Public Health

Public Health with emphasis in Environmental Health

Bachelor of Science in Public Health with Emphasis in Environmental Health

Beginning in Fall 2024, SDSU Imperial Valley will offer a new Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health with an emphasis in Environmental Health to provide an educational opportunity in the field of public health pertinent to the existing and future needs of the area. Environmental Health is a branch of public health that studies how biological, chemical, and physical factors in natural and built environments impact human health and diseases. Students will learn how to help prevent injuries and disease by managing environmental hazards and promoting healthier air, water, soil, homes, workplaces, and communities.

​The Environmental Health emphasis in Public Health will provide students with a strong science-based education with rigorous science and laboratory courses. In this program, students will demonstrate knowledge of the history and basic competencies in six major domains of public health: environmental health, health promotion and behavior, epidemiology, biostatistics, health services administration, and global health. In addition, students will learn about exposure and mechanisms by which environmental agents cause toxicity and affect human health, and explain factors (including genetic, physiological, and psychosocial) that influence susceptibility to these agents.

As part of this program, students will conduct an internship with a regional agency or research project in the broader field of public health with opportunities in air pollution measurement, water pollution, toxicology, environmental justice, or occupational health with one of our faculty. Upon successful completion of the program, students will be able to enter the workforce for exciting careers in Public Health, Environmental Health, or have the opportunity to pursue a graduate education such as the Master of Public Health (MPH) degree or other health sciences-related programs.

What is Public Health

The major prepares students to develop, implement, and assess public health programs conducted in varied settings, with diverse populations and aimed at reducing threats to public health.

The major prepares students for entry-level positions in a variety of settings, including the following

1. Government Agencies
2. Private/Voluntary Agencies
3. Hospitals
4. Clinics
5. International Programs
6. and more...

What Will Students Learn

Students will learn

• How to help prevent injuries and disease by managing environmental hazards and promoting healthier air, water, soil, homes, workplaces, and communities. 
• Exposure and mechanisms by which environmental agents cause toxicity and affect human health
• Explain factors (including genetic, physiological and psychosocial) that influence susceptibility to these agents.

Internships

As part of this program, students will conduct an internship with

• Regional agencies
• Research project in the broader field of public health with opportunities in
  • Air pollution measurement
  • Water pollution
  • Toxicology
  • Environmental justice
  • Occupational health