An Environmental Health degree prepares students for the branch of public health that studies how biological, chemical, and physical factors in natural and built environments impact human health and disease. Students will learn how to help prevent injuries and disease by managing environmental hazards and promoting healthier air, water, soil, homes, workplaces, and communities. The degree program is one of only 30 programs nationwide to be fully accredited by the standards of the National Environmental Health Science and Protection Accreditation Council, and the only such program in Colorado. The Environmental Health degree prepares students for employment by public sector environmental agencies, private industry, academic institutions, as well as graduate study in toxicology, epidemiology, occupational health, public health, and related biomedical and health fields. The basic science requirements for the major will meet admission requirements for accredited medical and veterinary medical schools in North America. Students will begin their studies with foundational science courses including biology, physics, general chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, physiology, calculus, and statistics, and then use these basic sciences as tools to solve environmental health problems. Students are involved in actual and simulated field projects with data gathering and analysis, characterization of environmental health problems, evaluation of alternative solutions, and presentation of results in written and oral formats. All Environmental Health students will complete a professional internship for academic credit with a private sector company, public health agency, or research entity (public or private). Read about ​Environmental Health student internships on the department website.

Application: Freshman/first year students can apply using the Common App OR the CSU Application. Official High School transcripts: Unofficial transcripts can be sent while high school or secondary school work is in progress. Faxed transcripts are not accepted. All decisions are provisional until a final, official transcript verifying graduation is received. Only transcripts sent directly from the school or stamped and sealed are considered official. If a record is not in English, a certified literal English translation must accompany the transcript. Personal Statement: A personal statement is required from all freshman/first year applicants. It’s your opportunity to help us understand what makes you unique. Refer to these writing prompts and instructions whether you’re applying through the Common App or the CSU Application. Short written responses to the Academic Explanation and Academic Gap prompts are optional and allow you to provide more context for us to understand your academic background. Recommendation: We require one counselor OR teacher recommendation. Additional recommendations are optional. If you’re not currently in school, we’ll accept recommendations from others outside of your family (e.g., supervisor, commanding officer) who can speak to your strengths. Using the CSU application? You’ll be prompted to list the name and email address of your recommender(s). We’ll email them an invitation and link to a secure site to submit your recommendation(s). Using the Common App? To maximize your flexibility, the counselor/teacher prompts are not flagged as required, and you can choose to list the counselor and/or teacher(s) who will recommend you. Common App will email them an invitation and instructions to submit either the Counselor Recommendation or the Teacher Evaluation through Common App. English Proficiency: Within your application, you’ll be prompted to indicate whether you are seeking direct or “clear” admission (English proficiency required) or conditional admission (no English proficiency required). If you wish to be considered for direct or clear admission, we’ll ask how you intend to demonstrate English proficiency. If you plan to submit TOEFL, IELTS or PTE scores, we prefer results sent directly from the testing service. Alternatives to these tests are considered on a case-by-case basis. Applicants who do not present (sufficient) evidence of English proficiency can be considered for conditional admission and, if admitted, will be referred to our INTO CSU Academic English program. Freshman applicants to Business, Engineering, Computer Science and Biomedical Sciences must submit official SAT or ACT scores to be considered for direct admission to one of these more competitive majors. Without ACT or SAT, admissible applicants will be considered for an alternative major or an undeclared advising track.