Bachelor of Environmental Public Health (Honours)

Select start date and campus

Applying as a Canadian applicant

Domestic students should apply online or by phone at 1-888-892-2228.

Applying as an International applicant

International students should apply online. Note: not all start dates are available to international students.

Campus tours

Campus tours are one of the best ways to experience Conestoga. During this time, we are offering online guided tours to show you all Conestoga has to offer.

Book your tour

Virtual tours

If you can't make an on-campus tour or attend one of our events, the virtual tour is a great way to visit us.

View our Virtual tour

Courses - September 2022

Level 1

Course details

Human Biology
BIOL71000

Description: An introduction to the basic structure and function of the human body. Knowledge of the theories of homeostasis and the basic structure of cells, tissues, organs, and systems. Basic microbiology and physiology related to practice and human disease is included.

Hours: 56
Credits: 4
Pre-Requisites:
CoRequisites:

Conestoga 101
CON0101

Description: This self-directed course focuses on introducing new students to the supports, services, and opportunities available at Conestoga College. By the end of this course, students will understand the academic expectations of the Conestoga learning environment, as well as the supports available to ensure their academic success. Students will also be able to identify on-campus services that support their health and wellness, and explore ways to get actively involved in the Conestoga community through co-curricular learning opportunities.

Hours: 1
Credits: 0
Pre-Requisites:
CoRequisites:

Academic Communications
ENGL71000

Description:

This course is intended to develop the communication skills required in academic studies, which will translate into useful writing and presentation skills in Canada’s increasingly intercultural professional and technical domains. Students will practice planning, drafting, and revising documents. The complex process of researching, creating, and revising arguments will encourage critical thinking, grammatical writing, and appropriate citation skills. Correct formatting of research papers and effective oral presentation skills will be emphasized.

Hours: 42
Credits: 3
Pre-Requisites:
CoRequisites:

Introduction to Environmental Health
ENVR71000

Description: Overview of Environmental Public Health (EPH) practice and key environmental health issues, including: Environmental Health & Safety, Infection Prevention & Control, and injury prevention. Focus will be on how environmental factors change and impact individual and public health. Students will begin to explore the interprofessional nature of Environmental Public Health.

Hours: 42
Credits: 3
Pre-Requisites:
CoRequisites:

Environmental Science I
ENVR71040

Description: Introduces the importance of Environmental Science. A key learning objective is to provide students with the grounding needed to appreciate why study of a broad science core is essential. Specifically, the course will cover the scientific method, information literacy, environmental ecology, environmental chemistry, human population growth, biogeochemical cycles, evolution, agriculture and the environment, energy resources, and ocean and freshwater systems.

Hours: 42
Credits: 3
Pre-Requisites:
CoRequisites:

Health Information Science
HIM71000

Description: Students will set up their electronic portfolios as well as begin to examine the role of technology and the dissemination of information in the field of Environmental Public Health. Through experiential learning students will explore a wide range of technologies and communication mediaincluding: GPS, tablet computers, monitoring and testing equipment and social media. Students will learn to use their electronic portfolios to document their progress, submit projects, and build a comprehensive list of resources.

Hours: 42
Credits: 3
Pre-Requisites:
CoRequisites:

Level 2

Course details

Applied Microbiology
BIOL71011

Description: Examines the history, scope and relevance of the field of microbiology. Students will learn about the world of microbes, including: their impact on human health; microbial structure, nutrition, growth and metabolism; genetics, epidemiology; and use of antimicrobials and disinfectants.

Hours: 42
Credits: 3
Pre-Requisites:
CoRequisites:

World Cultures
CLTR72000

Description: World cultures both broadly and deeply affect and are affected by globalization in ways that unify and divide as well as produce equities and inequalities among people and nations. In this course, students will focus on topics pertaining to similarities and differences in world cultures and societies. Incorporating varying perspectives on diversity, students develop an understanding of the impacted groups, develop strategies which demonstrate respect for diversity, and critically examine social change performed on a world stage.

