Bachelor of Science in Public Health in Environmental Health Sciences (BSPH)
Program Details
Minimum Credit Hours
120
Application Cycle
Fall
Application Deadlines
January 9, 2024 for current UNC students
October 15, 2023 for High School students applying through UNC Chapel Hill Early Action/Excel@Carolina
February 15, 2024 for UNC Transfer students
Expected Duration
2 Years (typically Junior and Senior year) in the major coursework, 4 Years total; It may also be possible for students who have met our academic requirements by that time and would like to begin the program Spring of their Sophomore year.
Learning Environment
Residential
Accelerated/Dual Degree Options
The Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering offers an accelerated master’s degree for students who have completed a B.S.P.H or any B.S. in a STEM field from UNC–Chapel Hill. An accelerated master’s degree has the same overall credit requirements as a regular master’s degree, but potentially allows a student to finish in a single year. Students are able to double count and transfer up to 12 credits of undergraduate course, over 400 level, to the master’s. The M.S. degree is research-focused; the M.P.H. is focused on coursework and public health practice. These degrees prepare students to work as researchers, program officers, or consultants in industry, government organizations, and the non-profit sector, Many graduates have gone on to complete doctoral degrees at UNC–Chapel Hill or elsewhere. See our program handbook for more details.
Engineering for Environmental Change, Climate, and Health Minor
This minor is designed to train students with an interest in developing engineering skills focused on building public health resilience to climate and environmental change. Click here for more information.
How To Apply
- Select “Apply for Major/Minor Change” in ConnectCarolina, which is available from the “other academic…” dropdown menu, located under the Academics section of the Student Center tab (SelfService > Student Center).
- Select the double arrow to go to the Apply for Major/Minor Change page, then select the BSPH major that you wish to apply for from the “Major/Minor” dropdown menu. You can click the “Dept. URL” button to display a link to department website.
- Once you have made your selection from the “Major/Minor” dropdown menu, you will need to select fall semester and year from the “Term” dropdown menu.
- Click the “I Agree” checkbox in order for the “Submit Request” button to become available.
- You will receive an email the next business day with a link to start the BSPH application. As a result, you cannot submit a major change form on the due date of the application. Please pay close attention to application deadlines to ensure that you can complete and submit the application on time.
Undergraduates at UNC Chapel Hill typically apply to the major of their choice during the middle of their sophomore year and, if admitted, begin coursework in the major in their junior fall.
You may apply to more than one major; however, you will need to complete and submit separate applications to each major. To receive a link to an application for a second public health major, you will need to start the process again with “Apply for Major/Minor Change.”
Additional Info
The ENHS faculty and staff participate in open houses and information sessions held throughout the year both in the School of Public Health and on the Main Campus, and in Fall Majors Exploration workshops. Prospective applicants are encouraged to take advantage of these opportunities to find out more about our program.
Students apply during the standard ENHS BSPH major period for internal transfers (2nd semester sophomore year). The application requires transcripts, two letters of recommendation, and a personal statement describing their interest in the ENHS major. Applications are submitted through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions using the Transfer Common application (referenced above).
Undergraduates interested in the BSPH in ENHS should therefore plan to take as many of our STEM required courses as possible during their freshman and sophomore years, so that they have the minimum academic qualifications in hand at the time of application. The Director of Undergraduate Studies and ESE Student Services staff will be happy to work with prospective majors (by appointment or by email) to verify that these requirements are on track to being met and to answer any questions about admission.
Students admitted in the Spring semester formally enter the BSPH for the Fall semester of their Junior year and follow that semester’s Undergraduate Bulletin degree requirements.
In addition to the above-mentioned academic qualifications (which are documented by examination of the student’s transcript in ConnectCarolina (the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s data repository based on PeopleSoft) the following materials are required for evaluation:
- A personal statement
- A resume or CV
- Two letters of recommendation
For Current High School Students
- Review our Assured Enrollment to our undergraduate majors.
- Complete your application for admission on the Common Application or Coalition Application website by the Early Action deadline.
- Complete the brief survey in the UNC supplement and indicate your interest for Assured Enrollment to one or more of our undergraduate majors under Excel@Carolina opportunities. Please note that interest in these programs have no bearing on your admission decision, and the completion of this survey is not required for admission.
- If you have any questions, please contact esestudentservices@unc.edu
For Transfer Students
To apply for admission, follow these steps:
- Go to the Common Application to create an account and start your application.
- Submit the Common Application, the Common Application supplement, and application fee by the deadline above.
- Upload the statement of purpose requested in your Common Application supplement.
- Submit official transcripts from all high schools, colleges, and universities attended to:
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
Jackson Hall, Campus Box 2200
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-2200
- Arrange to have two letters of recommendation – professional or academic – written on your behalf sent to uncsubmit@admissions.unc.edu.
- After you submit your application, you will receive instructions for creating your MyCarolina account, which will allow you to view the status of your application, including your admission decision. Be sure to check your MyCarolina account frequently for important application updates.
- If you have any questions, please contact esestudentservices@unc.edu
Admissions Information
Who Should Apply
The Environmental Health Sciences BSPH provides students with a fundamental grounding in the basic and applied sciences for advanced scientific education, professional schools or careers in practice in the field of public health with an emphasis in environmental health sciences.
Required Prerequisites
Students must successfully complete certain prerequisites prior to starting the major. Students are encouraged to complete as many prerequisites as possible before applying, but applications will be accepted from students with prerequisites in progress in spring of their sophomore year.
Undergraduate G.P.A.
3.0 GPA or higher
Letters of Recommendation Required
2 (academic and/or professional)
Interviews
Not Required
The Admission Decision
Although grades in the above-mentioned STEM fields are the first thing that we look at, to ensure that our students have a strong science foundation and will not struggle in our advanced classes, applicants are evaluated on the entirety of their application, not solely on grades and GPA. A stratospheric GPA will not compensate for a poorly argued or irrelevant personal statement. Conversely, a motivated and eloquent personal statement, or evidence of prior involvement in and passion for research or other environmental-health-related activities, can tip the scales in favor of admission. We aim to make admission decisions in time for students to make plans before registration for the Fall semester.
The formal offer of admission will be made officially through the SPH Office of Student Affairs. Instructions on how to accept or decline admission will be included in this communication. You will also receive a welcome letter from the department.
Visit Opportunities
Learn about opportunities to connect with faculty, staff, and current students virtually and in person.
During and After The Program
For more information on our curriculum and graduate school/career outcomes, please visit the catalog.
Questions?
Gillings Admissions
sph-admissions@unc.edu
Jennifer Moore
Academic Coordinator
esestudentservices@sph.unc.edu
Amanda Northcross
Director of Undergraduate Studies
amandaln@email.unc.edu