Program Overview

Program Details

The Environmental Health Sciences Bachelor of Science in Public Health (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.

Minimum Credit Hours

120

Application Cycle

Fall

Application Deadlines

• January 6, 2026, for current UNC students
• October 15, 2025, for High School students applying through UNC Chapel Hill
• Early Action/Excel@Carolina: February 15, 2026 (March 15 completion deadline) 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.

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.

How To Apply

For Current UNC Students

• 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.
• 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.

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.

For Transfer Students

• 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.

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.

During and After The Program

For more information on our curriculum and graduate school/career outcomes, please visit the catalog.