Hours: 42
Credits: 3
Pre-Requisites:
CoRequisites:

Emerging Issues - Global and Local Concerns
ENVR71010

Description:

Evidence of the connection between the natural and built environment and health is well-established. Costs to human health are higher in developing countries, but environmental factors have a significant impact here in Canada and Ontario. Outlines the impact of environmental changes on communicable and non-communicable diseases. Students will also discuss the determinants of health and their impact on local and global health outcomes.

Hours: 42
Credits: 3
Pre-Requisites:
CoRequisites:

Safe Water Drinking
ENVR71030

Description:

Covers municipal, private water, and small drinking water systems as well as on-site sewage disposal systems. Emphasize will be placed on testing and monitoring of systems and the remediation of malfunctioning systems. Course material will cover: water resource management, characteristics of potable water from ground and surface sources, including source protection, point of use treatment processes, and monitoring; legislation, guidelines and standards, including response to adverse water quality incidences. Course includes site visits to working facilities and practice with water testing and monitoring equipment.

Hours: 56
Credits: 4
Pre-Requisites:
CoRequisites:

Environmental Science II
ENVR71050

Description: The course focuses on key issues of the natural and built environment now facing our planet. Topics will include; population issues, health stress response, responding to natural and man-made disasters, biodiversity, utilization of natural resources (including renewable energy), waste management, water quality, air quality, built environment, and outcomes related to climate change.

Hours: 42
Credits: 3
Pre-Requisites:
CoRequisites:

Level 3

Course details

Professional Communication
ENGL72000

Description: Effective communication is at the heart of any successful professional work environment. This course teaches students key aspects of communication: bridging the gap between oneself and others; using simple, direct, and correct language; using and citing sources; and editing and proofreading accurately. The focus will be on creating effective workplace documents such as letters, memos, proposals, abstract, summaries, and reports. Students will combine informative and persuasive communication skills to create these documents and to develop and deliver oral presentations.

Hours: 42
Credits: 3
Pre-Requisites: ENGL71000
CoRequisites:

Environmental Toxicology
ENVR72015

Description: Provides an introduction to the principles of toxicology, specifically: toxicokinetics (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion) and toxicodynamics (acute, chronic, mutagenic, teratogenic and carcinogenic effects). Additional topic areas include inorganic and organic environmental contaminants, dose-response curves, bioassays, biomarkers, and related case studies.

Hours: 56
Credits: 4
Pre-Requisites:
CoRequisites:

Safe Water: Recreational
ENVR73060

Description: Recreational water, including pools, whirlpools, spas, splash pads, beaches and other wet recreational water facilities are discussed. Legislation, guidelines, protocols and standards relating to these topics are also considered. Course includes site visits to working facilities and practice with water testing and monitoring equipment.

Hours: 42
Credits: 3
Pre-Requisites:
CoRequisites:

Understanding Research
RSCH73000

Description: This course will present an overview of social scientific methods. The course will address the major components of the research process, including development of theoretically informed hypotheses, implementation of theoretical concepts, development of data collection instruments, testing of hypotheses through data analysis, and the presentation of research results. The student will develop the skills necessary to read and critically analyze social science research and discuss the ethics of social research.

Hours: 42
Credits: 3
Pre-Requisites:
CoRequisites:

Electives: Interdisciplinary
Student must pass 1 Course(s), selected in the Student Portal from available course options
Interdisciplinary Elective Details

Level 4

Course details

Environmental Public Health Law
ENVR72020

Description: Examines the key elements of municipal, provincial, and federal legislation related to environmental and public health. Recognition of how “law” is established through judicial and legislative authority and how these practices impact public health practice and social policy will be examined. Emphasis is on areas in which Environmental Public Health Professionals (EPHP) are likely to utilize their legal and administrative options to help ensure compliance with legislation and remedy common environmental and public health problems. Students will gain experience in legal procedures including: completing legal documents, collecting and presenting evidence, giving testimony, and analyzing case studies.

