Southwest Center for Environmental and Occupational Health

Occupational Health for Nurses Program

The practice focuses on promotion, protection, and restoration of workers' health within the context of a safe and healthy work environment.  Occupational health nursing practice is autonomous, and occupational health nurses make independent nursing judgments in providing occupational health services.

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The OHN Program at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health prepares nurses at the graduate level to function in multiple occupational health settings.  Graduates receive a Master's of Public Health (MPH) degree.

NIOSH traineeships paying tuition and monthly stipends are available to all students on a competive basis.  Requirements include acceptance into the program, maintenance of a minimum course workload, and satisfactory progress assessed in a year-end evaluation.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

The School of Public Health requires:

  • $30.00 Application fee
  • Documentation of earned prior Baccalaureate or more advanced degree from a regionally accredited Institution (The UTSPH prefers a GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale)
  • Scores from Graduate Record Examination (GRE) taken within the last five years
  • Scores from Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) taken within the last two years for applicants from countries where English is not the native language
  • Two recent and original letters of reference on official letterhead
  • Official transcripts for all course work completed
  • Written statement of career goals

In addition to the School of Public Health requirements, program applicants must have:

  • Baccalaureate degree with major in nursing from an NLN-accredited program
  • Three years work experience in nursing (occupational of public health preferred)
  • Evidence of RN license
  • Career goals compatible with program goals and objectives
  • Personal (or long distance) interview

Application deadlines:

Fall:      February 1
Spring:  August 1

CURRICULUM

The interdisciplinary curriculum is based on a public health model for practice.  The major focus is on population aggregates rather than individuals and indirect rather than direct care to clients.  Graduates are prepared to participate in a multi-disciplinary approach to planning, implementing, managing, and evaluating programs and services for worker health and safety.

Public Health Core

  • Epidemiology
  • Biometry
  • Behavioral Science
  • Management and Policy Science
  • Thesis

Occupational Health and Safety Core

  • Occupational Health
  • Industrial Hygiene
  • Occupational Safety
  • Toxicology
  • Clinical Occupational Medicine
  • Field Trips in Occupational Health

Occupational Health Nursing Core

  • Occupational Health Nursing
  • Field Experience

For more information, contact:

Amber Hogan Mitchell, MPH
Occupational Health for Nurses Program
Southwest Center for Occupational and
Environmental Health
1200 Herman Pressler, W1004
Houston, Texas 77030
Phone:  713-500-9477
Fax:  713-500-9442
Email:   Amber.C.Hogan@uth.tmc.edu

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