Do you enjoy environmental protection, applying science, and helping others stay healthy? If so, Eastern Kentucky University’s Environmental Health Science and Sustainability program might be the perfect fit for you. This in-demand, versatile degree is one of the nation’s oldest and most respected programs of its kind and often leads to lucrative career opportunities or fully-funded graduate studies right after graduation. Get one-on-one attention in small classes, yet be part of the largest BS-EHS program in the eastern United States. Be part of an inclusive global profession that values diversity and speaks a universal language applicable to communities all over the world. Explore your options with us.
Degree Concentrations
| Master of Public Health | Bachelor’s | Minor | Certificate |
| Environmental / Occupational Health and Safety | Environmental Health Science and Sustainability | Environmental Health Science and Sustainability | Environmental Public Health Studies |
Nearly all graduates who pursue graduate degrees receive full funding through the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
Career
Job Opportunities for Graduates
- Environmental scientists
- Environmental and occupational health and safety managers
- EHS specialists and sanitarians
- Engineering officers
- Industrial hygienists
- Epidemiologists
- Infection control specialists
- Sustainability manager
- Environmental inspectors
- Food safety managers
- Consumer safety officers
Where are Recent Graduates Employed?
- U.S. Public Health Service attached to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Park Service, Indian Health Service, U.S. Coast Guard and other agencies
- U.S. Army, as environmental science and engineering officers
- Kentucky Department of Environmental Protection
- Corporations including Tesla, Amazon, Toyota, Heaven Hill Distillery, Nissan North America, La-Z-Boy, American Wind Technology, Hitachi, Trane, Siemens and more
- Universities including UK, EKU, Indiana University, Kentucky State University and University of Iowa
- Local health departments in Kentucky, surrounding states and across the nation
- Laboratories, including Sandia National Laboratory and Oak Ridge National Laboratory
- Blue Grass Chemical Agent Destruction Pilot Plant, US Navy Joint Base Charleston, Lockheed Martin, Naval Hospital Oak Harbor, Dugway Proving Grounds
- Bechtel-Parsons/Blue Grass Army Depot
- Kellogg and Texas Roadhouse, as national food safety managers
- U.S. Peace Corps
- USDA-Agricultural Plant Health Inspection Service
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Advanced Education Opportunities
Recent graduates have pursued fully NIOSH-funded M.S., MPH, DrPH, and Ph.D. programs in occupational health or industrial hygiene, and some choose to receive research assistantship funding for M.S. and Ph.D. programs in environmental health and epidemiology from:
- University of Cincinnati
- University of Alabama-Birmingham
- University of Arizona
- University of South Florida
- University of Texas
- Eastern Kentucky University
- University of Illinois-Chicago
- Colorado State University
The curriculum also satisfies nearly all recommended courses for students pursuing professional degrees (PharmD, DVM, M.D., D.O., DDS, O.D., etc.). Many graduates have gone on to become medical doctors, dentists and pharmacists.
Career Outlook
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Scholarship Opportunities
Students in the EKU Environmental Health Science program are eligible to apply for the following scholarships:
- The Joe E Beck Memorial Scholarship
- The Peter Creighton Environmental Health Science Scholarship
Ready to apply?
EKU Admissions
EKU Graduate School
Contact:
Environmental Health Science and Sustainability
michelyn.bhandari@eku.edu
859-622-7196
Dizney 220/233