Environmental Health Science

EHS majors take 60 credits specifically within EHS. These credits, in conjunction with the Clarkson Common Experience, provide a well-rounded education focusing on the areas of study you find most interesting.

EHS REQUIRED COURSES:

• BY140 Biology I: Inheritance, Evolution, and Diversity
• BY142 Biology I: Laboratory 
• BY160 Biology II: Cell and Molecular Biology 3
• BY222 Ecology
• CM131 General Chemistry I or
• CM103 Structure and Bonding and 
• CM106 Chemistry Lab I
• CM132 General Chemistry II or
• CM104 Equilibrium and Dynamics and 
• CM106 Chemistry Lab II
• CM Organic Chemistry I
• EV100 Intro to ES&P and EHS Seminar 
• EV280 Environmental Science
• FY100 Freshman Seminar
• PH141 Physics for Life Sciences I or 
• PH131 Physics I
• PH153 Physics for Life Sciences II or 
• PH132 Physics II 
• UNIV190 Clarkson Seminar 
• ES432 Risk Analysis 

A minor in environmental health science (EHS) is available to all students, except those majoring in EHS. To successfully obtain a minor, a student must complete the curriculum below.

Like other minors, the student must achieve a GPA of 2.0 or greater in this curriculum.

All courses are 3 credits unless noted.

Environmental Health Science Minor Core I

Students are required to complete courses in the following groups

Core Courses

Students must complete the following courses:

• EHS309 Introduction to Industrial Hygiene 
• EHS310 Introduction to Industrial Hygiene Laboratory (1 credit)
• EV313 Biogeochemical Systems Science 

Environmental Health Science

Students must complete at least two courses from the following:

• EHS405 Methods & Analysis (4 credits)
• EHS406 Industrial Hygiene Control Methods 
• EHS416 Principles of Toxicology & Epidemiology 
• EHS330 Safety Analysis 
• EHS481 Advanced Topics in Environmental Health 
• EHS432 Risk Analysis: TECH Serving Humanity & Comm. Pt. (1 credit)

Environmental Health Science Minor Core II

Students must complete at least one of the following courses:

• CE340 Introduction to Environmental Engineering
• CE480 Chemical Fate and Transport in the Environment 
• CE481 Hazardous Waste Management Engineering 
• CE479 Water and Wastewater Treatment Processes 
• CE477 Atmospheric Chemistry 
• CE580 Environmental Chemistry 

• CM371 Physical Chemistry I 
• BY320 Microbiology 
• BY350 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy 
• BY360 Comparative Physiology 
• BY425 Biological Systems and Environmental Change 
• BY471 Human Anatomy and Physiology I/II (4 credits)

Clarkson’s minor in Sustainable Solutions for the Developing World is available to students in any degree program. The minor seeks to employ humanitarian principles toward sustainable solutions that address the conflict that often occurs between economic development and environmental justice predominant in the developing world. A goal of the curriculum is to provide students with the tools to understand issues concerning social justice and sustainability to be used when designing and implementing solutions for the developing world. To obtain the minor, a student must complete courses within four categories (sustainability, culture, business and technical tools for development) and a project-based global experience. Examples of courses that meet the criteria of each of these categories, as well as the number of required credits within each category are listed below. 

Course Requirements

Sustainability Principles Courses

Students choose one of the following classes to develop a comprehensive understanding of sustainability principles: 

• ANTH381 Consumption and Culture
• CE434 Sustainable Development Engineering
• EV300 Environmental Leadership
• EV305 Sustainability and the Environment
• EV390 Sustainability Project Experience
• PHIL370 Environmental Ethics 
• PHIL405 Sustainability Theory and Practice: A Critical Assessment
• POL350 International Development and Social Change

Global Appreciation Courses

Students choose any two of the following courses to develop an appreciation of the cultural, political and social character of countries:  

• ANTH201 Introduction to Anthropology
• ANTH351 Global Forces, Local Outcomes
• COMM428 Public Debate and the Environment: Reading & Writing Environmentally
• LIT250 World Literature
• LIT251 Understanding Vietnam
• LIT353 African Literature
• PHIL310 World Religious and Contemporary Issues 
• POL250 Government and Politics around the World
• POL251 Introduction to International Politics
• POL362 Human Rights Law and Politics
• SOC330 Health, Wealth, Inequality, and the Environment

