Environmental Health MSc
This is the only online environmental health course accredited by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health and the Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland. That means it’s a crucial first step in becoming a qualified environmental health professional.
It’s extremely flexible, so if you are already working, you can study at a pace to suit you. While it’s coursework-based, there is one practical food inspection exam that must be taken on-campus.
It’s an online course, but with many practical elements
Even though it’s online distance learning, you complete a 48-week period of practical work-based learning, culminating in a professional interview. During this time you will be experimenting with skills and tools learned on the course within a relevant workplace – either in an organisation you already work for or a placement. It’s excellent preparation for the Independent Study and for your future career, and is essential for meeting the professional requirements of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) and the Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland (REHIS).
Your own timetable
Studying online gives you the flexibility to study at the most convenient time and place for you. Course modules still operate within a fixed semester or term time, but you can choose to study during the day, in the evenings or at the weekend rather than having to attend fixed lectures. As a part time student you can complete the course within 2-4 years.
Course Length:
2-4 years of part time study
Start Dates:
September and January
Entry Requirements:
These are set 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.
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
- IELTS 6.0 or 6.5 TOEFL (paper-based)
- 550 TOEFL (computer-based) 213.
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.
Fees:
| Per Module | Modules | Total | Start | |
| UK | £500 | 12 (8 + IS*) | £4,924** | Sept/Jan |
| Non UK | £560 | 12 (8 + IS*) | £5,620** | Sept/Jan |
* You will study a total of 12 modules - 8 modules plus your Independent Study (IS) which equates to an additional 4 modules.
For UK students the cost of the Independent Study is £924 and for Non UK students it is £1,140.
For example, as a UK student you will pay £500 x 8 modules (£4,000) plus a total of £924 for your Independent Study. The total cost of the full MSc Environmental Health will therefore be £4924 for UK students.
**Prices correct for 2011/2012. Subject to annual increase.
The course fees above do not include the fee for the Practical Food Inspection module (approx £695). Accommodation, travel and food costs are also supplementary.
Career Information:
This course will open up various career opportunities for you – in England, Scotland and overseas. One popular career choice is to work as an environmental health officer (EHO) in local government.
To qualify to be an EHO 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.
Therefore, on completing this MSc, you will be able to undertake the CIEH professional exams in order to gain registration as an EHO ready to practice.
Career alternatives to becoming an EHO
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.
Testimonials:
Christine Morrison graduated in January 2010 and is now working as an EHO with the Western Isles Council
"Studying online was great as it allowed me to work full time as a Food Safety Officer with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council) while undertaking the qualification. The online systems were easy to navigate and some tutorials and presentations were done by video conferencing which was really useful too.”
Read more about Christine
Therese Gough has recently graduated and is working towards obtaining registration with the Environmental Health Officers' Registration Board (EHORB)
“I did a two-day a week work placement that lasted for two years. It proved to be a great insight for me into the varied work involved in environmental health.”
Read more about Therese
Sandy Campell graduated and is now working as a private sector housing officer for a local authority and working towards his Chartered Institute of Environmental Health registration
"I found the course very challenging and fulfilling and each module I've studied has been a learning curve in its own right."
Course Leader:
Modules Summary Stage 1:
To complete Stage 1, you must take four of the following OPTIONAL modules.
To complete Stage 2, you must take three of the remaining optional modules.
Modules Summary Stage 2:
Stage 2
You must take the remaining three optional modules from stage 1 above.
Modules Summary Stage 3:
You must take the following module.
Student Profile:
Christine Morrison graduated in January 2010 and is now working as an EHO with the Western Isles Council
"Studying online was great as it allowed me to work full time as a Food Safety Officer with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council) while undertaking the qualification. The online systems were easy to navigate and some tutorials and presentations were done by video conferencing which was really useful too.”
Read more about Christine
Therese Gough has recently graduated and is working towards obtaining registration with the Environmental Health Officers' Registration Board (EHORB)
“I did a two-day a week work placement that lasted for two years. It proved to be a great insight for me into the varied work involved in environmental health.”
Read more about Therese
Sandy Campell graduated and is now working as a private sector housing officer for a local authority and working towards his Chartered Institute of Environmental Health registration
"I found the course very challenging and fulfilling and each module I've studied has been a learning curve in its own right."