Hours: 42
Credits: 3
Pre-Requisites:
CoRequisites:

Community Health and Healthy Built Environments
ENVR72035

Description: Examines the role of the health and environmental policy in contributing to population health and injury prevention through the planning process. Students will utilize research evidence to evaluate the key factors of a healthy built environment and make recommendations on how to positively affect the health of a community through case studies.

Hours: 56
Credits: 4
Pre-Requisites:
CoRequisites:

Waste Management
ENVR72040

Description: Focuses on the application of technology for managing solid and hazardous waste. The classifications, characteristics and generation rates of solid waste are reviewed. The importance of recycling, reuse, reduction, and waste diversion techniques/initiatives in the management of solid wastes will be emphasized. Various disposal alternatives including energy from waste, composting and landfilling are investigated. Students will identify waste streams and waste reduction strategies used at selected industrial facilities.

Hours: 42
Credits: 3
Pre-Requisites:
CoRequisites:

Principles of Ethical Reasoning
PHIL72900

Description:

This course is intended to acquaint students with the intellectual tradition of moral philosophy and help them develop practical analytic and critical skills through reading, writing, and discussion. This course focuses on ethical issues faced by individuals in Canadian society. It helps students to clarify their values and establish a framework for ethical decision making. Students will explore a variety of moral issues such as euthanasia, abortion, minority rights, racism, bio-medical technology, capital punishment, pornography, discrimination, poverty, environment and war. These questions do not admit of easy answers, because there are often plausible-sounding moral reasons to be given on each side of the matter. In part because of this, there is a tendency to want to set them aside as unanswerable, as just a matter of opinion. Yet they cannot be ignored. Rather, these questions require that we think hard about them and address them carefully, and that we explore various underlying presuppositions that we often accept uncritically. As a result, this is a course in which we will focus on and practice the skill of critical thinking, and learn to express carefully, verbally and in writing, our reasoning for a given position.

Hours: 42
Credits: 3
Pre-Requisites:
CoRequisites:

Applied Statistics
STAT73100

Description: This course introduces students to the basic concepts, logic, and issues involved in statistical reasoning. Major topics include descriptive statistics, probability, statistical inference, regression and correlation. The objectives of this course are to give students confidence in manipulating and drawing conclusions from data and provide them with a critical framework for evaluating study designs and results.

Hours: 42
Credits: 3
Pre-Requisites: NURS72050 OR RSCH73000
CoRequisites:

Level 5

Course details

Co-op and Career Preparation
CEPR71050

Description: This series of modules prepares degree level students for job searching for their co-op work terms with the guidance of a Co-op Advisor. Students will examine the co-operative education policies and procedures and will learn the expectations, rules, and regulations that apply in the workplace concerning social, organizational, ethical, and safety issues while deepening their awareness of self-reflective practices. Students will critically reflect on their skills, attitudes, and expectations and evaluate available opportunities in the workplace. Successful completion of these modules is a requirement for co-op eligibility.

Hours: 14
Credits: 1
Pre-Requisites:
CoRequisites:

Inspection Practices, Quality Assurance and Auditing
ENVR73005

Description: Examines the various professional standards and codes of practice related to the fields of environmental public health inspection and quality assurance –auditing. The course focuses on developing students, communication, investigation, assessment, auditing and enforcement skills in various environmental public health related settings (e.g. Child care centre, hospital ward, long term care, food premise, food manufacturing,recreational water facilities, etc.) .

Hours: 56
Credits: 4
Pre-Requisites:
CoRequisites:

Epidemiology and Public Health
HEAL73000

Description:

This course is designed to provide undergraduate students with an introduction to the epidemiological methods used to study health and disease in populations. The applications of epidemiology in public health activities to promote health and prevent disease will be explored. Canadian resources, discussions, and in-class work are used to support the course text.

