This is the first version of the 2025–26 General Catalog. Please check back regularly for changes. The final edition and the historical PDF will be published during the fall semester.
A PhD in occupational and environmental health (OEH) is an advanced research degree that emphasizes depth of knowledge and original research skills. The degree is designed to develop leaders in environmental and occupational health research and practice.
Students work with their faculty advisor to design a specialized curriculum of coursework and research projects in the following areas: agricultural safety and health, environmental health, environmental toxicology, ergonomics, industrial hygiene, and occupational injury prevention.
Learning Outcomes
In addition to mastering the learning outcomes for the MS in occupational and environmental health, PhD students will:
- develop a proposal for grant funding;
- use appropriate analytic methods to interpret data relevant to the field of occupational and environmental health;
- develop a plan to communicate research findings to various audiences;
- design a research study in the field of occupational and environmental health; and
- evaluate the strengths and limitations of peer-reviewed studies in the field of occupational and environmental health.
The Doctor of Philosophy program in occupational and environmental health requires 72 s.h. of graduate credit. All students must complete a dissertation.
The Doctor of Philosophy in occupational and environmental health requires the following coursework.
Required Courses
Students may use a course only once to fulfill a requirement.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| All of these: | ||
| 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 |
| OEH:7060 | Research Design in Occupational and Environmental Health | 3 |
| OEH:7070 | Interpreting Occupational and Environmental Health Research | 3 |
| BIOS:4120 | Introduction to Biostatistics | 3 |
| EPID:4400 | Epidemiology I: Principles | 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 |
| One of these: | ||
| OEH:6460 | Quantitative Exposure Assessment: Study Design and Evaluation | 1,3 |
| OEH:6520 | Injury Epidemiology | 3 |
| At least 9 s.h. from these: | ||
| OEH:6110 | Rural Health and Agricultural Medicine | 3 |
| OEH:6420 | Methods in Exposure Science | 3 |
| OEH:6431 | Assessing Noise Hazards | 1 |
| OEH:6432 | Assessing Nonionizing Radiation Hazards | 1 |
| OEH:6433 | Assessing Ionizing Radiation Hazards | 1 |
| OEH:6440 | Control of Occupational Hazards | 3 |
| OEH:6450 | Aerosol Technology | 3 |
| OEH:6460 | Quantitative Exposure Assessment: Study Design and Evaluation | 3 |
| OEH:6520 | Injury Epidemiology | 3 |
| OEH:6710 | Human Toxicology and Risk Assessment | 3 |
| OEH:6720 | Advanced Toxicology | 4 |
| BIOS:5120 | Regression Modeling and ANOVA in the Health Sciences | 3 |
| BIOS:5130 | Applied Categorical Data Analysis | 3 |
| BIOS:6310 | Introductory Longitudinal Data Analysis | 3 |
| EPID:6400 | Epidemiology II: Advanced Methods | 4 |
| STAT:6516 | Design of Experiments | 3 |
Electives
Students must earn a minimum of 18 s.h. in non-research-related courses, including classroom courses or equivalent web-based courses. Students work with their advisor to select courses appropriate for their professional goals.
Research Credit
Students earn the remaining credit for the PhD by completing any combination of the following courses or other classroom courses. All students must complete a dissertation.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| OEH:7000 | Thesis/Dissertation | arr. |
| OEH:7020 | Independent Study in Occupational and Environmental Health | arr. |
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 the How to Apply to Occupational and Environmental Health on the department's website.
The occupational and environmental health faculty takes several factors into consideration 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.
PhD applicants must hold a bachelor's degree and have a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.25. Completion of a master's program before beginning PhD study is recommended.
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 Plan 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, PhD
| Academic Career | ||
|---|---|---|
| Any Semester | Hours | |
| 72 s.h. must be graduate level coursework; up to 33 s.h. of graduate transfer credits allowed upon approval. More information is included in the General Catalog and on department website. a | ||
| Required courses listed below may be waived if already taken at the graduate level. Course waivers do not reduce the total number of s.h. required for the degree. Students should work with their advisor to select appropriate elective course(s) to replace the s.h. needed to reach 72 s.h. | ||
| Maintain at least a 3.00 cumulative GPA. | ||
| Hours | 0 | |
| First Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| OEH:4240 | Global Environmental Health | 3 |
| OEH:5620 | Occupational Health | 3 |
| OEH:5010 | Occupational and Environmental Health Seminar b | 0 |
| EPID:4400 | Epidemiology I: Principles | 3 |
| CPH:6100 | Essentials of Public Health c | 2 |
| CPH:7270 | Principles of Scholarly Integrity: Public Health d | 0 |
| Hours | 11 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIOS:4120 | Introduction to Biostatistics | 3 |
| OEH:5010 | Occupational and Environmental Health Seminar b | 0 |
| CPH:7270 | Principles of Scholarly Integrity: Public Health d | 1 |
| Required Selective course e | 3 | |
| Elective course f | 3 | |
| Elective course f | 3 | |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Any Semester | ||
| Preliminary Assessment g | ||
| Hours | 0 | |
| Fall | ||
| OEH:6460 | Quantitative Exposure Assessment: Study Design and Evaluation h | 3 |
| OEH:7070 | Interpreting Occupational and Environmental Health Research | 3 |
| Required Selective course e | 3 | |
| Elective course f | 3 | |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| OEH:5010 | Occupational and Environmental Health Seminar b | 1 |
| OEH:7060 | Research Design in Occupational and Environmental Health | 3 |
| Required Selective course e | 3 | |
| Elective course f | 3 | |
| Elective course f | 3 | |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Any Semester | ||
| Proposal Review i | ||
| Exam: Doctoral Comprehensive Exam j | ||
| Hours | 0 | |
| Fall | ||
| Elective course f | 3 | |
| OEH:7000 | Thesis/Dissertation k | 9 |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| OEH:7000 | Thesis/Dissertation k | 9 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| OEH:7000 | Thesis/Dissertation k | 1 |
| Hours | 1 | |
| Spring | ||
| OEH:7000 | Thesis/Dissertation k | 1 |
| Exam: Doctoral Final Exam l | ||
| Hours | 1 | |
| Total Hours | 72 | |
- a
- Students must complete specific requirements in the University of Iowa Graduate College after program admission. Refer to the Graduate College website and the Manual of Rules and Regulations for more information.
- b
- Complete OEH:5010 three times, twice for 0 s.h. and then once for 1 s.h.
- c
- Take during the first semester of the program; not required if student has earned an MPH degree.
- d
- Complete CPH:7270 twice, first for 0 s.h. and then for 1 s.h.
- e
- See the General Catalog for list of approved courses; work with faculty advisor to determine appropriate graduate coursework and sequence.
- f
- Students must earn a minimum of 18 s.h. in non-research-related courses, including classroom courses or equivalent web-based courses. Students work with their advisor to select courses appropriate for their professional goals.
- g
- Complete by the end of the third semester.
- h
- Or take OEH:6520 during second year spring semester.
- i
- Complete prior to semester in which the dissertation defense takes place.
- j
- Consists of a written and oral component; complete by the end of the fifth semester.
- k
- Research credits may also be earned by taking any combination of OEH:7000, OEH:7020, and additional classroom courses. Work with faculty advisor to determine appropriate coursework and sequence.
- l
- Dissertation defense.