Florida International University

What you'll study

The programme combines core environmental health science with applied skills in exposure assessment, toxicology, risk assessment and environmental policy. Typical topics and modules include:

• Foundations of Environmental Health – principles of environmental agents and pathways, routes of exposure and health effects.
• Toxicology and Risk Assessment – dose–response relationships, chemical toxicology, methods for quantitative and qualitative risk assessment.
• Exposure Science and Monitoring – sampling strategies, analytical methods, biomonitoring and interpretation of environmental measurements.
• Environmental Epidemiology – study designs for environmental health research, data analysis and interpretation of population-level effects.
• Occupational and Industrial Hygiene – workplace hazards, exposure control strategies and industrial hygiene principles.
• Air, Water and Waste Management – human health implications of air and water pollution, wastewater treatment and solid waste impacts.
• Environmental Policy, Law and Management – regulatory frameworks, compliance, environmental justice and risk communication.
• Geospatial Methods and Data Analysis – use of GIS for environmental exposure mapping and spatial analysis of health outcomes.
• Practicum or Research Project – applied fieldwork, internship with a public health or environmental agency, or a research thesis supervised by faculty.

Students follow a mix of classroom lectures, laboratory or field practicals and a culminating applied project or research thesis. Electives allow specialisation across areas such as water quality, urban environmental health, climate impacts on health or occupational safety.

Entry requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, typically in a relevant discipline such as biology, chemistry, environmental science, public health, engineering or a related field.
• Academic transcripts demonstrating strong undergraduate performance; programmes commonly expect coursework in basic biology, chemistry and quantitative methods or statistics. Conditional admission with prerequisite coursework may be possible.
• Statement of purpose describing academic interests, relevant experience and career goals.
• Curriculum vitae or résumé and letters of recommendation (usually two or three) from academic or professional referees.
• Graduate test scores where required by the programme (policies vary; some applicants may be exempt or GRE-optional). International applicants must meet English language proficiency requirements via recognised tests unless otherwise exempt.
• Relevant professional or volunteer experience in environmental health, public health, laboratory work or fieldwork is advantageous but not always mandatory.

Career prospects

Graduates enter a range of roles across public, private and non-profit sectors. Typical career paths include:

• Environmental health specialist or inspector in local, state or federal public health and environmental protection agencies.
• Industrial hygienist or occupational health practitioner in manufacturing, construction, healthcare or consulting firms (additional professional certification may be required for some roles).
• Environmental consultant conducting exposure assessments, site investigations, permitting and compliance work for private clients.
• Risk assessor or toxicologist supporting regulatory decisions, product safety or remediation projects.
• Research or policy roles in academic centres, think tanks and non-governmental organisations focused on environmental justice, climate impacts and community health.
• Further study leading to doctoral research or professional degrees in public health, environmental engineering or related disciplines.

Why study at Florida International University

Florida International University offers geographic and institutional advantages for environmental health study: its campus location in South Florida provides direct access to coastal, urban and tropical environments that are relevant to real-world exposure and climate-related health challenges. The programme is housed within FIU’s public health and environmental research ecosystem, enabling students to work with faculty engaged in applied research, field monitoring and community partnerships.

Students benefit from internship and collaborative opportunities with county and state health departments, environmental agencies and local industry. Hands-on training in laboratory techniques, field sampling, GIS and data analysis prepares graduates for immediate professional roles. FIU’s urban, multicultural setting also supports work on environmental justice, migrant health and the public health impacts of coastal and extreme-weather events.