Course Title: Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Environmental Health
The air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, our homes and workplaces all can influence our state of health. Businesses and individuals must comply with a range of health & safety standards, in food, occupational and environmental areas.
In this course, you’ll study issues such as food safety, environmental pollution, occupational safety and health risk management, and how these should be managed.
The course is applied in nature, but has a strong scientific underpinning, especially in Years 1 and 2. In Years 3 and 4, you’ll expand into applied areas of environmental health and examine current and developing issues.
Areas of study include environmental health, microbiology, building technology, ecology and entomology, food and water chemistry, noise and radiation, occupational safety and health, food safety, health promotion, air quality, housing policy and defects, and environmental health protection.
Work Placement
In the period of professional practice (placement), you’ll learn how to apply your knowledge of environmental health.
Leaving Certificate Requirements
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Minimum Number of |
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|---|---|
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Subjects |
Higher |
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6 |
2 H5's |
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Minimum Grade in |
|
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Maths |
English OR Irish |
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O4/H7 |
O6/H7 |
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Other Grade Requirements |
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| At least O4/H7 in one of: Physics, Chemistry, Physics and Chemistry, Biology or Agricultural Science. | |
QQI/FET Requirements
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QQI/FET Award Required |
Additional Requirements |
|---|---|
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Level 5:
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5 DISTINCTIONS FROM ANY OF THE FOLLOWING MODULES: C20006 / 5N2746 Biology |
| Level 6: Full level 6 award in a relevant discipline | |
In addition to the QQI minimum entry requirements, QQI quotas and QQI points apply. The max QQI points awarded is 390. Further details at www.tudublin.ie/qqi
Mature Applicants
Applications from mature students (23+) are welcome. Further details at www.tudublin.ie/mature
Additional Requirements
TU Dublin students must undergo Garda Vetting. They must complete the required documentation, including a full list of all previous addresses, in order for clearance checks to be made. Currently, Irish addresses are vetted by the Garda Vetting Bureau at no cost to the student.
English Language Requirements
If English is not your first language you will need to provide evidence of your English language proficiency as detailed on our website. Applicants for this course should have a minimum IELTS (Academic Version) English Proficiency of 6 overall (or equivalent) with nothing less than 6 in each component.
Click on the link below to view an indicative timetable for this course. Timetables are subject to change and up to date timetables will be provided to students on commencement.
View Sample Timetable
Graduates go on to work in private and public sectors in areas such as environmental management, health and safety, food safety and health promotion, as well as Environmental Health Officer (EHO) in the state sector. Environmental Health Officer, Health and Safety Inspector.
Employers need qualified staff to steer them through their responsibilities in environmental health. You can go on to work in private and public sectors in areas such as environmental management, health and safety, food safety and health promotion, as well as Environmental Health Officer (EHO) in the state sector. State sector EHOs are normally responsible for monitoring and enforcing standards (through advice, education and regulation) in a wide range of areas such as food safety, air and water quality, and tobacco policies (see Environmental Health Officers’ Association).
Semester 1
- Introductory Physics for Sciences and Health [Mandatory]
- Building Tech for Env Health 1 [Mandatory]
- Environmental Health Biology 1 [Mandatory]
- Fundamentals of Inorganic Chemistry [Mandatory]
- Introduction to Environmental Health [Mandatory]
- Mathematics and IT Skills for Environmental Health [Mandatory]
Semester 2
- Building Technology for Environmental Health 2 [Mandatory]
- Environmental Health Ecology and Entomology [Mandatory]
- Environmental Health Food and Water Chemistry [Mandatory]
- Communications for Environmental Health [Mandatory]
- Introduction to Law and Risk Analysis [Mandatory]
- Basic Microbiology for Environmental Health [Mandatory]
Semester 1
- Build Design, Services & Finishes for Environmental Health [Mandatory]
- An introduction to hydrology, hydrogeology and atmospheric sciences [Mandatory]
- Food Technology for Environmental Health [Mandatory]
- Food Safety (Animal affairs) [Mandatory]
- Health and Safety Management [Mandatory]
- Environmental Health Microbiology 2 [Mandatory]
Semester 2
Semester 1
- Housing Policy and Defects [Mandatory]
- Environmental Health 1 : Professional Studies [Mandatory]
- Public Health [Mandatory]
- Environmental quality and energy management [Mandatory]
- Environmental Health Research Methods & Statistical Analysis [Mandatory]
- Environmental Health Professional Practice [Mandatory]
- Food Regulatory Affairs [Mandatory]
- Food Quality & Safety Systems [Mandatory]
- Risk Assessment for Occupational Health [Mandatory]
Semester 2
Semester 1
- Environmental Management and Protection [Mandatory]
- Environmental Health Research Project [Mandatory]
Semester 2
- Built environment for environmental health [Mandatory]
- Health Risk Assessment [Mandatory]
- Environmental Health Law and Management [Mandatory]
- Environmental Health Impact and Planning Policy [Mandatory]
- Food Safety [Mandatory]
- Health Promotion [Mandatory]
- Safety Management and Emergency Planning [Mandatory]
We are currently closed for Advanced Entry Applications. The courses that will be open for advanced entry will be listed on the CAO website in January 2025. For information on how to make an Advanced Entry application, please visit our CAO Hub. If this course opens for advanced entry, the following will apply.
To qualify for Advanced Entry applicants must be currently studying, completing, or have successfully completed, studies at Level 6, 7 or 8 in a Higher Education Institution (HEI) or an equivalent, in a related area. You must demonstrate by providing transcripts of results that you have achieved the learning outcomes for each stage you wish to advance past, for example:
- To enter Year 2 via Advanced Entry, you must demonstrate that you have met the learning outcomes for Year 1.
- For entry to Year 3, you must demonstrate that you have met the learning outcomes for Years 1 and 2.
- For entry to Year 4, you must demonstrate that you have met the learning outcomes for Years 1, 2, and 3.
If English is not your first language you will need to provide evidence of your English language proficiency as detailed on our website.
The course was wide-ranging, with a wonderful basis in a range of disciplines. I then decided I wanted to be a specialist in one particular discipline and returned to do a two-year research master’s in health and safety. I am now managing the Health and Safety Department in a large teaching hospital.
Health and safety practitioners come from a variety of backgrounds, which can include engineering, science, law and environment. No one individual would possesses all of these qualifications, but Environmental Health certainly provides you with a good grounding in each of the disciplines. It’s a course I would highly recommend.
Our student Sean tells us about his experience studying Environmental Health (TU869) at TU Dublin.
On graduation, you may proceed to postgraduate studies leading to the award of MSc, MPhil or PhD at research institutes and universities worldwide. There’s a range of taught postgraduate courses (in Ireland and abroad) on aspects of environmental health, and there may also be research opportunities for graduates on specific environmental health topics.