The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) has accredited the course since 1991.  Those students wishing to take the CIEH Professional Examinations, in order to become registered as Environmental Health Practitioners are, on graduation with their MSc, required to undertake a period of training in an approved organization, such as a local authority.

The ethos of the course is problem-based learning. Its purpose is to provide students with the skills and knowledge to be able to work as an Environmental Health Practitioner within a range of organisations including National and Local Government, Health Services, Commercial Companies and Private Consultancies.  The course is led by experienced Environmental Health Practitioners supported by external lecturers who are recognized specialists in their fields. Students have opportunities to be taught by and supported in their own research dissertations by the research scientists within the Division of Environmental Health and Risk Management.

The course will be built around the foundation of knowledge and skills required by the CIEH.  This will include  Food Safety Control  Occupational health & Safety; Housing Practice including urban and rural regeneration; Environmental Protection; Law; Health Protection; Research and Study Skills, and a Research Dissertation. It will include opportunities to work with lecturers and students in other public health-related fields. There will be a special emphasis in providing the student with an understanding of the role of the Environmental Health Practitioner within the broader public health field, and the necessary networks and partnerships required in the delivery of individual and community health related interventions.

Modules

• Food Safety Control - Consideration of all measures needed to ensure the safety and wholesomeness of food at all stages from growth, through production, manufacture and retail until it reaches the consumer. (30 credits)
• Occupational Health and Safety– Provides an understanding of the hazards that can affect Occupational Health and Safety, and is supported by methodologies for measurement and evaluation; intervention and control. (20 credits)
• Housing Practice including Urban and Rural Regeneration - Explores the links between housing and health and presents strategies for urban and rural regeneration,  and legal interventions that support policies of improving conditions for the inhabitants of poor housing accommodation and their deprived localities. (30 credits)
• Environmental Protection - this provides a critical examination of the interaction between environmental pollutants and local communities including water and solid waste management; contaminated land; noise control; air pollution management and control and relevant planning controls. (20 credits)
• Law - examines the English Legal System, and the legal procedures that support interventions available under Public Health and Environmental Protection legislation  to solve serious problems of pollution, contamination, statutory nuisance,  and public health illnesses, along with the requirements of criminal law in the collection of evidence and undertaking prosecutions. (10 credits)
• Health Protection -to identify the determinants of health and social inequalities, and the socio-political context in which solutions may be found.  To be able to apply the epidemiological methods and disease control strategies, apply the principles of disease association and causation, understand the role of the environment in the propagation of illness and disease, and responses to health emergencies and world pandemics. (20 credits).
• Research and Study Skills -.in preparation for the Dissertation, there will be instruction in statistics, study design, sampling strategies and hypothesis generation. (10 credits)
• Dissertation - this will require independent research  involving a critical literature review, primary data collection , analysis of results, and the synthesis and evaluation of conclusions and recommendations (50 credits)

MSc in Environmental Health- Outline of Course 2010-2011

There may be amendments to the schedule during the academic year.  It does, however, set out the main compnents of the course.

View course outline.

Note: students must expect to attend 4-5 days per week in the autumn and spring terms.  There is little teaching in the summer term with time set aside for completing assignments, examination preparation, and undertaking the Dissertation.

Teaching and Assessment Methods

Teaching Methods - Formal lectures; workshops; group work; case studies; practical simulations e.g. mock trial; industrial/commercial visits; and student centered learning.

Note: The costs of all fieldwork and outside visits are included in the Fees.

Assessments - formal written examinations, group work presentations, and research dissertations. Students must pass all modules if they wish to become registered with the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health.

Work based Learning

Those students who wish to take the CIEH professional examinations to become Registered Environmental Health Practitioners must undertake a period of work based learning in an approved organization. This is likely to include at least 24 weeks in a Local Authority Environmental Health Dept. Overall, this is expected to be about 12 months for those with no previous experience in Environmental Health, but can be shorter for those who are already based within Local Government in the UK. Students will be required to complete an Experiential Learning Portfolio (ELP) of work based learning for the CIEH prior to sitting their professional examinations.

Part time students already based in Local Authorities may be able be able to negotiate individual arrangements subject to meeting the Chartered Institute’s ELP requirements.

The University will provide pastoral support during the post-MSc work-based learning. This will include: a written Guide to Practical Training; an introductory session on professional placements; and advice and assistance in preparing for the professional examinations.

Practical Food Inspection 

In addition to the MSc programme, each student will be required to undertake a specific training programme and pass an examination on the wholesomeness and fitness for human consumption of a range of food and food products to meet the professional practice requirements of the CIEH. The University will provide a short course followed by a certified examination.   This will be at an additional cost to the student.

