MSc Environmental Health

Overview & facilities

This programme is aimed at those working in a practice setting, already hold a degree or qualification in a related subject  and  wish to enter a career as an Environmental Health Practitioner whether in the public or private sectors and is fully recognised and accredited by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH).  

The programme  explores the relationship between your work, home and leisure environments and how they impact on your health.  You will be given the knowledge and skills to assess risk and apply  solutions to protect and improve health and safety in a variety of settings.  You will critically evaluate the legal and social framework within which environmental health operates, providing the skills to plan and manage change where change is needed.

There are options and you may focus on occupational health and safety and food safety or occupational health and safety and pollution control. Whatever the option the award meets the CIEH requirement to enable you to progress to a full professional Environmental Health Practitioner (EHP) both as a GENERALIST and as a SPECIALIST in your chosen options. Students elect which route they want to take to professional registration after graduation through their practice portfolio and professional examinations.

Why study Environmental Health at Middlesex

• We are the largest and foremost provider of environmental health education in the UK offering a range of professionally recognised awards.
• We typically achieve a remarkable 100% graduate employment rate
• Many of  the teaching staff are Chartered Environmental Health Practitioners
• Excellent laboratory facilities
• Emphasis on laboratory skills and work

Content & modules

Modules

• Year 1

  Environmental and Health Interventions ( Credits) - Compulsory

  To combine the acquired knowledge and skills with real world examples to develop a level of practice skills commensurate with Masters level. To display mastery in the professional practice of environmental health through exploring the application of knowledge and skills in the development of innovative solutions to complex environmental health problems taking account of the social, psychological and physiological context in which they present themselves. To explore available interventions across all areas of environmental health, including food safety, health and safety, housing and environmental protection, to ensure a holistic approach to professional practice. To be able to connect related elements of risk that affect individual wellbeing and to critically analyse the wider public health implications of proposed interventions. To provide range of cognitive skills to acquire professional knowledge that can be used to raise public awareness and modify individual or organisational behaviour in a variety of contexts.

  Environmental and Public Health (15 Credits) - Compulsory

  To interpret and analyse the range of stressors that act on the physical, social and human worlds, the various mechanisms and points of impact and the implications that arise out of these impacts. To be able to review the potential and actual health implications that may arise from these impacts. To reflect on the role of health demographics and indicators of these such as the surveillance of communicable and non communicable diseases.

  Environmental Health: Management and Law (15 Credits) - Compulsory

  To provide skills in legislative literacy to be able to select appropriate legal approaches to manage factors that determine environmental standards so that ill health is prevented and well being in our society is enhanced. To be able to outline the role of different institutions public, private and NGO in framing the law. To evaluate the different management approaches to implementing the law to ensure compliance.

  Environmental Pollution Control and Law (15 Credits) - Optional

  To educate students in the remediation and reduction of impacts arising from waste, waste water from contaminated sites, contaminated land, air pollution and noise. To inform students so as to enable them to critically review new and existent technologies and practices for monitoring, prevention, treatment and control of potentially hazardous materials. To ensure students are aware of legal remedies to deal with pollution sources.

  Factors Shaping Food Safety Law and Practice (15 Credits) - Optional

  To thoroughly appraise the factors that determine food safety provision including legal requirements, management responsibilities, systems and control options. Students by evaluating these factors will be able to determine the appropriateness of legal and managerial approaches in light of current best practice and the influence of external factors.

  Factors Shaping Health and Safety at Work (15 Credits) - Compulsory

  To thoroughly appraise the factors that shape occupational health and safety at work. By evaluating these factors - legal, policy, human and organisational students will be able to determine the legal and theoretical basis to the current approaches to occupational health and how change is caused by external influencing factors.

  Managing Health and Safety Processes at Work (15 Credits) - Compulsory

  To thoroughly appraise and evaluate the theoretical and practical aspects of identifying, managing and controlling occupational health and safety risks.

  Pollution and Disease: Cause, Effects and Control (15 Credits) - Compulsory

  The aim of this module is to provide students with the necessary knowledge and skills to enable them to assess, judge and determine the effects of pollution and disease causing agents, the likely or recognised impact on humans and how this impact can be minimised through control strategies and methodologies.

