About this course
- Entry year: 2012/13
- Course code: B90032
- Applications: University
- Level: Postgraduate
- Department: Health and Applied Social Sciences
- Campus: Frenchay
- Duration: 12-24 months full-time, 24-36 months part-time, starting in September.
- Delivery: Part-time, full-time.
- Study Abroad: No
- Programme leader: Lucy Meredith PhD
- Key fact: We offer taster days for this course. If you are interested in attending please contact the Course Leader directly at Lucy5.Meredith@uwe.ac.uk to arrange a suitable time.
Introduction
This course provides vocational postgraduate education in environmental health to meet the needs of the health professional when confronting environmental health issues. When you have completed the course and the required professional practical training and assessment set by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH), you will be eligible to be registered by the Environmental Health Registration Board, Chartered Institute of Environmental Health to practice as an Environmental Health Practitioner.
Designed for graduates who are interested in the promotion and protection of human health and welfare, the MSc suits those who wish to acquire professional skills associated with the identification, assessment, evaluation and control of factors in the environment that impact on health.
On graduation, you will have acquired sufficient knowledge and have developed necessary experience in decision-making so that you can contribute to problem-solving and interventions in environmental health. You will be able to make a positive contribution to existing environmental health practice and respond to and initiate change in line with contemporary and emergent public health issues.
We recognise the range of practical and professional experience of our students (from the recent graduate to the experienced environmental health graduate technician), and will utilise the different skills which you bring by engaging you in individual and group work situations.
The course structure accommodates those students who wish to combine work with study by day release. Specific details of this can be discussed with the Course Leader. The taught course is fully supported by online material and library access.
Structure
Content
Studies focus on the main environmental health concerns, namely:
- Public Health
- Food and Health
- Housing and the Residential Environment
- Pollution and Environmental Hazards
- Workplace Safety and Occupational Health
Modules:
- Environmental Health Principles and Practice - 40 credits
- Epidemiology and Research Methods - 20 credits
- Food Control - 20 credits
- Buildings, Housing and Residential Environment - 20 credits
- Pollution and Safety Management - 20 credits
- Developing a Research Project - 20 credits
- Dissertation - 40 credits
Teaching and learning
Suggested pre-course reading
The books listed below would make useful pre-course reading for students about to register on this programme.
You are strongly advised to read these books before the start of the programme, as they will provide you with essential underpinning and background for the modules that you will study.
For Understanding Public Health
i) Naidoo J and Wills J (2008) Health Studies, An Introduction. Basingstoke, Palgrave, Macmillan
A useful introductory text which sets out the various perspectives on health and the ways in which health is studied through different disciplines and thus introduces some of the main areas for studying health physiology, health psychology, sociology and policy, epidemiology and health promotion.
ii) Orme J, Powell J, Taylor P , Grey M (2007), Public Health for the 21st Century, New Perspectives in Policy Participation and Practice (2nd edition). Open University Press/McGraw Hill
Covers a breadth of public health issues and spans across undergraduate level and Masters level, for example:
- Introductory chapters - mapping public health - what it is, roles etc
- Chapter on protecting the public's health
- Epidemiology (this will support epidemiology and evidence based practice module also)
- Role of local government
For Environmental Health Principles and Practice
Adams, J (2007) Risk. Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group.
Partington, P (2010) Introduction to the English Legal System. Oxford.
For Food Control
Sprenger, R (2009) Hygiene for Management. Highfield Publications
Lean, MEJ (2006) Fox and Camerons Food Science, Nutrition and Health. 7th ed. Hodder Arnold.
Both of these books are essential pre-reading for this module.
For Pollution and Safety Management
Hill, M (2010) Understanding Environmental Pollution. Cambridge
Stranks, J (2007) Health and Safety at Work.
For Buildings Housing and the Residential Environment
Marshall, D (2006) The construction of houses. Estates Gazette
This work is aimed specifically at those students and practitioners who require a broad understanding of building construction as part of a wider sphere of professional activity. The book provides a comprehensive introduction to the principles and practice of modern construction and services.
Special Features
Professional accreditation
The course was re-accredited in July 2008 to the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health's new core curriculum. To become registered by the Environmental Health Registration Board (CIEH), students need to satisfactorily complete the MSc award (180 credits) and undertake a period of work based learning as well as sitting examinations set by the CIEH. Work based learning can run concurrently or after completion of the course, depending on the study route.
Careers/further study
Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) are employed in local authorities, commerce and industry. They need to have a sound scientific and technological knowledge as well as the ability to work collaboratively with other professionals and communities. Work varies, combining of office and field work. A substantial part of the time is dealing with complaints, inspecting premises and processes and providing technical advice. In addition, practitioners aim to prevent future environmental problems by means of health protection and promotion programmes and by their involvement in the planning process. In cases where legal action is appropriate, EHPs may instigate enforcement procedures and appear at judicial hearings thus ensuring that environmental stressors are minimised and risks to human health are controlled.
There are more than 8,000 qualified Environmental Health Officers/Practitioners (EHOs/EHPs) in the UK, mostly employed by the District Council sector of local government. Opportunities exist for employment in industry, (especially food manufacturing and retailing). Many Commonwealth countries have Environmental Health Officers/Practitioners and Government Agencies also employ qualified EHPs. The demand for EHPs in the public health sector is also increasing along with the number of posts for Environmental Consultants. EHPs are also employed by Food Standards Agency, Health Protection Agency and Environment Agency.
Entry
Entry requirements
Entry is open to those who:
- hold a first degree (minimum 2:2 honours) in a science based discipline; or
- hold a first degree (minimum 2:2 honours) in another discipline and can demonstrate that they have attained equivalent to the science foundation necessary for the programme in such cases; or
- other qualifications and/or experience considered to be equivalent by the Programme Manager. Applicants will normally be interviewed and required to successfully complete an assessed piece of work.
Fees
Full details of fees for this course can be found on our postgraduate fees pages.
For funding options, please see our funding and scholarships information.
Fees include all residential field courses, day field courses, and a practical food inspection.
Please note fees are subject to change.
How to apply
Please apply for this course by clicking on the link in the 'next steps' red box on the right hand side of this page.
For further information
Page last updated 14 December 2011