Innovation and Entrepreneurship Courses

Students can choose two of the following courses related to key principles of innovation and entrepreneurship: 

• EC360 Environmental Economics
• ES438 Alternative Energy Systems
• MK320 Principles of Marketing
• MK436 Creativity, Innovation and New Product Development
• OM476/EM476 Management of Technology
• SB396 Global Business Strategies

Global Experience

Students can choose one of the following global experiences: 

• UNIV399, BY399 or other university trip
  Global Experience (with sustainable solutions for the developing world emphasis)
   
• Multidisciplinary Project Course (with sustainable solutions for the developing world emphasis)
  The multidisciplinary project is intended to serve as the Capstone, Senior Design, or other culminating project based experience that is normally completed within the student’s major program of study. Students participating in the minor will engage in a multidisciplinary project developed by students with the minor faculty who support the minor OR the student may participate in related experiences and opportunities within the student’s major program of study that are thematically linked to this minor. For example, if a student’s senior design course within their major has a multidisciplinary them and relates to strategies employable in developing world, the student can obtain approval from the director of the minor for the course to serve as the minor required course.

Environmental Policy minors will take a total of 27 credit hours. The student will take courses related to environmental policy and environmental science while also completing projects and conducting research.

All courses are 3 credits unless noted.

Environmental Science Minor Core I

Students are required to complete the following course:

• EV313 Biogeochemical Earth Systems Science

Students must complete five of the following courses, with at least three courses being 300-level and above:*

Environmental Science

• BY140 General Bio. I
• BY160 General Bio. II
• BY222 General Ecology
• CM221 Spectroscopy
• BY224 General Ecology Laboratory
• CM223 Spectroscopy Laboratory
• BY314 Bioinformatics
• CM371 Phys. Chem.
• BY320 Microbiology
• CM476 Atmospheric Chem.
• BY322 Microbiology Laboratory
• CM434 Air Pollution Controls
• BY328 Conservation Biology
• EHS309 Industrial Hygiene
• BY340 Behavioral Eco. and Sociobiology
• EHS310 Intro to Ind. Hygiene Laboratory
• BY420 Evolution
• EHS405 Methods and Analysis
• BY425 Bio. Systems and Env't'l. Change

• EHS416 Prin. of Toxic. and Epidem.
• BY/EV330 Great Lakes Water Pollution
• EV314 Adirondack Integrated Research Project
• BY431 Limnology
• EV/CE 435 Groundwater
• BY/EV312 Adirondack Ecology & Env. Science
• ES432 Risk Analysis
• EV316 Adirondack Env. Science
• EV314 Adirondack Integrated Res. Project
• CE301 Eng. Measurements
• CE301 ADK Geographical Info Systems
• CE340 Intro to Env. Engineering
• CE480 Env. Quality
• ECE470 Hydraulic Eng.
• CE481 Hazardous Waste Mgmt
• CE474 Engineering Hydrology
• CE482 Env. Systems
• CE479 Water & Wastewater Trtmnt. Proc.
• CE491 Senior Design Proj.
• CE486 Industrial Eco.

Environmental Science Minor Core II

Students must complete two of the following courses:

Environmental Policy

• ANTH270 Env't., Tech. and Soc.
• PHIL270 American Env.
• PHIL405 Sustainability: Thry. and Prac.
• PHIL410 Where the Wild Things Are
• COMM428 Public Debate and Env't.
• PHI371 Energy and Society
• COMM429 Issue Analysis and Advocacy
• POL220 American Politics
• EC360 Environmental Economics
• POL250 Politics in X-Nat'l. Perspective
• ES436 Global Climate Change: Sci., Eng. & Policy
• POL351 Globalization

• LW270 Law and Society 1
• POL371 Environmental Law
• LW466 Law of the Workplace
• POL400 Constitutional Law
• EM351 Quality Mgmt. and Lean Enterprise
• POL470 Environmental Policy
• EM361 Supply Chain Env. Mgmt.
• POL471 Energy Policy
• EV314 Adirondack Integrated Research Project
• SOC330 Health, Wealth, Inequality and the Env't.
• EV/SS320 Social & Pol. Issues in the Adirondacks
• EV322 Adirondack Park
• EC/EV315 Entrepreneurship & Economic Dev. in the Adirondacks

Environmental Science Minor Core III

Students must complete the following three courses:

• An independent research project (1 credit equivalent)
• An ES&P multidisciplinary project course (1 credit equivalent)
• EV100 Introduction to Environmental Science & Policy Professions
• or EV305 Sustainability & the Environment

Disclaimer

*No more than 6 credits of the engineering classes can be applied towards an environmental science minor.

