Bachelor of Environmental Health

A Bachelor of Environmental Health at CQUniversity is designed to produce graduates who are competent environmental health professionals, ready to be employed as workplace leaders. Environmental health professionals will be involved in decision-making and management, and responsible for putting in place strategies to recognise, evaluate and control environmental factors affecting public health. When studying this program, you will learn the knowledge and skill to be able to facilitate, educate, problem-solve, and promote environmental health in relation to individuals, families, the community and environment. A comprehensive portfolio of environmental health studies are offered in this program in areas such as food safety, potable and recreational water quality, communicable disease management, disaster management, indoor air quality, vector-borne disease control, and waste management.

The program is industry relevant and up-to-date, incorporating extensive work-integrated learning, providing valuable practical experience that ensures you are ‘work-ready’ upon graduation. You will participate in field visits with practical opportunities to apply your learning in real-life situations. In your final year you will complete a 240 hour practicum in the workplace in conjunction with an experienced environmental health practitioner. During this time, you will continue to work through course material externally and assessment is linked to the placement.

At CQUniversity a wide range of elective programs can be undertaken as part of the degree to allow the flexibility to tailor study to suit your needs, professional requirements and areas of interest.  Unlike other environmental health bachelor degrees in Queensland, this program is offered by distance education with first-year courses also available on on-campus in Rockhampton and Bundaberg.

What am I studying?

Environmental Health is concerned with the promotion of good health, hygiene and environmental practices and is critical to the health and wellbeing of the community. Environmental health officers develop, regulate and enforce laws and regulations governing public health as well as building and environmental management. Environmental health officers may also be responsible for work such as investigating complaints about food safety and ensuring suppliers conform to health regulations, monitoring and reporting on water, air and noise pollution, conduct environmental impact studies and risk assessments, advising and contributing to the policy surrounding environmental health, investigating and advising on public health issues such as disease outbreaks and so much more.

Why Study OHS and Environmental Health at CQUniversity

CQUniversity’s health and medical sciences programs have been developed to meet the ever increasing needs of our communities both here in Australia and for the wider global audience. CQUniversity programs are constantly being reviewed and updated in consultation with industry and other stakeholders to ensure that they are relevant and up to date. In fact, our suite of new offerings has been built as a direct response to industry needs by people with specialised industry experience.

Another key feature in the large majority of CQUniversity’s health and medical science programs is the integration of workplace-integrated learning or learning on the job. Students are required to complete course undertakings in real-life workplaces, allowing them to put learning directly into practice.  This hands-on, project-based learning is a key reason as to why CQUniversity graduates are highly sought after by employers.  Quality on-campus facilities ensure learning is delivered ‘in context’, taught in a similar setting to that of a real-world situation.

Study one of the many exciting health and medical science programs at CQUniversity and help make a real difference to community health and wellbeing.

Career Opportunities

Professionals working in this field have traditionally moved into many professions , including health inspector, health surveyor and environmental health officer (EHO). The profession is a longstanding one, with most workers being employed by local and state governments. There is currently a significant shortage of qualified environmental health professionals in Australia, particularly within local government, therefore employment prospects are excellent. Many students find employment before the completion of their studies. Environmental health professionals are also employed in private industry, the military, academia, research and development and as consultants.

Work Intergrated Learning

You must undertake 240 hours of work placement as part of this program.

Program Structure

You are required to complete a total of 24 courses including 20 core courses and four courses from a co-plan area. Co-plan areas include:

• Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander studies
• Building Surveying
• Engineering Technology Management
• Environmental Studies
• Health Promotion
• Management
• Occupational Health and Safety
• Professional Communication (Public Relations).

Course Information

For example courses you could study as part of the Bachelor of Environmental Health program please click here.

As CQUniversity is committed to providing quality, up-to-date and relevant education, please note courses are refreshed regularly and may not be an exact indication of course availability for your study. Please call 13CQUni 13 27 86 if you have specific questions regarding course information regarding your specific application.

Residential School and Study Requirements

There are compulsory residential schools when studying by distance education.

Professional Recognition

This program is provisionally accredited by Environmental Health Australia. You may qualify as a workplace health and safety officer in accordance with the requirements of the Department of Industrial Relations (Qld).

Students are eligible for student membership with Environmental Health Australia. Upon graduation, you are eligible to apply for membership with Environmental Health Australia.