Environmental Health is a multi-facetted discipline which deals with issues that impact on the health and well being of individuals and society as a whole.
This online learning degree will equip you with the necessary skills, knowledge and competencies to enable you to understand and evaluate the risks posed by the full range of environmental health hazards, or stressors, which impact on human health and well being.
You’ll be able to critically evaluate a full range of sustainable interventions which are available to eliminate or mitigate the health hazards or stressors, thereby protecting human health and promoting well being.
An accredited degree
To receive CIEH/RHEIS accreditation, you will need to attend a one week residential on campus in Derby, UK. This is part of the ‘Applied Interventions’ module and usually takes place in the Spring (May).
You will also need to attend a 1 week residential practical food inspection course and examination that is currently provided for the University by Biilingsgate Market in London. This is a professional requirement and does not form a part of the MSc but is needed for professional registration.
If you are unable to attend these residential elements, you will graduate with an MSc Environmental Health Studies, which is a non CIEH/RHEIS accredited award.
Flexibility to study when and where you want
It’s extremely flexible, so if you are already working, you can study at a pace to suit you, fitting around your existing work and personal commitments. Course modules still operate within a fixed trimester, but you can choose when and where is most convenient.
Learn online with experienced practitioners
You’ll benefit from teaching and guidance by our professional team of experienced practitioners. Our accreditation and experience in this subject area mean that all course content is relevant and topical, looking at current trends within the environmental health industry.
Stages 1 and 2: To complete Stage 1 (PG Cert.) and Stage 2 (PG Dip.), you must take all five core modules and select one optional module from the list below. These modules can be studied over 2-5 years. Please note that you must study Determinants of Public Health and Wellbeing first and Applied Interventions must be your final core module, before you continue to the Independent Scholarly Activity. If you are studying the non accredited MSc Environmental Health Studies, your module selection differs slightly. Please contact us for further information.
Stage 3: To complete Stage 3 (Masters): You will need to select one optional module from the list below to be studied during Stage 1 or Stage 2.
Environmental policy and law is a rapidly expanding field that is becoming central to successful business management. The first part of the module will concentrate on the political and legislative structure that initiates, implements, polices or influences environmental law in the UK. It also takes into account the great influence that European policy has on present UK environmental policy. The second half of the module then concentrates on the actual regulations, laws and stated policy frameworks that influence how the environment is managed.
On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:
Critically evaluate the use of Common Law system to protect the environment and human health
Demonstrate a critical understanding of current environmental/health issues and how policy and legislation are used to mitigate the potential impacts
Critically evaluate the role and effectiveness of the main institutions and frameworks for implementing appropriate interventions.
Topics covered may include:
The nature of Environmental Policy and Law: introduction, history, principles, sources, institutions and organisations in environmental law
International environmental law: history, sources, international law and the European Union, international law and the UK, major international agreements
European environmental law: developments, review, EU environmental law and the UK
Regulation of environmental law: standards and standard-setting, enforcement, mechanisms to monitor and improve regulation
The UK Legislative Framework and the environment: sources, classification and associated judicial systems, interpretation, enforcement, environmental policy and regulatory regime, Common Law in the protection of the environment
Town and country planning: planning objectives and the environment, development - planning application and permission, appeal, planning law and environmental protection
Environmental assessment: legal mechanisms of environmental impact assessment (EIA) and strategic environmental assessment (SEA)
Industrial Pollution Control regimes: Environmental Permitting: Integrated Pollution Control (IPC), Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC), environmental permitting regulations and enforcement
Air quality and climate change, waste, contaminated land, water, noise: legislation, regulation, management
Organisational management in an environmental management/health context: environmental management in practice, the future of environmental law and its regulation.
This module aims to develop a sound capability to evaluate the distribution and impact of a range of contaminants in the different compartments of the environment. Impacts of the use of conventional and renewable energy sources are highlighted in the context of energy conservation and management. The module further aims to contextualise environmental monitoring and assessment towards pollution prevention, control and management.
On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:
Review and critically assess conventional and renewable energy resources and appreciate the link between energy efficiency, energy conservation and energy management systems
Identify the sources and effects of contaminants in the different compartments of the environment: air, water, land, biota, and critically appreciate the strategies to prevent, control, and manage environmental pollution towards a sustainable environment
Understand and evaluate the application of techniques for environmental monitoring and assessment.
The aim of this module is to introduce students to the measurement, prediction, assessment and control of environmental noise. It will address the current noise descriptors used to assess environmental noise, consider the range of environmental noise sources and critically evaluate the factors which affect their perception and control. Use will be made of case studies to provide a work based approach to this module.
On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:
Understand, apply and critically review noise indicators, criteria and assessment procedures relevant to environmental noise assessment
Critically review the range of noise mitigation techniques appropriate for environmental noise.
Topics covered may include:
Introduction to environmental noise
Review of Road Transport Noise
Review of Air Transport Noise
Review of Rail Transport Noise
Industrial Noise
Mineral, Landfill and Construction Site Noise
Control of Wind Turbine Noise
Review of Noise From Entertainment Sources And Other Leisure Activities.
