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Bachelor of Science in Environmental & Occupational Health Science


Whether it's addressing workplace hazards, environmental protection, compliance management, or enhancing overall environmental quality, a degree in Environmental and Occupational Health Science prepares you to keep people and the environment safe. If you're committed to promoting human health and environmental well-being, this major could be the perfect fit for you.

The mission of the Environmental and Occupational Health Science (EOHS) Program at Western Kentucky University is to educate students in preparation for an exciting career in the environmental health and occupational safety and health fields. The EOHS Program is committed to providing south central Kentucky, the state, and the nation with entry-level environmental and occupational safety and health professionals. The program prepares students to understand how exposures to environmental and occupational health hazards occur and how these exposures can be reduced and controlled to better protect public health.

 

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EOHS Classroom

 

Environmental and Occupational Health Science, Bachelor of Science (548P, 548)


  • Undergraduate
  • Bachelor of Science
  • Health and Human Services
  • Public Health

Overview

The undergraduate degree program in environmental and occupational health science prepares the graduating student for entry level careers of environmental compliance and protection, occupational safety and health, environmental health and safety, and environmental science. Numerous jobs are available with government agencies, environmental consulting firms, industries, local governments, and non-profit organizations. Courses in the program are focused on basic sciences, environmental science, occupational safety and health, and environmental health. Requirements of the program develop the application of basic scientific principles to the solution of environmental and occupational problems that prepare students for diverse career opportunities.

Program Requirements (70 hours)

A baccalaureate degree requires a minimum of 120 unduplicated semester hours. More information can be found at www.wku.edu/registrar/degree_certification.php.

Students who began WKU in the Fall 2014 and thereafter should review the Colonnade requirements located at: https://www.wku.edu/colonnade/colonnaderequirements.php.

Required Courses 

Course List
ENV 120Introduction to Occupational Safety and Health3
ENV 221Safety and Health Standards, Codes, and Regulations3
ENV 280Introduction to Environmental Science3
ENV 321Fundamentals of Industrial Hygiene3
ENV 323Fundamentals of Industrial Hygiene Laboratory1
ENV 360Air Pollution Control3
ENV 365Air Pollution Control Laboratory1
ENV 380Principles of Environmental Toxicology3
ENV 410Water Treatment Processes3
ENV 411Water Treatment Processes Laboratory1
ENV 423Safety Program Management3
ENV 460Environmental Management3
ENV 474Environmental Risk Assessment3
ENV 480Hazardous and Solid Waste Management3
ENV 486Senior Environmental Health Seminar1
ENV 491Internship in Environmental, Health, and Safety3
PH 383Biostatistics in the Health Sciences3
PH 384Introduction to Epidemiology3
PH 385Environmental Health3
CHEM 107Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry3
CHEM 108Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry Laboratory1
BIOL 207General Microbiology3
BIOL 208General Microbiology Laboratory1
PHYS 231Introduction to Physics and Biophysics I3
PHYS 232Laboratory for Physics and Biophysics I1
Select nine hours of advisor consent electives from the following list:9
ENV 322
Physical Hazards Recognition and Control I
ENV 375
Introduction to Water Resources
ENV 475
Selected Topics in Env
ENV 485
Practical Experiences in Environmental and Occupational Health Science
ENV 495
Environmental Measurement
ENV 402
Worksite Health Promotion
PH 456
Independent Study in Health and Safety
MFGE 310
Safety in Industry
Total Hours70

Additional Courses 

Course List
COMM 145Fundamentals of Public Speaking and Communication3
ECON 202Principles of Economics (Micro)3
BIOL 120
BIOL 121
Biological Concepts: Cells Metabolism and Genetics
and Biological Concepts: Cells, Metabolism, and Genetics Lab
4
CHEM 105Fundamentals of General Chemistry3
CHEM 106Fundamentals of General Chemistry Laboratory1
CHEM 116Introduction to College Chemistry3
MATH 116College Algebra3
MATH 117Trigonometry3
GEOL 111The Earth3
Total Hours26

Some of these required courses also fulfill the Colonnade subject area requirements.

All courses listed above require a minimum grade of “C.”

Finish in Four Plans

Finish in Four Plan

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
COMM 1453ENG 1003
MATH 1163HIST 101 or HIST 1023
ENV 2803ENV 1203
CHEM 1163CHEM 105
CHEM 106
4
GEOL 1113ECON 2023
 15 16
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
ENG 2003Colonnade - Connections (Local to Global)3
Colonnade - Connections (Systems)3World Language (if needed)3
Colonnade - Arts & Humanities3BIOL 207
BIOL 208
4
MATH 1173Colonnade - Connections (Social & Cultural)3
BIOL 120
BIOL 121
4CHEM 107
CHEM 108
4
 16 14
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
PHYS 231
PHYS 232
4ENV Major Elective3
ENG 3003ENV 321
ENV 323
4
ENV 2213ENV 3803
PH 3833PH 3843
PH 3853ENV 3223
 16 16
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
ENV 410
ENV 411
4ENV 4743
ENV 4233ENV 360
ENV 365
4
ENV 4603ENV 4913
ENV 4803ENV Major Elective3
 ENV 4861
 13 14
Total Hours 120

 

Important Information for Environmental & Occupational Health Science Majors

The EOHS program is accredited through the National Environmental Health Science and Protection Accreditation Council. Additionally, the EOHS program is a Qualified Academic Program (QAP) through the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) which means students graduating from the EOHS program at WKU can apply with BCSP after graduation to earn their Graduate Safety Practitioner (GSP) designation.

The EOHS Program is also supported by a Training Program Grant (TPG) through the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). This allows undergraduate students in the EOHS program to apply for a scholarship of up to $2500 per semester. Any inquiries about the scholarship should be made to the current undergraduate program director.

 

 

 

 


 

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Accreditations/Certifications achieved within the School of Health and Social Services

National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) - Early Childhood Education Associate Degree

Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) - Bachelor and Master of Social Work Degrees

Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) - Bachelor of Science and Master of Public Health Degrees

Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) - Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management

National Environmental Health Science & Protection Accreditation Council (EHAC) - Bachelor of Science and Master of Environmental & Occupational Health Science Degrees

Board of Certified Safety Professionals Qualified Academic Program (BCSP QAP) - Bachelor of Science and Master of Environmental & Occupational Health Science Degrees

National Association of Long-Term Care Administrator Boards (NAB) HSE Accreditation - Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration with Long-Term Care Certificate Degree


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 Last Modified 7/13/26