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.
We’ve made sure that the skills and knowledge that you’ll gain on your course will not change during the coronavirus outbreak. If you’re applying to start this course or progressing into year one, two or three this autumn, your module information is below.
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.
This programme will be delivered in a blended learning format using live interactive teaching sessions via a number of learning platforms e.g. Kaltura Newrow, Adobe Connect or Zoom. These sessions will be recorded so that you can return to this learning in your own time and study at your own place. Learning may be supplemented by pre-recorded lectures, demonstration of laboratory techniques or data analysis activity where students can access the information at any point. Practical sessions will either be virtual or on campus where this is possible in light of the ongoing Covid 19 outbreak. This wide range of teaching and learning approaches are used to build up your skills and knowledge
You will take part in online problem solving discussions, critical debates and exercises, online workshops, and in-class activities. You will supplement all this with your own guided and independent reading. The mix of delivery modes will be varied and suitable to the content being delivered.
Middlesex is committed to equipping and accommodating learners fully online where they cannot reach campus, and where a second lockdown is in place. In such event, the fully online scenario will be in place to provide and support students’ learning.
We’re planning to deliver our assessment in a similar way to previous years. We will review this regularly, and let you know in advance of your assessment if we need to make any changes.
You will be assessed through written and oral exams and tests, as well as essays, laboratory reports, other written assignments and presentations.
If you’re starting university in 2020, we’ll be teaching you in different ways to make sure you get the best learning experience possible. You’ll learn through live sessions with teaching staff and have the chance to study independently too, with access to all the online resources you need through our globally available student portal.
We’re planning different scenarios for teaching so that we can be flexible. While we’re social distancing, we’re aiming to teach you through some small group sessions on campus, with other interactive teaching as well as larger lectures delivered online and recorded sessions available to you on-demand. If you’re unable to make it to campus at first, or we need to limit access to campus in the future, your course can be delivered fully online.
The table below shows current plans for your learning across a typical week, including scheduled live online teaching and an indication of what we hope to teach face to face, where you can make it to campus. While some weeks might look different to this, due to how we schedule classes and make arrangements for any face to face sessions (for example, in some cases these could take place every two weeks with an increased number of hours), the table gives you an idea of what to expect based on the overall number of teaching hours on your course.
You’ll receive final arrangements for your teaching and a full course timetable before you start.
Scenario 1: course delivered fully online | ||
Live learning | Contact time per week, per level: | 11.5 hours |
Self-paced learning time | Average hours per week, per level: | 33.5 hours |
On demand resources | Average hours per week, per level: | 4 hours |
Scenario 2: course delivered with a mix of online and face to face learning with social distancing in place | ||
Live learning | Contact time per week, per level: | 11.5 hours |
Self-paced learning time | Average hours per week, per level: | 33.5 hours |
On demand resources | Average hours per week, per level: | 4 hours |
Face-to-face sessions | Contact time per week, per level: | 8 days on campus for laboratory based activities |
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 timetable for face to face teaching with current government advice on social distancing to keep you safe. If social distancing requirements are lifted, we’ll start to safely move back towards our usual teaching arrangements with more opportunities for face to face learning. Some learning and support might stay online in this scenario. If more restrictions are put in place, or there is another lockdown, we’ll be prepared to deliver your learning and support fully online, with alternative arrangements made for any required placements. 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 mainly be delivered online 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.
Read our guide to what’s been happening in your subject area recently and more about what to expect 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 2020
Duration: 3 years full-time, 5 - 6 years part-time
Code: B910