On successful completion of this module you will have a critical understanding of the importance of waste management and the techniques used. A variety of waste sectors will be examined including: Construction and demolition, agriculture, commercial and household waste. The current options for management of waste: waste prevention, re-use, recycling, composting, landfill and generating energy from waste are reviewed.
On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:
Demonstrate a comprehensive and critical understanding of EU and UK waste legislation, together with the powers and duties of the enforcement agencies
Critically assess the nature and issues within the waste sectors including construction and demolition, agricultural, commercial and household waste, together with an understanding of treatment and disposal routes
Elucidate the current options available and the issues within waste management: waste prevention, re-use, recycling, composting, landfill and generating energy from waste.
Topics covered may include:
Types of waste, from ‘normal’ domestic refuse to highly toxic and hazardous wastes
Waste management
Legislation of waste and the role of the local authorities/enforcement agencies.
Management options to prevent waste and to promote re-use, recycling, composting and disposal of waste products
Waste management strategy for the UK
Effects of waste on the environment and the problem of radioactive waste.
This is an opportunity for you to apply the knowledge and understanding gained from the taught modules within your programme of study to a specific research based investigation. You will have the opportunity to apply initiative, creative thinking and organisational skills to a specific topic within your MSc programme of study. Early on in the module, emphasis will be placed on the research skills necessary to execute an independent, investigative study. You will be expected to devise a research proposal and then execute the study over a given time frame.
On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:
Demonstrate initiative and critical thinking skills in selecting a problem for investigation and identifying appropriate methodologies for their implementation
Critically evaluate existing literature in the field of enquiry
Collect, interpret and critically evaluate primary/secondary data and discuss its significance in the context of the investigation and of related studies.
Topics covered may include:
Literature review techniques
Critical review of scientific literature
Questionnaire design
Statistical methods of hypothesis testing
Data interpretation
Thesis structure, organisation and presentation
Health and safety implications
Ethical issues and studies.
60
Stage 3
Core module
Entry Requirements:
These are set by the University and approved by the professional body – either CIEH or REHIS.
You should normally have either:
at least a lower second class (2:2) undergraduate degree in a pure or applied science (or combination) from a UK university
or qualifications and experience considered to be equivalent to the above.
English language qualifications
You are also normally required to have one of the following English Language qualifications:
GCE O level English Language Grade C
GCSE English Grade C
If English is not your first language you will need an English language qualification with at least one of the following:
London Tests of English: we accept level 5 for postgraduate courses
International GCE O Level English Language: Grade C
International GCSE English/English as a Second Language: Grade C.
If you don’t have the above qualifications, in exceptional cases you may be accepted onto the course if you can demonstrate you have the potential to achieve the aims and outcomes of the curriculum.
Course Fees:
Per Module
Modules
Total
Start
UK/EU
£725
9
£6,525*
Sept/Jan/May
Overseas
£840
9
£7,560*
Sept/Jan/May
*Prices correct for 2013/2014. Subject to annual increase in September 2014.
NOTE: The course fees above do not include the fee for the Practical Food Inspection module (approx £700). Accommodation, travel and food costs are also supplementary.
Flexible payment plans available
Choose from three options:
Pay only for the modules you are studying
Pay your full course fees upfront, receive a 5% discount and avoid annual increases
Pay for all modules studied in the year and receive a 5% discount (September enrolment only)
This course will open up various career opportunities for you in the UK and overseas. A popular career choice is to work as an Environmental Health Practitioner in local government but there are opportunities in the private sector where health protection is paramount, such as international food retailers and the hospitality and leisure industry. There are also opportunities to work in Public Health and in the the Health Protection Agency.
Becoming an Environmental Health Practitioner
To qulifiy as an Environmental Health Practitioner, you'll need:
an accredited degree – this MSc course counts.
to pass the practical food exam included in this course.
an experiential learning portfolio (this is in addition to our Environmental Health in Practice requirements and it will need to be submitted to the CIEH as part of your application to become registered)
to pass the CIEH professional exams and professional interview.
Career alternatives to becoming an EHP
You could choose to work in these fields instead:
Private sector: as a consultant of food, or in environmental protection, health and safety etc.
Health Protection Agency: in a role focusing on public health aspects.
Environment Agency: in a role focusing on upholding environmental regulations.
Registration with CIEH
Registration with CIEH requires you to undertake a range of professional assessments. Our MSc Environmental Health has been designed and accredited to meet three of the five professional requirements needed for registration purposes. Our professionally qualified academic team will be able to advise and guide you with regard to the other two aspects. Completion of the CIEH assessments will enable you to become a qualified Environmental Health Practitioner.
Registration with REHIS
Our MSc Environmental Health online degree meets the academic requirements needed to qualify as an Environmental Health Practitioner in Scotland and to become registered with REHIS. Upon completion of the MSc Environmental Health, you will need to undertake the REHIS professional examinations. We advise you contact REHIS once you’ve begun the MSc Environmental Health for more information on the professional examinations and any additional requirements.