Environmental Policy minors will take a total of 24 credit hours. The student will take courses related to environmental policy and environmental science while also completing projects and conducting research.

All courses are 3 credits unless noted.

Environmental Policy Minor Core I

Students are required to complete five of the following courses, with at least three courses being 300-level and above:

Environmental Policy

• ANTH270 Env., Tech. and Society
• COMM428 Environmental Communication
• EC360 Environmental Economics
• ES436 Glbl. Clim. Ch.: Sci., Eng. and Policy
• LW270 Law and Society 1
• LW466 Law of the Workplace
• EM351 Quality Mgmt and Lean Enterprise
• EM361 Supply Chain Env. Mgmt.
• EV314 Adirondack Integrated Research Project
• EV322 Adirondack Park
• EC/EV315 Entrepreneurship & Econ. Dev. in the Adirondacks

• EV/SS320 Social & Pol. Issues in the Adirondacks
• PHIL270 American Environmentalism 
• PHIL405 Sustainability: Thry. and Practice
• PHIL410 Wheres the Wild Things Are
• PHI371 Energy and Society
• POL220 American Politics
• POL250 Pol. in X-Nat'l. Perspective
• POL351 Globalization
• POL371 Environmental Law
• POL400 Constitutional Law
• POL470 Environmental Policy
• POL471 Energy Policy
• SOC330 Health, Wealth, Ineq. and the Env't.

Environmental Policy Minor Core II

Students must complete two of the following courses:*

• BY160 General Biology II    
• BY/EV312 Adirondack Ecology & Env. Science
• BY/EV330 Great Lakes Water Pollution    
• BY140 General Biology I    
• BY222 General Ecology    
• BY224 General Ecology Laboratory    
• BY314 Bioinformatics    
• BY320 Microbiology    
• BY322 Microbiology Laboratory    
• BY328 Conservation Biology    
• BY340 Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology    
• BY420 Evolution    
• BY425 Bio Systems and Env. Change    
• BY431 Limnology
• CE301 ADK Geo. Information Systems
• CE301 Eng. Measurements    
• CE340 Intro. to Env. Engineering
• CE474 Engineering Hydrology    
• CE479 Water & Wastewater Treatment Processing    
• CE480 Env. Quality
• CE481 Hazardous Waste Mgmt.

• CE482 Environmental Systems
• CE486 Industrial Ecology
• CE491 Senior Design Project
• CH434 Air Pollution Controls
• CM221 Spectroscopy    
• CM223 Spectroscopy Laboratory
• CM371 Physical Chemistry
• CM476 Atmospheric Chemistry
• ECE470 Hydraulic Engineering    
• EHS309 Industrial Hygiene
• EHS310 Intro to Industrial Hygiene Lab.
• EHS405 Methods and Analysis
• EHS416 Princ. of Toxicology and Epidemiology
• ES432 Risk Analysis
• EV/CE 435 Groundwater
• EV314 Adirondack Integrated Res. Project
• EV314 Adirondack Integrated Research Project
• EV316 Adirondack Environmental Science

Environmental Policy Minor Core III

Students must complete the following three courses:

• An independent research project (1 credit equivalent)
• An ES&P multidisciplinary project course (1 credit equivalent)
• EV100 Introduction to Environmental Science & Policy Professions
• or EV305 Sustainability & the Environment
• or Adirondack Semester courses

Disclaimer

*No more than 6 credits of the engineering classes can be applied towards an environmental science minor.

Professionals in the field of environment, health and safety often interact and collaborate with professionals in criminal justice and homeland security — which is why specific criminal justice courses will better prepare you for these interactions. While security has many aspects, such as environmental, forensic, water, air and energy, we consider the relationship to the environment in this concentration program.

A single degree cannot encompass all aspects, yet the concentration can draw on courses and research in the areas of environmental health science (Institute for the Sustainable Environment), forensic chemistry (School of Arts & Science) and biometrics (School of Engineering) currently taught at Clarkson, as well as homeland security courses taught at SUNY Canton.