Hours: 42
Credits: 3
Pre-Requisites:
CoRequisites:

Food Science and Technology
SCIE73000

Description: Addresses the manufacturing, preparation and storage techniques used to provide safe food. The course will also explore key food skills and issues including: nutrition, menu planning and biotechnology. Course includes site visits to working facilities and practice with food testing and monitoring equipment.

Hours: 42
Credits: 3
Pre-Requisites:
CoRequisites:

Group Dynamics
SOC71500

Description: This course will focus on comprehensive theoretical understanding of group process, personal skill development and application through intensive team work. These skills are of critical importance in both professional and social settings. Through guided exploration and application of theoretical paradigms and practical strategies, students will achieve the necessary skills to succeed in and lead effective teams. The course consists in an intensive experiential approach – learning by doing – enabling participants to become effective, practiced team members with experience applying skills necessary for leadership, analysis and evaluation, problem solving, and conflict management. Individual and team activities enhance participants’ skills to work with a variety of personalities in diverse situations, and to effectively assume various professional roles within a team.

Hours: 42
Credits: 3
Pre-Requisites:
CoRequisites:

Electives: Interdisciplinary
Student must pass 1 Course(s), selected in the Student Portal from available course options
Interdisciplinary Elective Details

Level 6

Course details

Infection Prevention and Control
ENVR73030

Description: Examines the control of infectious disease in institutional and community environments with respect to appropriate preventive policy & procedures, inspection and investigation. Particular attention is paid to problem areas unique to hospitals, schools, housing, and facilities for child and adult care. Recreational, animal care and personal services facilities are examined in addition to biomedical waste handling and response to nuisance-type situations. Strategies for managing vaccine-preventable, sexually transmitted, and emerging infectious diseases are also discussed.

Hours: 56
Credits: 4
Pre-Requisites:
CoRequisites:

Air Quality
ENVR73050

Description:

Looks at indoor and outdoor air quality issues that affect population health. Students will explore and discuss the role of environmental public health professionals in response to air quality issues. Roles, responsibilities and communication with other agencies. Through experiential learning students will learn to assess air quality issues and develop recommended courses of action.

Hours: 56
Credits: 4
Pre-Requisites:
CoRequisites:

Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases
HEAL73020

Description: This course builds on previous epidemiology theory by expanding concepts specific to infectious disease epidemiology. The global importance of infectious disease will be introduced. Principles of infectious disease will be applied to understand the epidemiology and public health activities of foodborne, waterborne, airborne, vector-borne, bloodborne, and sexually transmitted infections. Case studies will be instrumental to integrate the epidemiology and public health implications of these infectious diseases.

Hours: 56
Credits: 4
Pre-Requisites:
CoRequisites:

First Nations Experience
INDS71000

Description: This course will explore Canada's First Nations people's relationships with land, resources, cultures, and each other, as well as historical and contemporary relationships between Aboriginal people and settler governments in Canada. The course will provide a study of Indigenous cultures, colonialism, cultural and political re-emergence, and the importance of the wampum belt. The Truth and Reconciliation Report, UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People, the Royal Commission on Aboriginal people, and the Ipperwash Inquiry will serve as core learning tools. Supporting the maintenance and revitalization of traditional Indigenous values, languages, cultural identity and spirituality will be highlighted.

Hours: 42
Credits: 3
Pre-Requisites:
CoRequisites:

Psychology: Dynamics of Human Behaviour
PSYC72240

Description: This course introduces the student to scholarly and scientific research concerning genetics and behaviour, followed by an examination of development throughout the life span. Further topics include: gender and sexuality, sensation and perception, learning, thinking and intelligence, motivation and emotion, and stress, health and human flourishing. Students explore the research process and apply psychological concepts to their lived experience.