Career Information
This course will open up various career opportunities for you – in England, Scotland and overseas. One popular career choice is to work as an environmental health officer (EHO) in local government.
To qualify to be an EHO 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.
Therefore, on completing this MSc, you will be able to undertake the CIEH professional exams in order to gain registration as an EHO ready to practice.
Career alternatives to becoming an EHO
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.
Modules
Stage 1
To complete Stage 1, you must take four of the following OPTIONAL modules.
To complete Stage 2, you must take three of the remaining optional modules.
Optional Module
The aims of this module are to develop, to a high level, the skills you need for the design, initiation, development, management and successful execution of a research project. You will receive training and guidance about using sources of information, designing research investigations, designing project methodology, interpreting data and how to present the results.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework.
Credits: 15
Optional Module
You will gain basic knowledge about the legislation and controls which surround the environment. We’ll cover areas such as international agreements, EU legislation, and the local authorities’ duty. Once you’ve completed the module, you’ll be able to understand how legislation works and what it attempts to achieve.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework.
Credits: 15
Optional Module
You will practice applying the principles of the profession of environmental health that you have learned in previous modules. You will come to understand that the most successful interventions involve contributions from other professionals or groups of professionals. We’ll use a series of real life case studies throughout the module.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework.
Credits: 15
Optional Module
In this module you’ll look at the environmental health stressors associated with the natural and built environments. You will look air, water, land, waste and noise pollution, and how conditions within the home can impact on human health. We will consider how a risk-based approach is used to determine the actual risk to human health and how compliance strategies can be used to mitigate these impacts.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework.
Credits: 15
Optional Module
In this module you’ll look at the environmental health stressors associated with the natural and built environments. You will look air, water, land, waste and noise pollution, and how conditions within the home can impact on human health. We will consider how a risk-based approach is used to determine the actual risk to human health and how compliance strategies can be used to mitigate these impacts.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework.
Credits: 15
Optional Module
You will undertake a long-term placement to help you put into practice the principles you’ve already learned in the classroom. The placement will usually be a minimum of 130 working days.
While you are on the placement, you are required to maintain a reflective blog of your experiences in environmental health.
How will I be assessed?
You will need to undertake an oral exam at the end of your placement – either on-campus or online through a platform such as Skype.
Credits: 30
Optional Module
You will develop a critical understanding of the role of environmental health in relation to community health actions designed to address the wider/social determinants of health. We will discuss the concepts of health and the new public health agenda as well as health protection measures and methods, sustainability, community development and regeneration.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework.
Credits: 15
Optional Module
This is a five day course based at Billingsgate in London.
How will I be assessed?
You will take an oral exam on the last day.
Credits: 15
Stage 3
You must take the following module.
Core Module
Independent Scholarly Activity
Traditionally known as a ‘dissertation’, this module asks you to carry out an independent piece of work in an area of your choice (subject to approval on academic, safety and ethical grounds). Your study will need to demonstrate a degree of problem solving and the formulation and testing of hypotheses.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework: a written study of normally 8,000–12,000 words in length.
Credits: 60
These are set 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.
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
- IELTS 6.0 or 6.5 TOEFL (paper-based)
- 550 TOEFL (computer-based) 213.
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.
Apply Now
Applications for Online courses are made through the main University of Derby website.
By clicking on "Apply now" below you will be redirected to the University of Derby website to continue your application process.
Fees
| Per Module | Modules | Total | Start | |
| UK | £500 | 12 (8 + IS*) | £4,924** | Sept/Jan |
| Non UK | £560 | 12 (8 + IS*) | £5,620** | Sept/Jan |
* You will study a total of 12 modules - 8 modules plus your Independent Study (IS) which equates to an additional 4 modules.
For UK students the cost of the Independent Study is £924 and for Non UK students it is £1,140.
For example, as a UK student you will pay £500 x 8 modules (£4,000) plus a total of £924 for your Independent Study. The total cost of the full MSc Environmental Health will therefore be £4924 for UK students.
**Prices correct for 2011/2012. Subject to annual increase.
The course fees above do not include the fee for the Practical Food Inspection module (approx £695). Accommodation, travel and food costs are also supplementary.
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