Environment and Security Curriculum

Required Courses for Environment and Security 

You must complete the following required courses:

• BY320 Microbiology (3 cr.)
• BY322 Microbiology Laboratory (2 cr.)
• CM221 Spectroscopy (3 cr.)
• CM223 Spectroscopy Laboratory (3 cr.)
• EV400/401 Capstone Project Related to Environment & Security (4 cr.)

Electives for Environment and Security 

You must complete two of the following elective courses held at SUNY Canton:

• EHS401 Chem., Bio. & Rad. Forensics and Terrorism Threats (3 cr.)
• JUST230 Fundamentals of Homeland Security (3 cr.)
• JUST326 Threats to Homeland Security (3 cr.)
• JUST420 The Corporate Role in Homeland Security (3 cr.)

Other suitable criminal justice/homeland security courses can be approved by the director of the Institute for a Sustainable Environment or designee.

Ergonomics is the science that addresses human performance factors (human engineering) and how they relate to the job, the workplace, tools and the environment.

Currently, ergonomic-related injuries are one of — if not the largest — cause of worker compensation cost to U.S. industry. Ergonomic-related injuries or workplace musculoskeletal disorders are one of the most significant occupational safety and health problems in the United States, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

Ergonomics Curriculum

Ergonomics requires 16 or more credits in the following specified areas. 

Completion of an approved concentration will be designated on the student’s transcript.

Required Courses for Ergonomics 

• BR200 Introduction to Biomedical & Rehabilitation Engineering, Science and Technology (3 cr.)
• EHS330 Safety Analysis: Environment, Health and Safety Assessment (3 cr.)
• EV400/401 Capstone Project Related to Ergonomics (4 cr.)

Electives for Ergonomics 

Complete two courses from the list below:

• BY350 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy (3 cr.)
• BY360 Comparative Physiology (3 cr.)
• BY471 Anatomy & Physiology I (3 cr.)
• BY472 Anatomy & Physiology II (3 cr.)
• ME380 Special Topic: Biomechanics (3 cr.)
• PT460 Kinesiology II - Function Anatomy (3 cr.)

Other suitable ergonomics-related courses can be approved by the director of Institute for a Sustainable Environment or designee.

Industrial hygiene involves the recognition, evaluation and control of health hazards arising in or from the work environment. The ability to qualitatively and quantitatively assess work and community exposures to hazardous agents — and then develop effective control strategies to minimize the risk or harm to workers and the general public — is a highly sought after skill set.

The industrial hygiene degree program at Clarkson was established in early 1980s, with the first degrees being awarded in 1984. In 2007, the name was changed to environmental health science (EHS) to allow for an expanded focus of the degree curriculum and the types of careers the students may pursue.

While the name change was a valuable evolution, many who study EHS still pursue a career as an industrial hygienist, and some go on to obtain professional certification as a certified industrial hygienist.

Industrial Hygiene Curriculum

Required Courses for Industrial Hygiene

• CM221 Spectroscopy (3 cr.)
• CM223 Spectroscopy Laboratory (3 cr.)
• EHS330 Safety Analysis: Environment, Health and Safety Assessment (3 cr.)
• EV400/401 Capstone Project Related to Industrial Hygiene (4 cr.)

Electives for Industrial Hygiene

Complete two courses from this list:

• CE301 Geographical Information Systems (3 cr.)
• CE340 Introduction to Environmental Engineering (3 cr.)
• CE435 Groundwater Hydrology & Geochemistry (3 cr.)

• CE477 Atmospheric Chemistry (3 cr.)
• CE479 Water & Wastewater Treatment Process (3 cr.)
• CE481 Hazardous Waste Management Engineering (3 cr.)
• CE486 Industrial Ecology (3 cr.)
• CM242 Organic Chemistry II (3 cr.)
• CM244 Organic Chemistry Laboratory I (3 cr.)
• CM300 Instrumental Laboratory (3 cr.)
• CM320 Separations & Electrochemistry (3 cr.)
• CM371 Physical Chemistry I (3 cr.)

Other suitable industrial hygiene-related or chemistry-related courses can be approved by the director of the Institute for a Sustainable Environment or designee.