An MS in occupational and environmental health (OEH) is offered with optional subprograms in agricultural safety and health and industrial hygiene.
Learning Outcomes
General Outcomes
Students will be able to:
- describe major environmental hazards that adversely affect human health;
- demonstrate the use of regulatory guidelines enacted to control occupational health and injury issues;
- apply epidemiological principles used to assess associations between exposure to occupational health and injury hazards on health outcomes;
- use statistical methods and related software to test a hypothesis; and
- apply interventions to prevent occupational health and injury hazards.
Agricultural Safety and Health Subprogram Outcomes
Students will be able to:
- describe the basic concepts of agricultural safety and health;
- summarize epidemiological and toxicological principles that can be used to determine health outcomes associated with exposure to occupational hazards;
- explain appropriate research design and methodology related to the field of agricultural safety and health;
- communicate agricultural safety and health concepts both orally and in writing;
- interpret the significance of research data relative to an exposure or health outcome;
- apply best practice safety guidance to develop products and interventions to prevent injuries related to agricultural hazards; and
- develop skills to design and evaluate a research project relative to peer-reviewed literature in agricultural safety and health.
Industrial Hygiene Subprogram Outcomes
Students will be able to:
- anticipate and recognize occupational and environmental hazards (i.e., physical, chemical, and biological agents, factors, and stressors) generated by or associated with defined sources, unit operations, and/or processes;
- describe qualitative and quantitative aspects of the generation of hazards;
- apply scientific principles, instrumentation, and methods to adequately assess exposures to hazards;
- organize and interpret exposure data using qualitative and quantitative methods in the context of physiological, epidemiological, and toxicological knowledge of the response of the human body to hazards;
- recommend and evaluate controls to reduce or eliminate hazards with regard to traditional hierarchy considerations;
- understand applicable business, managerial, and leadership practices with an emphasis on program and project management;
- communicate effectively and appropriately to advocate for continuous improvement in worker health and safety to pertinent audiences, including the workforce, management, the public, and professional peers;
- interpret and apply applicable and emerging regulations, consensus standards, and best practices affecting occupational and environmental health;
- demonstrate an understanding of the professional code of ethics; and
- understand the value of and path to attain professional certification in industrial hygiene and allied fields.
The Master of Science in occupational and environmental health requires 38–43 s.h. of graduate credit. The degree program is offered with three options—the MS in occupational and environmental health (38 s.h.) without a subprogram, the MS with an agricultural safety and health subprogram (42 s.h.), or the MS with an industrial hygiene subprogram (43 s.h.).
MS Without Subprogram
The Master of Science in occupational and environmental health without a subprogram requires a minimum of 38 s.h. and includes the following coursework. Completion of a thesis is required.
Core Courses
All core courses except OEH:5010, CPH:6100, and CPH:7270 must be taken on an A–F graded basis.
Course List
Course # |
Title |
Hours |
| |
OEH:4240 | Global Environmental Health | 3 |
OEH:5010 | Occupational and Environmental Health Seminar (taken three times, twice for 0 s.h. and once for 1 s.h.) | 1 |
OEH:5620 | Occupational Health | 3 |
BIOS:4120 | Introduction to Biostatistics | 3 |
CPH:6100 | Essentials of Public Health | 2 |
CPH:7270 | Principles of Scholarly Integrity: Public Health (taken twice, once for 0 s.h. and once for 1 s.h.) | 1 |
EPID:4400 | Epidemiology I: Principles | 3 |
| |
OEH:4310 | Occupational Ergonomics: Principles | 3 |
OEH:4510 | Injury and Violence Prevention | 3 |
OEH:5410 | Occupational Safety | 3 |
OEH:6110 | Rural Health and Agricultural Medicine | 3 |
OEH:6230 | Applied Environmental Health | 3 |
OEH:6710 | Human Toxicology and Risk Assessment | 3 |
Electives
Students complete 16 s.h. in elective coursework. This may include any occupational and environmental health (prefix OEH), biostatistics (prefix BIOS), community and behavioral health (prefix CBH), epidemiology (prefix EPID), health management and policy (prefix HMP), or college of public health (CPH) course numbered 4000 or above. Students work with an advisor to select courses appropriate for their professional goals, which may include coursework outside the College of Public Health.
Thesis
Completion and acceptance of a master’s thesis is required. Students are permitted, but not required, to enroll in OEH:7000 Thesis/Dissertation for a maximum of 6 s.h. and apply it toward the elective requirement.
MS With Agricultural Safety and Health Subprogram
The Master of Science in occupational and environmental health with an agricultural safety and health subprogram requires a minimum of 42 s.h. and includes the following coursework. Completion of a thesis is required. The program prepares students for careers in education, health care, insurance, and agribusiness as specialists in agricultural safety and health.
Core Courses, Agricultural Safety and Health Subprogram
All core courses except OEH:5010, OEH:7040, CPH:6100, and CPH:7270 must be taken on an A–F graded basis.
