Environmental Health BSc

Years one and two are focused on developing the essential knowledge, skills and theory in environmental health and the underpinning scientific principles. You'll study a range of key subjects including pollution, housing, food safety, and occupational health and safety.  

The module familiarises you with fundamental scientific principles that underlie the assessment of chemicals and physical agents, by providing the mathematical concepts to underpin environmental health. The module equips you with skills in scientific information gathering, data analysis, and presentation. We will cover topics in chemistry, physics, and applied maths which will serve as a foundation for advanced studies in specialised environmental health modules.

This module develops an understanding of 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. Through examination of aetiology, epidemiology, microbiology and demography knowledge and understanding of illness and well-being will be developed. You will explore the relationship between food, lifestyle, health and disease and develop an appreciation of the importance of the above in preventing of disease and facilitating health improvement.

This module develops appropriate administrative, communication and practical skills required for successful academic and professional progress. It develops an appreciation of governance and the legal systems, including legal doctrines, using communicable diseases control as a backdrop. It provides you with a clear understanding of the role of public health and increases awareness of the multiple strategies to improve the health of the population in a variety of settings (community and national). Health promotion and health protection principles will be explored and applied to practice. The role of public and private stakeholders in public health will be examined.

This module provides you with knowledge of vectors of disease and their health impact; together with 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 and health impact of vectors will be provided which includes "hands on" and laboratory exercises to support identification and recognition of the main vectors that pose health impact and anatomical features of organs and structures of the body. The module also provides a foundation in IT and communication skills, including presentation in a variety of formats to foster technological agility.

Years one and two are focused on developing the essential knowledge, skills and theory in environmental health and the underpinning scientific principles. You'll study a range of key subjects including pollution, housing, food safety, and occupational health and safety.  

This module provides theoretical and applied professional knowledge, competence and opportunities for skill development in the field of food safety. Key issues from legal, professional, technical, and managerial perspectives will be identified and evaluated with an informed and critical approach to current practice. The module will develop an understanding of the importance of communication and collaboration in the field of food safety. Laboratory sessions, site visits, mock settings, case studies, videos, guest visits and student experiences will supplement the learning and help to embed theory into practice and to support your roles as future practitioners.

This module covers housing development including individual design, neighbourhood development and explores the impact of housing on health and wellbeing and ow this has public implications at an individual, regional and national basis. The housing and health needs of a range of social and geographical communities will be considered with a view to developing effective, integrated, evidence-based strategies and interventions. It also explores the relevant legislative and non-legislative remedies available to intervene on individual and strategic levels to deliver safer and healthier housing and local environments. It provides you with an understanding of the principles, terminology and methods underlying the construction and performance of residential buildings and the practical and cognitive skills to recognise building defects and to be able to specify suitable diagnostic treatment.

This module provides you with the skills to plan, implement, analyse and report project-based work, in preparation for the final year project module. The module also develops core research skills for scientific research design. Specific research skills include analytical techniques and provides you with an insight into the translation of science into real-world solutions and the factors affecting innovation, and knowledge production and transfer.

In year three, you'll focus on effective environmental and public health interventions and professional competence. You'll undertake a professional food exam and study for a dissertation in your chosen environmental health topic area.  

This module provides you with a deep understanding of physiological and psychological risks arising from workplace settings and the methods employed to mitigate these risks. The module will also explore leadership, followership and coaching approaches to develop positive safety cultures and climates including the role of influence at various layers of the organisation. The module will develop skills in planning, auditing, reviewing in a variety of roles.

This practical based module develops a detailed knowledge of the composition and properties of foodstuffs and the relationship with safety, fitness, and quality within an overarching public health framework. It will develop a deeper understanding of the role of communication approaches applicable to dealing with foodstuffs to support your roles as future practitioners. Visits, videos, guest lectures, practical demonstrations and student experiences will supplement your learning and help to embed theory into practice. This will prepare you for your professional examinations and interviews on the identification, wholesomeness, and fitness for human consumption of a range of food and food products to meet the professional practice requirements of the CIEH.

This module seeks to prepare you for your future practice in environmental or public health. Using a case study approach the module will seek to summate your learning and integrate this with professional experiences. The module seeks to provide employability skills such as CV writing, writing personal statements against job specifications in job applications and preparations for job interviews. If you are on the Environmental Health BSc course, the module will cover the five Environmental Health practice disciplines and will provide the opportunity to apply knowledge to practice with given case studies. For Public Health students, you will develop skills in line with the public health practitioner framework and specifically in relation to health protection, health improvement and health service delivery.

This module provides you with a deep understanding of the design and implementation of public and environmental health interventions, and the role of communication in improving health outcomes with a clear focus on empathy and inclusion. This will include examination of cultural competence, empathy and awareness of ethical considerations applicable to a range of public health issues so as to effect inclusive interventions.

You will gain knowledge and understanding through engagement with concept videos, workshops, seminars, laboratory and practical sessions and through a variety of directed and self-directed learning activities for example group projects, case study analysis, critical literature appraisal laboratory-based learning and data analysis, portfolio development and use of real-world examples. 

Classroom conversations consolidate knowledge and seminars, and practical sessions embed understanding. The use of case studies (with examples co-created with employers) that reflect actual workplace environments are used to enable you to relate knowledge to practice situations in which you are likely to operate in the future. Use of e-learning strategies is also integrated into the teaching and learning strategies through the use of professional online data bases.  

Online learning is used to encourage independent study including links to external sources of information, podcast presentations and guidance notes which are available for download.  

You'll learn skills through interactive participation in modules, case study analysis, laboratory-based learning and data analysis exercises and experiments together with group work and workshops.  

You will be encouraged to challenge and discuss concepts. You will consider options and issues surrounding interventions. 

You will study at our leafy campus in Hendon, north London. 

During your first year, your weekly timetable will typically consist of:

• 6 hours of seminars 

• 6 hours of workshops and labs 

• 1 hour of laboratories 

• ½ an hour of tutorial per term with a student learning assistant or academic advisor.

Outside of teaching hours, you’ll learn independently through self-study which will involve reading articles and books, working on projects, undertaking research, and preparing for assessments including coursework, presentations and exams.

Your independent learning is supported by the library and study hub, laptop hire, and with online materials in MyUniHub.

Here is an indication of how you will split your time.

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Whether you are studying full or part-time – your course timetable will balance your study commitments on campus with time for work, life commitments and independent study.
We aim to make timetables available to students at least 2 weeks before the start of term. Some weeks are different due to how we schedule classes and arrange on-campus sessions.

This course is based on 100% coursework. 

We use formative assessment such as online learning exercises, peer evaluation, group activities and feedback on submitted formative work. Interactive exercises and quizzes are designed to encourage interaction with learning materials. 

Your knowledge and comprehension are assessed by case study portfolios, problem solving activities, coursework essays and management reports. There is one examination in year 3. This is a practical food examination required by the professional body to determine your skills to identify food products and regulatory options where food is deemed unsatisfactory.

Cognitive skills are assessed by management reports, problem solving activities, essays, and oral examination and laboratory reports; development of a dissertation and an oral examination in relation to food safety (as detailed above).  
 
Practical skills are assessed by presentation, problem solving exercises, and oral examinations. The latter relates to the final year Practical Food Inspection as part of the accreditation of the award with the CIEH.