  Practical Food Inspection (10 Credits) - Compulsory

  In this module students will be expected to: Identify and evaluate a range of food stuffs, state their condition and recognise unfit food. Explore a range of possible food safety interventions and recommend the most satisfactory course of action in order to achieve public health food safety. Evaluate the relevant statutory provisions and appraise the role of the enforcement officer and other relevant factors in determining the most satisfactory course of action to improve food safety.

  Research Methodology and Dissertation (60 Credits) - Compulsory

  To provide students with the organisational and management skills to administer an MSc research project. Management skills are supported by knowledge of experimental design, quantitative and qualitative analytical techniques, presentation skills and interactive computing skills. These skills will be applied in the completion of a practitioner based research including the developing of original and independent investigations aimed at integrating theoretical knowledge and technical expertise to solve a practical problem at a relevant postgraduate level.

  Risk Management: Assessment and Control (15 Credits) - Compulsory

  To educate participants in the theoretical and practical dimensions of risk management in the field of environmental health. To determine the scientific and technical basis on which risk can be assessed and learn the process of decision making and factors that affect it. To learn the skills of review that measure the success of these risk based interventions through information gathering and analyses. Ensure that risk decisions encourage positive health outcomes and protect human health in the areas of food safety, occupational safety and housing.

  Science and Technology in the Management of Food Safety (15 Credits) - Optional

  To thoroughly appraise and evaluate the theoretical and practical aspects of identifying, managing and controlling food safety risks.

  Sources and Effects of Pollution (15 Credits) - Optional

  This module aims to provide detailed knowledge and insight into the sources and impacts of pollution in the three environmental compartments of water air and land, but with a primary focus on land, noise and air. The characteristics and sources of the major environmental pollutants will be identified and their behaviour examined. The module also aims to familiarise students with the health, ecological and climatic impact of a wide range of pollutants, both independently and synergistically.

This MSc consists of 9 compulsory modules. Within the Masters, these modules focus on the knowledge and skills needed to access both generalist and specialist health and safety routes into the environmental health profession.

The compulsory modules include four core taught modules, a practical food inspection module, a professional practitioner module, a research module and two health and safety modules. The option is to add to these compulsory modules by choosing either two pollution control modules, or two food safety modules. The total credits of the MSc Environmental Health will be 190 credits

Entry & applying

We welcome applications from graduates with a good honours degree, or equivalent qualification, in an appropriate subject. We also consider candidates with other relevant qualifications and individuals with a minimum of three years' work experience. Those without formal qualifications need to demonstrate relevant work experience and the ability to study at postgraduate level.

Qualifications accepted

For a comprehensive list of qualifications accepted by Middlesex, see further information under entry requirements

English language requirements

You must have competence in English language and we normally require Grade C GCSE or an equivalent qualification. The most common English Language requirements for international students are IELTS 6.5 (with minimum 6.0 in all four components) or TOEFL paper based 575 (no less than 4.5 in test of written English) or TOEFL internet based 90 (with no less than 19 in each component) Middlesex also offers an Intensive Academic English course (Pre-Sessional) that ranges from 5-17 weeks, depending on your level of English. Successful completion of this course would meet English language entry requirements. For more information on applying for the pre-sessional please email english@mdx.ac.uk. For details of other equivalent English language requirements that Middlesex accepts see international entry requirements.

Applying

Applications for postgraduate study should be made directly to the university. You will need to fill in an application form and return it to the appropriate admissions office. UK and EU students should apply directly to the London office. Non-EU international students can apply to our international admissions office in London, or use our network of regional offices across the world to assist you with your application. Apply now

Fees & funding

The tuition fee for MSc Environmental Health for the academic year 2012/13 is as follows:

UK/EU Students

Full-time students: £6,000
Part-time students: £50 per taught credit

Find out about our flexible payment plans for UK/EU students, and how they can help you spread the cost of your course.

International Students

Full-time students: £10,600
Part-time students: £93 per taught credit
 

Careers & placements

Careers Include

• Environmental Health Practitioners in public and private sector.
• Environmental Health Practitioners for government agencies such as Department  of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs,  Food Standards Agency and Health Protection Agency.
• Consultancies
• National and international employment opportunities