😷Environmental and Occupational Health

What do you learn in Environmental and Occupational Health

You'll explore how our environment and workplaces impact health. Topics include air and water quality, toxicology, occupational hazards, and disease prevention. You'll also learn about environmental justice, sustainability, and policies that protect public health. It's all about understanding the connections between our surroundings and our well-being.

Is Environmental and Occupational Health hard?

It can be challenging, especially if you're not into science. There's a lot of biology, chemistry, and policy stuff to wrap your head around. But don't freak out - most of it is pretty interesting and relevant to real life. The workload can be heavy with projects and case studies, but it's not impossible if you stay on top of things.

Tips for taking Environmental and Occupational Health in college

1. Use Fiveable Study Guides to help you cram 🌶️
2. Stay current on environmental news - it'll make class discussions way more interesting
3. Get hands-on with local environmental orgs or internships
4. Break down complex topics into smaller, manageable chunks
5. Watch documentaries like "An Inconvenient Truth" or "Erin Brockovich" for real-world context
6. Form study groups to tackle tough concepts like toxicology or epidemiology
7. Practice explaining environmental health issues to non-experts (like your roommate)

Common pre-requisites for Environmental and Occupational Health

1. Introduction to Public Health: Covers the basics of population health, health systems, and public health interventions. It's a great foundation for understanding broader health issues.

2. Biology: Focuses on cellular processes, genetics, and human physiology. This background helps you grasp how environmental factors affect our bodies.

3. Chemistry: Explores chemical structures, reactions, and properties. It's crucial for understanding pollutants, toxins, and their interactions with living organisms.

Classes similar to Environmental and Occupational Health

1. Epidemiology: Investigates patterns, causes, and effects of health conditions in populations. You'll learn how to track disease outbreaks and assess health risks.

2. Global Health: Examines health issues on an international scale. It covers topics like health disparities, infectious diseases, and global health policies.

3. Environmental Science: Focuses on the natural environment and human impacts. You'll study ecosystems, climate change, and conservation strategies.

4. Toxicology: Delves into the effects of chemicals on living organisms. It's all about understanding how different substances can harm our health.

Majors related to Environmental and Occupational Health

1. Public Health: Focuses on preventing disease and promoting health in communities. Students learn about health policy, epidemiology, and social determinants of health.

2. Environmental Science: Examines the natural world and human impacts on ecosystems. It combines biology, chemistry, and earth science to address environmental challenges.

3. Occupational Safety and Health: Concentrates on workplace safety and health hazards. Students learn to identify, evaluate, and control risks in various work environments.

4. Environmental Engineering: Applies engineering principles to solve environmental problems. It covers topics like water treatment, air pollution control, and sustainable design.

What can you do with a degree in Environmental and Occupational Health?

1. Environmental Health Specialist: Inspects facilities for health hazards and ensures compliance with regulations. They might check restaurants for food safety or investigate water pollution incidents.

2. Occupational Health and Safety Manager: Develops and implements workplace safety programs. They assess risks, train employees, and work to prevent work-related injuries and illnesses.

3. Environmental Policy Analyst: Researches and analyzes environmental issues to inform policy decisions. They might work for government agencies, non-profits, or think tanks to shape environmental regulations.

4. Industrial Hygienist: Identifies and controls workplace health hazards. They conduct air quality tests, evaluate noise levels, and recommend protective measures for workers.

Environmental and Occupational Health FAQs

1. How much math is involved in this course? While there's some data analysis and statistics, it's not super math-heavy. You'll mainly use basic calculations and interpret graphs.

2. Can I specialize in a specific area of environmental health? Many programs offer concentrations or electives in areas like water quality, air pollution, or occupational safety. It depends on your school's offerings.

3. Are there opportunities for fieldwork or hands-on experience? Most programs include lab work, site visits, or internships. These experiences help you apply classroom knowledge to real-world situations.

4. How does this course relate to climate change? Climate change is a big topic in environmental health. You'll learn about its health impacts and strategies for mitigation and adaptation.