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

NIEHS Worker Education and Training

SWCOEH Homepage

Industrial Hygiene Trainees

Spencer Chichester, BS SWCOEH Trainee	Spencer Chichester is a first-year MPH student in Industrial Hygiene at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health. A greater Houston-area native, Spencer received his B.S. in Forestry with a minor in Spatial Science from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. Spencer’s research interests include environmental toxins, pesticide persistence, and bio-safety, particularly laboratory sterilization techniques for prions. He aims to become a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) in the future.
Tatum Gillespie, BS SWCOEH Trainee	Tatum Gillespie is a second-year MPH student in Industrial Hygiene at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health. Tatum earned her B.S. in Public Health and a French minor from Texas A&M University. Her research interests include exposures from airborne particulates such as silica dust, as well as occupational safety and emergency management. She hopes to work as a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) to further support worker health and safety.
Ambereen Khan, BS SWCOEH Trainee	Ambereen Khan is a second-year MPH student at UTHealth Houston 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.
Youngjin Kim, BS SWCOEH Trainee	Youngjin Kim is a first-year MPH student at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, specializing in Industrial Hygiene. Youngjin attained his B.S. in Biomedical Sciences from Texas A&M University and is now pursuing his master's degree in Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, specializing in Industrial Hygiene. Youngjin is interested in the field of Industrial Hygiene because he values employee health and minimizing hazardous workplace conditions. Youngjin hopes to work as an Industrial Hygienist and eventually become a Certified Industrial Hygienist.
Nhu Nguyen, BA SWCOEH Trainee	Nhu Nguyen is a first-year MPH student at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, specializing in Industrial Hygiene. Nhu obtained her B.A. in Biology from the University of North Texas. After working for a few years in the healthcare and revenue cycle management industry, she decided to return to school and aspires to be a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH). Nhu is excited about this new journey.
Shafali Patel, BS SWCOEH Trainee	Shafali Patel is a second-year MPH student at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, specializing in Industrial Hygiene. 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.
Lucy Watson-Cook, BS SWCOEH Trainee	Lucy Watson-Cook is a first-year MPH student at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, focusing on environmental health and Industrial Hygiene. Lucy recently received her B.S. in Public Health from the University of Texas (UT) at Austin where she concurrently participated in the accelerated master’s program with UTHealth. In the future, she hopes to earn her Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) credential and begin working in the field.