Industrial Hygiene

industrial-hygiene

Industrial hygiene is the science devoted to anticipating, recognizing, evaluating, and controlling environmental factors posing risk to workers and the community, which arise from the workplace. The Industrial Hygiene (IH) curriculum offered through UTHealth School of Public Health degrees of Master of Public Health (MPH) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). The industrial hygiene curriculum for the MPH is accredited by the Applied and Natural Science Accreditation Commission of ABET http://abet.org.

A high level of faculty/student interaction is emphasized and students typically gain practical experience through summer internships. The locations of the Public Health Region VI - Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas - offer a wealth of opportunities for training in industrial settings, healthcare, petroleum and petrochemicals, agriculture, and public and private business and government sectors.

Industrial hygiene is a discipline within occupational health and safety (OHS), which is a professionally exciting and rewarding field of public health that includes all other aspects of public health such as epidemiology, health promotion, management, global health and wellness, and other disciplines. Being an OHS practitioner helps to save lives of working people and promotes a grounded quality of life for their families and communities.

Curriculum

The interdisciplinary curriculum is based on a public health model for practice. Graduates are prepared to participate in a multi-disciplinary approach to planning, implementing, managing, and evaluating programs and services for worker health and safety.

The curriculum includes industrial hygiene technical and public health cores, as well as electives offered within the UTHealth School of Public Health.

Learn more, IH Program Outcomes and Objectives and Enrollment Information

Fall 2022 to Summer 2023 MPH EOHS Degree Planner

Stipends, Tuition Support, and Benefits

The Southwest Center for Occupational and Environmental Health at the UTHealth School of Public Health is one of 18 CDC/NIOSH Education and Research Centers in the United States, supported by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The SWCOEH is comprised of academic degree programs in occupational medicine, industrial hygiene, occupational epidemiology, and total worker health. The SWCOEH also supports active continuing education, outreach and pilot project research training programs.

Traineeships are available (full tuition and fees support and a monthly stipend) are available to full-time students on a competitive basis as part of the SWCOEH (trainees must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents). Requirements for the traineeships include acceptance into the Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences academic program, maintenance of a minimum course workload, and satisfactory academic progress.

How to Apply

How to apply for the programs, admission requirements and application deadlines can be found online.

Students should apply for the appropriate degree within the Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences.

For More Information

Wei-Chung Su, PhD
Assistant Professor and Interim Program Director
Southwest Center for Occupational and Environmental Health
UTHealth School of Public Health
1200 Pressler, W634
Houston, TX 77030
Phone: 713.500.9251
Email: Wei-chung.Su@uth.tmc.edu

Meet our team here

SWCOEH Homepage

Industrial Hygiene Trainees

Casey C. Bozenski, BS IH Student	Casey C. Bozenski is a second-year Master of Public Health student at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Public Health. He acquired his Bachelor of Science in Toxicology from University of Louisiana at Monroe. Mr. Bozenski previously worked in a Lab that dealt with a wide swathe of the Public Health spectrum and currently works for the Medical Services Corp of the United States Navy - being one of three selected nationally for the Health Services Collegiate Program. His interest currently includes environmental preservation for sustainability and intergenerational equity.
Shelley Forse, BA SWCOEH Trainee	Shelley Forse is a second-year trainee in The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Public Health, Industrial Hygiene program. She earned her Bachelor of Art degree in Biology at Texas A&M University. A Houston native, she has always had a deep interest in the industries along the gulf coast and innovations developed for worker safety.
Ambereen Khan, BS SWCOEH Trainee	Ambereen Khan is a first year MPH student at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Public Health, specializing in Industrial Hygiene. Ambereen earned her B.S. in Biology from the University of Houston. Her research interests include exposures from airborne particulates and other physical, chemical, and biological agents. She hopes to work as a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH). As a former science teacher, Ambereen is excited to communicate with workers and the public about worker safety.
Steven Mills, BS SWCOEH Trainee	Steven Mills is a second-year masters student enrolled in the MPH program of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences specializing in Industrial Hygiene at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Public Health. In 2020, Steven won the Association of Environmental Health Academic Programs (AEHAP) National Student Research Competition, being one of three undergraduate student winners selected. Earning his undergraduate degree in Environmental Health Science, Steven attended Eastern Kentucky University, where he was a member of various organizations. Steven is interested in a variety of subjects; however, his primary research interest involves occupational exposures to airborne particulates, noise, radiation, mold, and workplace safety. Upon graduation Steven plans to become a Certified Industrial Hygienist, Registered Sanitarian, and pursue a career in the aerospace industry.
Shafali Patel, BS SWCOEH Trainee	Shafali Patel is a second-year Master of Public Health student at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Public Health. Born in India, Shafali studied dentistry as an undergraduate in India. Shafali is interested in the Industrial Hygiene field because it helps improve the environment. Her goal is to be a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) in the future.
Catherine Turlington, BS SWCOEH Trainee	Catherine Turlington is a second-year NIOSH Trainee, working towards her MPH at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UT Health) School of Public Health. Catherine completed her bachelor’s degree at Texas A&M University with a major in Public Health and minors in Occupational Health & Safety and Bioenvironmental Sciences. Her research interests include water and air quality and exposures to biological agents. After graduation, she hopes to work as an Environmental, Health, and Safety professional in the healthcare industry.