Industrial Hygiene
Industrial hygiene is the science devoted to anticipating, recognizing, evaluating, and controlling .jpg)
environmental factors posing risk to workers and the community, which arise from the workplace. The Industrial Hygiene (IH) curriculum offered through the School of Public Health offers the Master of Public Health (MPH), the Master of Science (MS), the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), and the Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) degrees. The industrial hygeine curriculum for the MS and MPH is accredited by the Related Accreditation Council of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).
A high level of faculty/student interaction is emphasized and students typically gain practical experience through summer internships. The Houston location offers a wealth of opportunities for training in industrial settings, including both of Houston's largest industrial sectors, healthcare, petroleum and petrochemicals. A limited number of traineeships (including tuition and stipend) are available on a competitive basis.
Industrial Hygiene and Air Environment Concentration
Contents
Description
Industrial hygiene, also called occupational hygiene, focuses on the anticipation, recognition, evaluation, and control of workplace factors that may impact the health of workers, or members of the community. The air environment, both indoors and in the community, shares a closely related scientific base. The University of Texas School of Public Health has maintained a curriculum in Industrial Hygiene and Air Environment (IHAE) for over twenty-five years, with emphases in qualitative, statistical, and analytical aspects of exposure assessment. The IHAE curriculum is supported by a diverse faculty and provides students with the background and training necessary for the practice of industrial hygiene. The IHAE curriculum is part of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Education and Research Center (NIOSH ERC) and the masters degree curriculum is accredited by the Applied Science Accreditation Commission (ASAC) of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). For full-time students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, a limited number of merit-based traineeships are available through the NIOSH ERC, The Southwest Center for Occupational and Environmental Health.
Degrees Offered
Studies in Industrial Hygiene and Air Environment may be pursued at the masters level through either the Masters of Science in Public Health (MS) or Master of Public Health (MPH) degrees, or, at the doctoral level, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) degrees. These curricula are available through the Division of Environmental and Occupational Health (DEOH).
MS or MPH Degree Programs
Admission Requirements
In addition to satisfying the admission requirements for the DEOH, applicants interested in pursuing the concentration in Industrial Hygiene and Air Environment must also satisfy requirements for admission established by ABET. These additional requirements include:
“Admitted students must hold an earned baccalaureate that prepares them to apply the basic principles of college-level mathematics, inorganic and organic chemistry, physics, and biology. Exceptions may be admitted with an individually documented plan of study to compensate for any deficiencies.” (ABET, ASAC, Criteria for Accrediting Applied Science Programs, Effective for Evaluations During the 2004-2005 Accreditation Cycle, p.9)
This is interpreted by IHAE the curriculum faculty to mean a Baccalaureate or higher degree with at least 120 semester credit hours, including at least 60 semester credit hours of science, math, engineering, or technology, at least 15 hours of which are at the upper level, and an appropriate amount of credit for the specific bachelor’s degree program in communications, humanities, and social sciences. Specific prerequisites are one semester of calculus, two semesters of chemistry including organic chemistry (four semesters incl. two semesters of organic chemistry highly recommended), two semesters biology, preparation in introductory physics equivalent to one semester of college physics. (preferably two semesters of physics). Variance in these requirements may be considered with substantial justification, on a case-by-case basis.
Learning Objectives
The learning objectives for the IHAE curriculum are described using Educational Outcomes (the performance objectives upon graduation) and Educational Objectives (the general performance objectives of graduates within a few years after graduation). This terminology is utilized by ABET, through which the IHAE curriculum, via either the MS or MPH degree, is accredited.
Educational Outcomes
Upon satisfactory completion of the masters program, graduates should be able to:
Anticipate and recognize agents, factors, and stressors generated by and/or associated with defined sources, unit operations, processes, and work tasks;
Describe qualitative and quantitative aspects of generation of agents, factors, and stressors;
Understand the physiologic and toxicologic interactions of physical, chemical, and biological, agents, as well as ergonomic factors, with biological systems and the potential effects of occupational and environmental contaminants on the human body;
Evaluate qualitative and quantitative aspects of exposure assessment, dose-response, and risk characterization
Properly interpret results from epidemiologic and toxicologic studies for the evaluation of health risks associated with occupational and environmental exposures
Evaluate and recommend engineering, administrative, and personal protective equipment controls or other interventions to reduce or eliminate hazards;
Recognize important ethical, social and cultural issues impacting worker health;
Understand applicable business and managerial practices;
Interpret and apply applicable occupational and environmental regulations;
Participate in the development and implementation of applicable industrial hygiene- and occupational health-related programs
Review and interpret occupational hygiene data; calculate appropriate statistics, where needed;
Prepare scientific and technical summaries and reports, and effectively communicate this information orally, and in writing
Propose and conduct a research or other type of project approved by the School of Public Health and the student’s committee resulting in a masters thesis or project report that demonstrates both mastery of the subject matter and a high level of communication skills;
Understand fundamental aspects of safety and environmental health;
Understand the necessity of teamwork among workers, management, industrial hygienists, safety specialists, environmental specialists, engineers, and occupational health physicians and nurses; and,
Attain recognized professional certification after an applicable period of professional practice.
Educational Objectives
To produce graduates who will, within a few years of graduation:
- Demonstrate a high level of technical and scientific competence in the application of fundamental principles and the practice of industrial hygiene addressing the health of workers and the community;
- Address occupational health issues in business, government, education/research, or other work environments;
- Communicate and interact effectively with technical and non-technical audiences;
- Integrate ethical and social issues and responsibilities in industrial hygiene practice;
- Work individually or on a team to critically analyze and address complex problems in occupational health; and,
- Recognize that the practice of industrial hygiene requires ongoing learning, and undertake appropriate activities to address this need.
