We’re one of the largest and leading providers of environmental health education in the UK. Our specialist one-year environmental health course is an ideal starting point for your journey to becoming a fully accredited public or environmental health professional.
You’ll develop an understanding of the core policies, principles and laws surrounding environmental health in both the UK and overseas. You’ll also learn how professional, domestic and leisure environments impact on the health and well-being of individuals and societies.
You’ll have access to specialist teaching and learning spaces, subject to availability in light of the ongoing Covid 19 outbreak, including a food inspection laboratory, Grade 2 microbiology laboratory and specialist environmental and occupational health teaching space.
You’ll learn through practice using real-world scenarios.
Our CertHE is equivalent to the first year of our environmental health degrees. Once you’ve finished, you’ll have the option to continue your studies to become a fully accredited environmental or public health practitioner.
Our personalised approach gives you the support you need to succeed as a student. While you're an undergraduate or foundation year student, you’ll have a Personal Tutor directly related to your course. If you need support with academic writing, numeracy and library skills, we’ll be sure to provide it. Our Student Learning and Graduate Academic Assistants have studied your subject and can support you based on their own experience.
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This course will give you a thorough understanding of environmental health issues and you will develop skills and knowledge that will underpin your future studies in environmental health sciences. Particular emphasis is placed on building a knowledge base in environmental health and food chemistry using examples from practice and field-based experience.
You will explore areas such as human anatomy, the nature of micro-organisms, the cycle of disease transmission and risk assessment. You will also be encouraged to develop a comprehensive appreciation of environmental health law and its application to the UK, European and international arena.
This module will introduce the fundamental scientific concepts underpinning the assessment of chemicals, physical agents and micro-organisms in the context of pollution and occupational safety and health. You will acquire skills in scientific information gathering, data analysis and presentation. You will develop your knowledge on chemistry, physics and microbiology which will form the basis of further studies in specialist modules in Environmental Health.
This module will provide you with the knowledge of the human anatomy and its hierarchical organisation from cell to organ system. An understanding of how the main body systems and mechanisms involved maintaining a "state of health" will be developed along with an introduction to how these systems can malfunction. Grounding in practical anatomy will be provided which includes virtual imaging and laboratory exercises to support identification and recognition of the main anatomical features of organs and structures of the body.
This module will provide an understanding of disease transmission and vectors of disease, emphasising the importance of zoonotic diseases in environmental and public health. You will develop your knowledge of comparative anatomy and physiology of the food animals with hands-on practical work to enable identification, differentiation and fitness of food items of animal origin. You will explore strategies which ensure the safety and quality control in relation to inspection, zoonotic disease transmission and fitness. In addition, you will gain practical skills in the identification of the main arthropod and vertebrate pests, their diversity, role as biological and mechanical vectors of disease and their socioeconomic impact. You will also look at strategies for control such as integrated pest management principles.
This module will develop your understanding in the concepts of health and ill-health and factors which influence and contribute to an individual’s state of health. You will examine how physical, chemical, biological, social and psycho-stressors impact on human health and the environment. You will develop your knowledge and understanding of illness and well-being through examining toxicology, aetiology, epidemiology and demography. You will explore the relationship between food, lifestyle, health and disease, and develop an appreciation of the importance of these in the prevention of disease and facilitating health improvement.
This module aims to develop your administrative, communication and practical skills required for successful academic and professional progress. You will also develop an appreciation of governance and the legal systems, including legal doctrines applicable to criminal, evidence and civil law. The professional practice element focuses upon the assessment of risk upon which further risk management skills can be developed. You will gain understanding of the principles and breadth of environmental health professional practice.
More information about this course
See the course specification for more information:
Optional modules are usually available at levels 5 and 6, although optional modules are not offered on every course. Where optional modules are available, you will be asked to make your choice during the previous academic year. If we have insufficient numbers of students interested in an optional module, or there are staffing changes which affect the teaching, it may not be offered. If an optional module will not run, we will advise you after the module selection period when numbers are confirmed, or at the earliest time that the programme team make the decision not to run the module, and help you choose an alternative module.