Course List
Course # |
Title |
Hours |
| |
BIOS:4120 | Introduction to Biostatistics | 3 |
CPH:6100 | Essentials of Public Health | 2 |
CPH:7270 | Principles of Scholarly Integrity: Public Health (taken twice, once for 0 s.h. and once for 1 s.h.) | 1 |
EPID:4400 | Epidemiology I: Principles | 3 |
OEH:4240 | Global Environmental Health | 3 |
OEH:5010 | Occupational and Environmental Health Seminar (taken three times, twice for 0 s.h. and once for 1 s.h.) | 1 |
OEH:5410 | Occupational Safety | 3 |
OEH:5620 | Occupational Health | 3 |
OEH:6110 | Rural Health and Agricultural Medicine | 3 |
OEH:6120 | Current Topics in Agriculture and Rural Health (taken three times for 1 s.h. each) | 3 |
OEH:6710 | Human Toxicology and Risk Assessment | 3 |
OEH:7040 | Preceptorship in Occupational and Environmental Health | 1 |
Electives, Agricultural Safety and Health Subprogram
Students complete 13 s.h. in elective coursework. This may include any occupational and environmental health (prefix OEH), biostatistics (prefix BIOS), community and behavioral health (prefix CBH), epidemiology (prefix EPID), health management and policy (prefix HMP), or college of public health (CPH) course numbered 4000 or above. Students work with an advisor to select courses appropriate for their professional goals, which may include coursework outside the College of Public Health.
Thesis, Agricultural Safety and Health Subprogram
Completion and acceptance of a master’s thesis is required. Students are permitted, but not required, to enroll in OEH:7000 Thesis/Dissertation for a maximum of 4 s.h. and apply it toward the elective requirement.
MS With Industrial Hygiene Subprogram
The Master of Science in occupational and environmental health with an industrial hygiene subprogram requires a minimum of 43 s.h. and includes the following coursework.
Students choose either the thesis or nonthesis option. Those who select the thesis option conduct a research project and write a thesis. Those who select the nonthesis option complete an internship. The program prepares students for careers in industrial hygiene as well as the broad field of occupational safety and health. Career opportunities are available in health and safety departments of industries; in consulting firms; in academic institutions; and in local, state, and federal public health agencies.
Core Courses, Industrial Hygiene Subprogram
All core courses except OEH:5010, CPH:6100, and CPH:7270 must be taken on an A–F graded basis.
Course List
Course # |
Title |
Hours |
| |
BIOS:4120 | Introduction to Biostatistics | 3 |
CPH:6100 | Essentials of Public Health | 2 |
CPH:7270 | Principles of Scholarly Integrity: Public Health (taken twice, once for 0 s.h. and once for 1 s.h.) | 1 |
EPID:4400 | Epidemiology I: Principles | 3 |
OEH:5010 | Occupational and Environmental Health Seminar (taken three times, twice for 0 s.h. and once for 1 s.h.) | 1 |
OEH:5620 | Occupational Health | 3 |
OEH:6420 | Methods in Exposure Science | 3 |
OEH:6440 | Control of Occupational Hazards | 3 |
OEH:6710 | Human Toxicology and Risk Assessment | 3 |
| |
OEH:4240 | Global Environmental Health | 3 |
OEH:4310 | Occupational Ergonomics: Principles | 3 |
OEH:4510 | Injury and Violence Prevention | 3 |
OEH:5410 | Occupational Safety | 3 |
OEH:6431 | Assessing Noise Hazards | 1 |
OEH:6432 | Assessing Nonionizing Radiation Hazards | 1 |
OEH:6433 | Assessing Ionizing Radiation Hazards | 1 |
OEH:6450 | Aerosol Technology | 3 |
OEH:6520 | Injury Epidemiology | 3 |
Electives, Industrial Hygiene Subprogram
Thesis (Research Option)
Students completing a thesis are required to complete 9 s.h. in elective coursework; they are permitted, but not required, to enroll in OEH:7000 Thesis/Dissertation for a maximum of 6 s.h. This may include any occupational and environmental health (prefix OEH), biostatistics (prefix BIOS), community and behavioral health (prefix CBH), epidemiology (prefix EPID), health management and policy (prefix HMP), or college of public health (CPH) course numbered 4000 or above. Students work with their advisor to select courses appropriate for their professional goals, which may include coursework outside the College of Public Health.
Nonthesis (Internship Option)
Students not completing a thesis are required to complete an internship and an internship report. Students enroll in OEH:7050 Occupational and Environmental Health Internship for 3 s.h. Students are required to complete a minimum 150-hour internship.
Students complete an additional 6 s.h. in elective coursework. This may include any occupational and environmental health (prefix OEH), biostatistics (prefix BIOS), community and behavioral health (prefix CBH), epidemiology (prefix EPID), health management and policy (prefix HMP), or college of public health (CPH) course numbered 4000 or above. Students work with an advisor to select courses appropriate for their professional goals, which may include coursework outside the College of Public Health.
Applicants must apply through the Schools of Public Health Application Service (SOPHAS); they also must apply for admission to the Graduate College through University of Iowa Admissions. For detailed application information and admission requirements, visit How to Apply to Occupational and Environmental Health on the department's website.
The occupational and environmental health faculty considers several factors when evaluating applications for admission, including grade-point averages, letters of recommendation, intent and motivation for graduate study, and research interests. Students with deficiencies in one area may be admitted if all other components of their application are very strong.
MS applicants must hold a bachelor's degree and have a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.00. Undergraduate preparation for applicants should include coursework in mathematics, biology, chemistry, and either physical sciences or engineering, depending on the applicant's chosen specialty area.
Students may enter in the fall. May 1 is the final application deadline.
The program prepares students for professional and academic careers in environmental and occupational health. Graduates will be qualified for a career in a range of private, public, and academic positions; consulting firms; state and federal occupational and environmental agencies; chemical and consumer products areas; pharmaceutical industries; and universities.
Sample Plans of Study
Sample plans represent one way to complete a program of study. Actual course selection and sequence will vary and should be discussed with an academic advisor. For additional sample plans, see MyUI.
Occupational and Environmental Health, MS
Agricultural Safety and Health Subprogram
This sample plan is currently being reviewed and will be added at a later date.
Industrial Hygiene Subprogram
This sample plan is currently being reviewed and will be added at a later date.