Required and Elective Courses for Masters Students in the IHAE Curriculum (for students entering during the 2004-2005 academic year)
Course No. Course Title Semester Offered Cred
Core Courses in Industrial Hygiene and Air Environment
PH 6615 IH I: Fundamentals of Industrial Hygiene Fall 4
PH 6620 IH II: Occupational Health Controls Spring 3
PH 2150 Air Environment Fall 3
PH 2155 Environmental Sampling and Analysis Spring 4
PH 2175 Toxicology I: Principles of Toxicology Fall 5
PH 2498 Special Topics: Physical Agents Spring 3
PH 6998 Occupational Health Field Trips Spring 2
PH 2498 Environmental Sciences Seminar Spring 1
PH 9998 Thesis Research Fall, Spring, Summer Variable
Core Courses in Related Areas
PH 1725 Intermediate Biometric Methods I Fall, Spring 4
PH 1726 Intermediate Biometric Methods II Spring, Summer 4
PH 2610 Introduction to Epidemiology Fall, Spring 3
PH 3660 Health and Safety Program Management, Spring 3
or equivalent
PH 1230 Behavioral Aspects of Occupational and Fall 3
Environmental Health, or equivalent
PH 9997 Practicum in Public Health Fall, Spring, Summer 3-9
(e.g., internship or other approved activity)
Elective Advanced or Cognate Courses* (minimum nine semester credit hours)
PH 2170 Methods for Exposure Assessment Fall 4
PH 2610 Introduction to Epidemiology Lab Fall, Spring 1
PH 6610 Occupational and Environmental Health Spring 4
Occupational Ergonomics Spring
(taught at Univ.of Houston)
PH 6998 Fundamentals of Occupational Safety Fall (alternate years) 3
PH 2998 Occupational Epidemiology varies 2
PH 6998 Seminar in Workplace Safety Fall 1
*Other electives relevant to a student's interests may be taken as additional hours or, by permission of the industrial hygiene faculty, may be counted in the minimum of nine elective credit hours required.
Typical Full-Time Program for Masters Students in the IHAE Curriculum
First Year
Fall Semester
PH 6615 IH I: Fundamentals of Industrial Hygiene (4 credit hours)
PH 2175 Toxicology I: Principles of Toxicology (5)
PH 1725 Intermediate Biometric Methods I (4)
PH 2610 Introduction to Epidemiology (3)
PH 2610 Introduction to Epidemiology Lab (1)
Spring Semester
PH 6620 IH II: Occupational Health and Safety Evaluation and Control (3)
PH 2155 Environmental Sampling and Analysis (4)
PH 1726 Intermediate Biometric Methods II (4)
PH 6998 Occupational Health Field Trips (2)
PH 2498 Environmental Sciences Seminar (1)
Summer Semester
PH 9997 Practicum in Public Health (3-9) (e.g., internship or other approved activity)
Second Year
Fall Semester
PH 2150 Air Environment (3)
PH 6998 Fundamentals of Occupational Safety (3) or
PH 2170 Methods for Exposure Assessment (4)
PH 6998 Seminar in Workplace Safety (1)
PH 1230 Behavioral Aspects of Occupational and Environmental Health (3)
PH 9998 Thesis Research
Spring Semester
PH 9998 Thesis Research (3)
PH 3660 Health and Safety Program Management (3)
PH 2498 Special Topics: Physical Agents (3)
Electives in IH curriculum (4-5)
Summer Semester
PH 9998* Thesis Research (3-12)
*Additional credit hours in subsequent semesters may be taken, as needed
Doctoral Degree Program
Course of Study
A doctoral program is pursued after prior completion of a relevant master’s degree and is customized based on the student’s research and professional interests. It will consist of courses (not previously taken in a master’s program) in the student’s major area and coursework in two minor fields (PhD) or in breadth in public health (DrPH) (see the general descriptions of the PhD or DrPH degrees in the current UTSPH catalog, p. 50-52, for additional information).
Learning Objectives
Upon satisfactory completion of the PhD or DrPH degree program, graduates should be able to:
1. Identify significant gaps in the literature that relates to an occupational health problem and develop a research proposal that shows promise for furthering our understanding of the problem;
2. Conduct original research that advances our knowledge of occupational health;
3. Apply appropriate laboratory-based, field-based, and statistical methodologies in carrying out a research project, generating data, and interpreting results, or develop new methodologies for addressing an occupational health problem; and,
4. Demonstrate oral and written skills through the preparation of manuscripts for submission to peer-reviewed journals, presentations at scientific meetings, and effective communication of scientific studies and research findings to non-technical audiences.
Core Faculty
The core faculty in environmental and occupational health supporting the IHAE curriculum are the following:
Robert Emery, DrPH, CIH, CSP, CHP
Maria Morandi, PhD, CIH
Jimmy Perkins, PhD, CIH (San Antonio Regional Campus)
Thomas Stock, PhD, CIH
Elaine Symanski, PhD
Martha Soledad Vela Acosta, MD, MS, PhD, (Brownsville Regional Campus)
Lawrence Whitehead, PhD, CIH
Contact the Program for Additional Information
Lawrence W. Whitehead, PhD, CIH
Associate Professor
Director, Industrial Hygiene
Southwest Center for Occupational and
Environmental Health
P. O. Box 20186, RAS W-1016
Houston, Texas 77225-0186
Phone: 713-500-9458
Fax: 713-500-9442
Email: Lawrence.Whitehead@uth.tmc.edu
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