialist in food processing plants. Work for major insurance companies, industries, or environmental consulting firms dealing with safety, industrial hygiene, hazardous waste or environmental monitoring.
More career information
Places you’ll find recent graduates:
- Consumer Safety Office
Investigator, USDA,
Madison, WI
- Environmental Technician,
Institute for Environmental
Assessment,
Brooklyn Park, MN
Department contact information
Crispin Pierce
piercech@uwec.edu
715-836-5589
Special admission notes
It is essential that a first year student start the biology and chemistry sequence as early as possible. Because biology, chemistry and physics classes are demanding and time-consuming, a student should not schedule more than two courses with a required laboratory during the first year. A first year student would be well served to complete the English composition requirement and the Introductory Environmental Health course during the first or second semester.The required science courses for Environmental Public Health (ENPH) students in biology, chemistry and physics are sequential at the outset. Some flexibility exists in advanced biology and chemistry coursework selection. As a rule, the advanced, specialized courses in environmental health are not taken during the first year. Because these advanced courses are offered once per year, a sequential pattern tends to exist and advanced planning is important. Most often, the required internship is taken between the junior and senior years.
