A new graduate “Foundations in Environmental Health (EH) Certificate” has been approved by East Carolina University (ECU) and will soon be included in the university course catalog 2021-2022. The EH Foundations Certificate aims to provide students with an online, academic learning experience of the fundamental core principles and concepts associated with environmental health. The certificate is offered by the ECU Environmental Health Sciences Program.
The development and approval attainment of the certificate was spearheaded by Dr. Stephanie Richards, Professor and Master of Science in Environmental Health (MSEH) Graduate Program Director. “We initiated this certificate program so that students in other degree programs, such as MPH, could obtain some Environmental Health experience and credentials without necessarily pursuing the MSEH degree,” Dr. Richards explained. “It is also possible that students from a variety of backgrounds who pursue the Foundations in Environmental Health certificate may eventually choose to pursue the MSEH degree, either in a dual degree program or individually, so this could be a recruitment tool. Certificate courses with a grade of B or better can be transferred into the MSEH program upon acceptance into that program.”
Benefits of the EH Foundations Certificate
There are important benefits of the EH Foundations Certificate to potential students. “This certificate gives students an introduction to some Environmental Health coursework and broadens their knowledge base about the important and exciting field of Environmental Health,” shared Dr. Richards. “There are potential networking opportunities with other EH students and EH faculty that could lead to other professional opportunities. It is expected that EH experience gained through this certificate program may also help expand the students’ future job opportunities with employers looking to hire employees with some EH background. Our EH program is looking forward to introducing students with a variety of backgrounds to the field of Environmental Health.”
Why Pursue Environmental Health?
“Environmental Health is an ever-changing, broadly ranging field and impacts health every day,” said Dr. Richards. “There is something of practical interest for everyone in Environmental Health. We need students to join this critical field of study to help proactively protect public health.”
Interested for More Information?
More information about the EH Foundations Certificate, including admission requirements, curriculum and course descriptions, is available here on the ECU Department of Health Education and Promotion website. The certificate will be available and listed soon in the new 2021-2022 ECU course catalog.