Induction into Environmental Health

For those with no previous experience of Environmental Health it is suggested that they initially request to have several days work experience with their local authority to determine if this is the profession for them.  If accepted onto the course, then it is highly recommended that every UK applicant who wishes to take the professional examinations and become registered with the Chartered Institute undertakes up to four-weeks of more in-depth work experience within a Local Authority Environmental Health Dept prior to joining the MSc course in September. The purpose is to receive an induction into the operational work of Environmental Health that will provide a better basis for understanding the application of the taught elements of the course. It may also assist in finding a training placement on completion on the MSc course.

Part-time students

The course is modularized and structured so that part-time students can accumulate credits over a period of time. It is compulsory to take the Law Module first but this can be with any combination of other modules. The University allows five years to complete the MSc. Students who are Technical Officers within Local Authorities will be able to use their work experience to meet the requirements of the  Experiential Learning Portfolio required by the CIEH.

Employment Prospects

There is a national shortage of Environmental Health Practitioners and employment prospects, particularly within Local Authority Environmental Health Departments, are excellent. Currently, approaching 100% of those graduates who wish a career in this subject area are finding course related employment within six months of becoming registered EHPs with the CIEH.

Employability Skills

During the time on the course, students will be encouraged to develop employability skills which UK Employer Organisations have stated are essential for graduate recruitment. These include:

• Time management
• Communication Skills
• Team working
• Personal planning and organisation
• Critical thinking skills

Admission

Students will be required to have a minimum of 2nd class Honours degree, or better, in a science-related subject for admission. Exceptionally, other qualifications will be considered by the University and CIEH.  Students may be required to undertake a formal interview at the University.

Fees

UK and European Union students - the fee will be £6,300. (This excludes the cost of the short course on Practical Food Inspection). Any support for students undertaking practical training with a view to taking the CIEH professional examinations will not be at any additional cost.

Part time UK students - the modules will be individually priced on a pro-rata basis.

International Students (non European Union) - the fee will be the standard University fee.(£ 13,950).

Payment - The arrangements for the payment of fees must be made at the time of formal  registration on the Course. Non-payment of fees will prevent the award of academic honours.  Further details on tuition fees and scholarships can be found at http://www.postgraduate.bham.ac.uk/finance

Practical Food Inspection Training and Examination - The cost of this Course will be in the range £250-300.  It covers the costs of the training programme plus the examinations. This must be paid no later than 1 August 2011.

Chartered Institute of Environmental Health

The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) is the professional body which accredits the MSc in Environmental Health.  The University has adapted the MSc syllabus to follow the competence framework which is to be set by the CIEH from September 2009.

On graduation, the student should then undertake their professional placement and complete an Experiential Learning Portfolio prior to taking the CIEH professional examinations. On commencing the course, students are required to become a CIEH Student Member which is free of charge and brings a number of advantages with it.

One of the objectives of the MSc course is to prepare the student for these CIEH assessments. All MSc examinations are case study based which mirrors the CIEH format. There is also great emphasis on developing the critical thinking skills required to successfully complete the Experiential Learning Portfolio

The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health website provides general information on a career in Environmental Health.  See also www.ehcareers.org/

Alan Cross Award
The Birmingham, Solihull and Black Country Branch of the CIEH annually confer the Alan Cross Award on the MSc student who has produced the best Dissertation in that year. There is a cash prize of £100.

Course Team

The Division of Environmental Health and Risk Management undertake major research in the fields of air, water and land pollution.  It has a portfolio of four Masters Courses relating to Environmental Health.

The research scientists in the Division teach on the MSc courses and supervise the Dissertations.

Professor Roy Harrison OBE

The Division is led by Roy Harrison OBE, Queen Elizabeth II Professor of Environmental Health. Professor Harrison has a distinguished academic career and an international reputation for his work on the health impacts of air pollution. He was awarded the Order of the British Empire for his services to Science in 2005. 

Maurice Brennan

The MSc in Environmental Health is led by Maurice Brennan, Head of Teaching, who is a Chartered Member of the CIEH. He was elected a Fellow of the CIEH in January 2005. He joined the Division after a long career as a Head of Environmental Health and provides the practice based knowledge to the Course.

Further Information

Further information can be obtained by contacting the Course Administrator, Val Walker tel: (+44) 121 414 3077. Email: V.C.Walker@bham.ac.uk, or Maurice Brennan, Admissions Tutor and Course Leader, Tel: (+44) 121 4147180. Email: M.E.Brennan.1@bham.ac.uk

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