Unlock Your Career Potential
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See Courses & Program Info
View a complete list of program courses, program-specific and degree-level requirements, and more.
This program requires a total of 120 credits.
- 36 Required Major Credits: Review the required major courses outlined below or view the recommended course sequence to progress through this program.
- 41 General Education Credits: Review the options available to fulfill the 41 credits of general education coursework requirements for bachelor's degrees.
- 43 Minor & Elective Credits: Review a list of available academic minors or see the course catalog or Schedule of Classes to help you select elective courses.
Required Major Courses
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This program is designed to help prepare you for the following credentials:
Not ready to get started on this bachelor’s degree? You can pair a 15-credit minor in environmental health and safety with another major at UMGC or an 18-credit undergraduate certificate in fundamentals of workplace health & safety.
Develop In-Demand Workplace Health & Safety Knowledge
Build a dynamic range of skills in our online program. Our curriculum is designed to help you gain well-rounded skills in problem-solving and critical thinking. In addition, you’ll develop industry-specific competencies in investigation, inspection, and auditing; evidence-based practice; worker training and development; and project and change management.
Our program directors refresh and update the curriculum regularly with a focus on helping students achieve the following:
34M+
Tons of Hazardous Waste
Large quantity hazardous waste generators in the United States reported generating 34.9 million tons of hazardous waste in 2019.
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | "An Overview of Hazardous Waste Generation" | April 18, 2021
13%
Employment Increase
Employment for occupational health and safety specialists and technicians is projected to grow 13 percent from 2022 to 2032—much faster than the average for all occupations.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | Occupational Outlook Handbook | Last Reviewed: April 15, 2024
50%
Retiring Professionals
More than half of safety professionals are approaching retirement age, highlighting the need for qualified environmental health and safety professionals.
Source: American Society of Safety Professionals | Why Choose a Career in Safety? | Last Reviewed: April 15, 2024
Practice Real-World Skills in Your Courses
Throughout the program, your instructors will assign coursework that may help you prioritize real-world skills and well-rounded experience. In past courses, students have been able to complete the following course projects:
- Analyze an incident investigation report to synthesize data from a workplace incident and prioritize control or mitigation methods.
- Interpret inspection and audit data to evaluate occupational safety, the factors affecting performance, and areas for improvement.
- Select exposure standards to evaluate hazards and risk factors within the occupational environment.
- Develop a worker training program based on a gap and needs analysis to assess worker competency and learning transfer after training.
- Construct a continuing professional development plan to ensure currency and capability in professional practice.
FAQs
Get answers to questions that current and prospective students are asking about program admission, credibility, and more.
In this EHS program, you'll prepare for a career as an environmental health professional supporting safe and healthy work environments to protect workers and communities. The curriculum covers a deep range of topics, including environmental safety regulations, incident response, fire prevention, safety and security management, environmental technology, environmental toxicology, pollution control, industrial hygiene, and more. The program is designed to help prepare you for work as an EHS professional in a wide range of industries, corporations, non-profits, and government organizations.
In this 120-credit program, courses are offered year-round. The time it will take you to complete your degree will depend on several factors, including your goals, how many transfer credits you have, your course load each semester, and whether you are able to benefit from one or more of our fast paths to credit, including credit for prior learning and credit for military education and training.
Tuition rates for this program are very competitive and appear at the top of this page. We offer a low in-state rate for Maryland residents and a reduced tuition rate for military service members and their spouses and dependent children. We also offer scholarships for those who qualify, an interest-free monthly payment plan, and no-cost digital materials in place of most textbooks to help make online bachelor's degrees even more affordable.
You do not need any background or experience in environmental science to enroll in this program. As long as you meet our undergraduate admission requirements, you can enroll in this program.
You do not need any prior certifications to enroll in or complete this program.
Environmental Awareness Club
The Environmental Awareness Club offers opportunities to interact with professionals in environmental management. Activities have included webinars with professionals and alumni in the field, field trips, assisting in local cleanups, newsletters, and a P3 grant competition. It is available to graduate or undergraduate students, alumni, faculty, and staff members. Students and alumni can join the Environmental Awareness Club group on CareerQuest.