A Public Health Career in Environmental and Occupational Health

If you’re interested in conducting environmental research, collecting elemental samples, and developing solutions to maintain the health and safety of workplaces and communities, you may find a career in environmental and occupational health meaningful and fulfilling.  

By pursuing a Master of Public Health (MPH), you can choose to focus in environmental and occupational health and address the need for competent public health experts who have the ability to control and prevent exposure to hazards where people work, live and play.

Environmental and occupational health professionals research and study natural sciences to ensure human health, protect the environment, inform state and federal legislators, and reduce waste. Although there are different applications of environmental and occupational health, environmental scientists typically focus on regulations that protect human health, or focus on policy designed to mitigate society’s impact on the ecosystem.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, environmental scientists usually perform the following job functions:¹

A career in environmental and occupational health typically begins with a bachelor’s degree that has courses in statistics, biology, toxicology, chemistry and physics. Those who have experience in science-related fields such as biology, chemistry, physics, geosciences or engineering may have a better chance at finding employment.

Many in the field earn a Master of Public Health and then choose to focus in environmental and occupational health. Acquiring an advanced degree may position the graduate for more high-level positions in both private and government agencies.

Professionals who work in environmental and occupational health can find employment in both private and governmental capacities.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the largest employers of environmental scientists are:²

With climate change, industrialization, insufficient water resources and expanding populations affecting communities around the world, public health professionals are needed to address and mitigate these environmental issues.

Environmental and occupational health professionals may be interested in the following fields:

As the public becomes more aware of the damages and hazards that are hurting the environment, the public health field will need to find skilled professionals to respond to the growing concern. Strains due to population growth and abuse by industrialization are also reasons why there is a need for professionals in environmental and occupational health.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports employment of environmental scientists and specialists is projected to grow 8 percent from 2019 to 2029, faster than the average for all occupations.³

The median annual wage for environmental scientists and specialists was $71,360 in May 2019. In May 2019, the median annual wages for environmental scientists and specialists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:⁴

Located in Washington D.C., the nation’s hub of health policy, the George Washington University’s Milken Institute School of Public Health is the No. 11 public health school in the country.⁵

MPH@GW offers you part-time or full-time completion tracks with an option to earn your degree online in as little as 12 months. You will also have the opportunity to tailor your curriculum and concentrate your electives in public health disciplines such as environmental and occupational health. 

Fully accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), MPH@GW enables you to advance your public health career online from a top-ranked school without relocating.