You will learn the facts at lectures, and develop your understanding at workshops, seminars and practical classes, including laboratory sessions. You will work on group projects, case study analyses and laboratory experiments, and will develop a portfolio of work. You will be encouraged to discuss and challenge your knowledge at seminars, and to further your study through reading.
We are back on campus for the majority of teaching in Autumn 2021, as long as restrictions allow. Your timetable will be built around on campus sessions using our professional facilities, with online sessions for some activities where we know being virtual will add value. We’ll use technology to enhance all of your learning and give you access to online resources to use in your own time.
In case of any changes to government guidance, we‘ll be ready to move to teaching with more restrictions in place and continue to give you an excellent learning experience. In this scenario, on campus teaching should continue although more of your course will take place online.
The table below gives you an idea of what your learning will look like across a typical week. Some weeks might be different due to how we schedule classes and arrange on campus sessions.
This information may change slightly as we receive further guidance from the government. You’ll receive final arrangements for your teaching and a full course timetable before you start.
Scenario A: Without social distancing | ||
Live in-person on campus learning | Contact hours per week, per level: | 8 hours |
Live online learning | Average hours per week, per level: | 6 hours |
Tutor set learning activities | Average hours per week, per level: | 0.5 hours |
Scenario B: With social distancing and/or with restrictions on travel to campus | ||
Live in-person on campus learning | Contact hours per week, per level: | 3 hours |
Live online learning | Average hours per week, per level: | 11 hours |
Tutor set learning activities | Average hours per week, per level: | 0.5 hours |
Hours may vary when laboratory attendance is required. Outside of these hours, you’ll be expected to do independent study where you read, listen and reflect on other learning activities. This can include preparation for future classes. In a year, you’ll typically be expected to commit 1200 hours to your course across all styles of learning. If you are taking a placement, you might have some additional hours.
Read more about our scenarios for returning to campus and what they might mean for your teaching and learning experience, and how you’ll be able to access student support.
Future plans for teaching
We’re developing our plans for in-person on campus teaching following government advice to keep you safe. If more restrictions are put in place in the future, or there is another lockdown, we’ll deliver your learning and support fully online for a temporary period. We’ll make alternative arrangements for any required placements if they can’t go ahead as planned. We’ll always give you notice of any changes that we make.
Definitions of terms
Support
You’ll have a strong support network available to you to make sure you develop all the necessary academic skills you need to do well on your course.
Our support services will be delivered online and on campus and you’ll have access to a range of different resources so you can get the help you need, whether you’re studying at home or have the opportunity to come to campus.
You’ll have access to one to one and group sessions for personal learning and academic support from our library and IT teams, and our network of learning experts. Our teams will also be here to offer financial advice, and personal wellbeing, mental health and disability support.
More on teaching for your subject in 2021/22
Read our guide to what you can look forward to when you study your subject with us including more information about your teaching experience this autumn.
From this course you can progress to an undergraduate degree in Environmental Health or Environmental and Public Health, which will enable you to gain the qualifications to become an Environmental Health Practitioner (after meeting the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) professional requirements). To meet this standard you will complete an Experiential Learning Portfolio (ELP), take a set of professional exams and undertake an interview.
We’ll carefully manage any future changes to courses, or the support and other services available to you, if these are necessary because of things like changes to government health and safety advice, or any changes to the law.
Any decisions will be taken in line with both external advice and the University’s Regulations which include information on this.
Our priority will always be to maintain academic standards and quality so that your learning outcomes are not affected by any adjustments that we may have to make.
At all times we’ll aim to keep you well informed of how we may need to respond to changing circumstances, and about support that we’ll provide to you.
Start: October 2022
Duration: 3 years full-time, 5 - 6 years part-time
Code: B910
