Global Environmental Health Sciences

Master of Science in Public Health (Industrial Hygiene)

Mission/Description

The mission of the MSPH program with specialty coursework in industrial hygiene is to prepare students to: anticipate, recognize, evaluate, and manage workplace exposure to chemical, biological, and physical stressors; attain positions as industrial hygienists and occupational safety and health specialists; and qualify for professional certification by the American Board of Industrial Hygiene.  This is accomplished through a balanced mix of didactic and laboratory courses, field experiences, and directed research.

The iIndustrial hygiene program is accredited by the Applied Science Accreditation Commission of ABET (ASAC of ABET).  

Admissions Requirements

The student must meet all requirements for admission into the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. In addition:

• Candidates for admission into the industrial hygiene degree program shall hold a baccalaureate degree based on a minimum of 120 semester hours or the equivalent, that shall include 60 or more credits in undergraduate or graduate level courses in mathematics, engineering, science, and technology, with at least 15 of those at the upper (junior, senior, graduate) level. 
• Those students applying for admission in the distance learning format must also have a minimum of 3 years of professional experience in industrial hygiene or closely related field.

Program Competencies

At the completion of the MSPH degree, the student will be able to:

• Use basic scientific and engineering principles to anticipate and identify potential hazards in the workplace (GEHS 6390, GEHS 6600, GEHS 6620, GEHS 6720, GEHS 7110, GEHS 7500, Practicum)
• Apply the methods and techniques of analytical chemistry and other measurement sciences to quantify the degree of hazard of identified occupational health stressors (BIOS 6030, GEHS 6720, GEHS 7500, Practicum)
• Interpret toxicology literature and health data and incorporate these into the management of occupational health hazards (EPID 6030, GEHS 6540, GEHS 6600, GEHS 7620, Practicum)
• Apply principles of engineering in the design of appropriate controls for workplace hazards, with emphasis on general and local exhaust ventilation (GEHS 6390, GEHS 6620, GEHS 7110, Practicum)
• Select, evaluate, and manage the use of appropriate types of personal protective equipment for control of worker exposures (GEHS 6390, GEHS 6570, GEHS 6620, GEHS 6720, Practicum)
• Utilize critical thinking in the development, management, and evaluation of industrial hygiene programs (GEHS 6570, GEHS 6720, GEHS 9990, Practicum)
• Communicate to labor, management, and the community, verbally and in writing, the nature, risks, and remediation of workplace and environmental hazards (GEHS 6570, GEHS 6590, GEHS 6600, GEHS 6720, GEHS 7620, Practicum)
• Interpret and assure compliance with applicable government regulations and standards pertaining to occupational safety and health (GEHS 6390, GEHS 6540, GEHS 6570, GEHS 6590, GEHS 6620, GEHS 6720, Practicum)

Program Requirements

Course and Credit Requirements

Total of 45 credits required

# required for on-campus students only
* some courses may be offered in the distance learning format

Practicum Requirement

The practicum is designed to provide students with practice experience related to their field of study. The practicum is a minimum of 200 hours at a governmental, industrial, or commercial site or practice setting under the direction of a preceptor. A practicum report summarizes the field experiences.  The practicum requirement may be waived for those students who have had appropriate practice experience as outlined in the practicum handbook. You may download the Practicum Handbook from the Academics Policies, and Guidelines page of the School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine website.

Past examples of practicum opportunities in the Industrial Hygiene include:

• Recovery School District – New Orleans
• Motiva Refinery, Convent, LA
• NASA Michoud Assembly Facility, LA
• Elf Atochem, Mobile, AL
• CSX Railroad, Jacksonville, FL
• Arizona Chemicals, AK, FL
• Louisiana Office of Public Health, Section of Environmental
• Epidemiology and Toxicology, New Orleans

Culminating Experience Requirements

MSPH students in Environmental Health Science/Industrial Hygiene are required to prepare an applied or basic research thesis in fulfillment of the culminating experience.  The thesis must investigate an industrial hygiene or occupational health problem or issue.  Upon completion, on-campus students must present their findings during the departmental seminar in the last semester of studies. You may download the Culminating Experience Handbook from the Academics Policies and Guidelines page of the School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine website.

In addition to completing the thesis, MSPH Environmental Health Science/Industrial Hygiene students must successfully pass the program's industrial hygiene comprehensive exam.  Those students who attain the ABIH certification (CIH) prior to graduation are eligible for waiver of the program comprehensive exam.

Sample Student Schedules

Download a sample student schedule for the MSPH in Industrial Hygiene program.