Hours: 42
Credits: 3
Pre-Requisites:
CoRequisites:

Level 7

Course details

Co-op Work Term (Bach Environmental Public Health)
COOP74111

Description: The co-op work term will provide students with college-approved work experience within an environmental public health scope of practice. Students will be provided an opportunity to: build skills (physical and procedural skills including accuracy, precision, and efficiency); assist in the acquisition of knowledge in and application of knowledge gained in the academic setting (concepts and terminology in a discipline or field of study); develop critical, creative, and dialogical thinking (improved thinking and reasoning processes); cultivate problem solving and decision-making abilities (mental strategies for finding solutions and making choices); explore attitudes, feelings, and perspectives (awareness of attitudes, biases, and other perspectives, ability to collaborate); practice professional judgment (sound judgment and appropriate professional action in complex, context-dependent situations); and reflect on experience (self-discovery and personal growth from real-world experience).

Hours: 420
Credits: 14
Pre-Requisites: CDEV71050 OR CEPR71050
CoRequisites:

Level 8

Course details

Emergency Preparedness and Response
ENVR72005

Description: Addresses fundamental concepts and approaches, links and ideas of public health with the disaster and emergency management fields. Considered are the types of disasters and their consequences, the role of EPHP’s in planning and response, bioterrorism issues, recovery and reconstruction, and response evaluation. Students will operate in project based learning environment designed around realistic emergency scenarios.

Hours: 56
Credits: 4
Pre-Requisites:
CoRequisites:

Advanced Toxicology
ENVR73020

Description:

Focuses on how chemical, biological, and physical agents affect biological systems. This course advances the principles of toxicology. This includes dose response relationships, health and safety evaluation and risk assessment; and physiological and psychological responses to environmental hazards. Using systems based approach students will learn to: collect data and information, identify and evaluate risk factors, provide individualized feedback, and identify links to interventions to promote health, sustain function and/or prevent disease.

Hours: 56
Credits: 4
Pre-Requisites:
CoRequisites:

Risk Assessment and Risk Analysis
ENVR73040

Description:

Explores the key environmental public health skills of risk assessment and risk analysis in a hands-on interactive class participation environment. Students will learn to manage and evaluate risk assessments, and apply risk based decision making to principals to occupational, food, water, and other environmental hazards. Risk communication skills and public consultation will also be discussed. Course will use current and historical Canadian and International events.

Hours: 42
Credits: 3
Pre-Requisites:
CoRequisites:

Food Processing and Hygiene
FOOD73000

Description: Develops student skills to assess food processing operations for potential health hazards. A wide range of food processing and preservation techniques relative to the survival and growth of microorganisms in food are addressed. Examples of foods that are potentially hazardous are discussed in detail. Legislation pertaining to the commercial food industry is examined. The operation, maintenance, cleaning, and disinfection of common food facility equipment are described.

Hours: 42
Credits: 3
Pre-Requisites:
CoRequisites:

Health Promotion and Education
HEAL74000

Description:

Examines the role of the public health professional in affecting Behavior changes in a particular target audience or end user through the application of constructs, from a variety of Behavior change theories and recognition of the social determinants of health. Student's synthesis knowledge and skills introduced at the start of the course in order to develop implement and evaluate health promotion programs and/or advocate for vulnerable populations while addressing current Environmental public health issues. Students will participate in peer evaluations that will demonstrate the importance of evidence-based service delivery.

Hours: 42
Credits: 3
Pre-Requisites:
CoRequisites:

Professional Research Internship I
RSCH73010

Description: Through a synthesis of knowledge, understanding, and experiences gathered throughout the program, students will explore what it means to do social research and challenges posed by quantitative and qualitative research methods as well as critical research practices. Over the course of the semester, students will sharpen their interest of their chosen field of study, identifying appropriate research design, methods and tools, culminating in the completion of their own research proposal.

Hours: 28
Credits: 2
Pre-Requisites: RSCH73000 AND STAT73100
CoRequisites:

Level 9

Course details

Occupational Health and Safety
ENVR73075

Description: Building on the knowledge and skills developed in previous environmental theory, this course will address advanced toxicology, examine basic health effects caused by workplace exposures to toxic materials and the physical environment. Course focuses on fundamental hygiene principles, and injury prevention, recognition, evaluation and control as it relates to workplace exposures. Through experiential learning students will explore a range of technologies used in occupational and environmental monitoring and assessment.

