This is a professional after-degree program that prepares students to challenge the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors certification exam, pursue a related career in environmental health, or continue into academic graduate studies in the profession.   The program delivers the practical knowledge required of an environmental public health professional. Students undertake an intensive 60-credit program involving 12-months of academic study followed by a 3-month field experience or directed research project. Students undertake professional mentoring involving formal community placement. The class is focused around a cohort structure providing students with a supportive peer community during the course and afterwards into the career setting.  

Credit courses include:

Applied Environmental Health: 

• environmental health practice I & II (521, 522)
• health risk assessment I & II (511, 512)
• environmental and public health law (513)
• environmental management I & II (501, 502)

Professional Development: 

• ethical issues in environmental health (523)
• health promotion and environmental health education (533)
• public health administration and community development (543)
• information systems and research applications in health sciences (558)

Core Sciences: 

• communicable disease control (551)
• epidemiology (552)
• environmental microbiology (553)
• environmental chemistry (556)
• environmental toxicology (557)

Please see specific course descriptions here.

The practicum placement is a central component of the Bachelor of Environmental Health (After Degree) program at Concordia. The Program Director works with partners to provide employment opportunities for the students in their final term with Concordia. These experiences provide students with the practical applications for the academic knowledge that they have just learned in preparation for their national certification examination. Students also gain an excellent opportunity to evaluate their career choices prior to work force entry or graduate studies. They begin to develop professional relationships in their field of interest.  

If you are a manager of a health unit who would like to offer a practicum placement to a Concordia student, please contact the Director, Dr. Karen McDonald at (780) 413-7812.

Admissions and Scheduling:

The BEH(AD) program is designed to follow a Bachelor of Science degree -- typically, a four-year program in environmental studies, chemistry, biology, or other related fields.  Candidates require a minimum grade point average of 2.3 on the 4-point scale. The BSc can include or the student can subsequently pursue the pre-requisite courses.

• University English or writing (3 credits)
• Microbiology with laboratory preferred (3 credits) *
• Human or mammal physiology (3 credits) *
• Statistics (3 credits) *
• Chemistry – analytical preferred (3 credits) *

* These courses should be at the senior level (2nd year or above). First year courses and equivalencies will be considered.

In addition, candidates are required to demonstrate evidence of computer experience and to submit a resume. Finally, a personal interview is arranged between prospective students and the environmental health administration.  Applications can be accepted to begin study in either May or September with the following application dates.

The current course schedule is available here.