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PhD Program in Agricultural Safety and Health

The PhD subtrack in Agricultural Safety and Health offers specialized training at the doctoral level to prepare individuals for academic, research and policy-making careers in occupational and environmental health with a specialty in agricultural safety and health. This program creates the next generation of specialists and leaders in this growing field.

This program prepares graduate level students in professional and academic careers in environmental and occupational health. Graduates will be able to assume responsibility for the development and basic administration of environmental and occupational health programs, and will qualify for beginning faculty positions in academic environmental health departments.

Prerequisites

A baccalaureate degree is required. Although enrollment directly into the PhD program is possible, completion of the MS program is recommended as a first step toward the PhD degree.

Undergraduate preparation must have included at least two semesters of chemistry, one semester of physics, and one semester of calculus. Course work in biological science, microbiology and computer programming is recommended, particularly for students interested in some specialized areas.

Undergraduate preparation should include previous course work in mathematics, biological, chemical and either physical sciences or engineering (prerequisites depend on requirements of the chosen specialty area).


Required Courses

All of the following:

175:209 Rural Health and Agricultural Medicine 3 s.h.
175:196 Agricultural Safety: Theories and Practices 2 s.h.
175:210 Current Topics in Agricultural Health (Seminar) 1 s.h.*
175:203 Preceptorship in Occupational and Environmental Health 3 s.h.**
173:157 Zoonotic Diseases 2 s.h.
175:xxx Advanced Agricultural Safety and Health (proposed course) 2 s.h.
175:197 Environmental Health 3 s.h.
175:230 Occupational Health 3 s.h.
175:180 Occupational and Environmental Health Seminar 1 s.h.*
171:162 Design and Analysis of Biomedical Studies 3 s.h.
171:161 Introduction to Biostatistics 3 s.h.
173:140 Epidemiology I: Principles 3 s.h.
050:270 Responsible Conduct in Research 0 s.h.

* Enroll three times: twice for 0 s.h. and once for 1 s.h.
** May be waived with advisor approval if the student’s prior experience or research provides contact with agricultural working environments

One of the following:

096:114 Human Pathophysiology: Organ Systems 3 s.h
096:115 Human Pathophysiology: Cellular/Neurology/Immunology 3 s.h.

Electives

Must include all courses from one of the following focus areas:

Industrial Hygiene Focus Area

175:231 Industrial Hygiene Fundamentals 3 s.h.
175:232 Assessing Physical Agent Hazards 3 s.h.
175:233 Control of Occupational Hazards 3 s.h.
175:221 Aerosol Technology 3 s.h.
175:220 Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology 3 s.h.
175:192 Occupational Safety 3 s.h.
175:190 Occupational Ergonomics 3 s.h.
175:260 Environmental Toxicology 3 s.h.
    24 s.h.

Ergonomics Focus Area

175:190 Occupational Ergonomics I: Principles and Methods 3 s.h.
056:144 Human Factors and Ergonomics I 3 s.h.
175:295 Clinical Ergonomics 3 s.h.
175:294 Occupational Ergonomics II 3 s.h.
051:152 Ergonomics of Occupational Injuries 3 s.h.
    15 s.h.

Occupational Epidemiology Focus Area

173:160 Introduction to Epidemiology Data Analysis with the Computer 2 s.h.
175:185 Occupational Health Research Seminar 2 s.h.
173:240 Epidemiology II: Advanced Methods 4 s.h.
173:241 Epidemiology II: Advanced Methods Lab 2 s.h.
175:220 Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology 3 s.h.
    13 s.h.

Occupational Injury Prevention Focus Area

175:170 Injury and Violence Prevention 3 s.h.
175:251 Injury Epidemiology 3 s.h.
175:253 Epidemiology of Occupational Injuries 3 s.h.
173:160 Introduction to Epidemiology Data Analysis with the Computer 2 s.h.
    11 s.h.

Occupational and Environmental Health Focus Area

This focus area is open for students who already have a focus of skill and knowledge by virtue of prior experience that may not fit in focus area 1-4 above. Students and advisors should select courses most appropriate to the individual student's professional experience and goals. A minimum of 24 additional credit hours (in addition to those above) must be acquired from attendance in non-research-related courses. These would include any courses offered in a classroom setting or the equivalent web-based course.     24 s.h.

Research Credits

The remaining credits needed to achieve the 72 required for this degree may be acquired by any combination of the research-related courses given below or other class-based courses.

175:300 Thesis/Dissertation
175:201 Research in Occupational and Environmental Health
175:172 Independent Study in Occupational and Environmental Health

Total Semester Hours Required for PhD Degree (Minimum)

Industrial Hygiene Focus                                            tracking form for student use

Required Courses 32 s.h.
Focus Area Electives 24 s.h.
Research or Elective Credits 16 s.h.
Total semester hours required for PhD degree 72 s.h.

Ergonomics Focus                                                      tracking form for student use

Required Courses 32 s.h.
Focus Area Electives 15 s.h.
Research or Elective Credits 25 s.h.
Total semester hours required for PhD degree 72 s.h.

Occupational Epidemiology Focus                           tracking form for student use

Required Courses 32 s.h.
Focus Area Electives 13 s.h.
Research or Elective Credits 27 s.h.
Total semester hours required for PhD degree 72 s.h.

Occupational Injury Prevention Focus                   tracking form for student use

Required Courses 32 s.h.
Focus Area Electives 12 s.h.
Research or Elective Credits 28 s.h.
Total semester hours required for PhD degree 72 s.h.

Occupational & Environmental Health Focus        tracking form for student use

Required Courses 32 s.h.
Focus Area Electives 24 s.h.
Research or Elective Credits 16 s.h.
Total semester hours required for PhD degree 72 s.h.

Total Semester Hours Required for PhD Degree (Minimum) 72 s.h.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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