Hours: 42
Credits: 3
Pre-Requisites:
CoRequisites:

Professional Practice
ENVR74000

Description: Students will be prepared for entry to environmental public health practice, focusing on 5 key areas of development: legal requirements, scope of practice, ethical principles, professionalism and communication skills. Through a variety of learning tools such as interactive case studies, assignments, quizzes and group work, the student will enhance his/her ability to practice competently within the professional practice framework. The course will conclude with the successful completion of a comprehensive mock oral examination.

Hours: 70
Credits: 5
Pre-Requisites:
CoRequisites:

Public Health Policy
HEAL74010

Description: Familiarizes students with health administration theory and its application in the health care system. The course will focus on the structures, functions and financing of health care systems in Canada, the theoretical frameworks used in the policy making process and the importance of evaluative research in determining program efficiency and effectiveness. Topics covered will include the review of health governance models and their functions, policy instruments and design and implementation and the major types of evaluation and its application. The course will also examine the relations of local, provincial and federal governments and the role of health partners including NGO and private partnerships as it relates to health administration and governance

Hours: 42
Credits: 3
Pre-Requisites:
CoRequisites:

Professional Research Internship II
RSCH74010

Description: Through a synthesis of knowledge, understanding, and experiences gathered throughout the program, students will conduct a culminating research project. Over the course of the semester, students will sharpen their interest of study, identify the appropriate research design, and carry out their project. Upon completion of the project, students will communicate their findings with the college and relevant community of practices

Hours: 28
Credits: 2
Pre-Requisites: RSCH73010
CoRequisites:

Electives: Interdisciplinary
Student must pass 1 Course(s), selected in the Student Portal from available course options
Interdisciplinary Elective Details

Program outcomes

Appreciate the role of public health in society through an exposure to the history of population health in Canada.
Apply and integrate theory and practice of environmental health sciences, infection prevention and control, and injury prevention to assess and control factors in the environment to target disease prevention and positively impact population and community health.
Interpret the context, structure, functioning, and effectiveness of public health systems and other programs aimed at protecting and promoting the health of the public.
Categorize the factors affecting the etiology, incidence, and prevalence of major health problems and disparities in populations.
Classify the major sources of chemical, microbial, and physical agent contamination identified in water, air, soil, and food.
Analyze the effects of environmental contaminants on the human body and the mechanisms through which they produce effects.
Influence positive health behaviour change through the use of current technology and resources by investigating and analyzing issues, managing inquiry, collaborating, and communicating information.
Apply risk assessment and control strategies to chemical, biological & physical hazards in the environment.
Outline the importance of risk perception in influencing the views of the public on environmental hazards and the importance of this in Environmental health.
Analyze quantitative and qualitative research findings; organize the findings across studies, and make appropriate evidence informed recommendations based on current knowledge.
Incorporate relevant research and theory in the formation and implementation of programs, policies and practices.
Apply the basic methods used in compliance verification, outbreak investigation, infectious and chronic disease epidemiology, disease and injury prevention, and evaluation of screening tests.
Apply compliance techniques for environmental public health legislation with an understanding of the legislative process from evidence collection to court procedures.
Demonstrate professional communication by organizing data and information, developing technical reports, and giving oral presentations on recognition, evaluation, management, and control of environmental health hazards.
Demonstrate effective communication, leadership, teamwork and cultural awareness in an inter-professional team and when working with diverse populations
Apply professional judgment and adherence to ethical and legal codes and standards, including ensuring privacy and confidentiality of information
Differentiate between the roles and responsibilities of government, non-government agencies, and private organizations in terms of environmental health.
Evaluate effective engagement, information sharing and behavioural change techniques through collaborative, inter-professional population-focused practice.