Industrial Hygiene Program

Graduate Degree Curriculum

Specialization in industrial hygiene through either an M.S. or Ph.D. program is administered by the University of Iowa Graduate College as a sub-track within the College of Public Health’s Department of Occupational and Environmental Health.

Full accreditation of the master of science (M.S.) program in Industrial Hygiene was received from the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)-American Board of IH (ABIH) in 1995 and 2001.

Masters of Science curriculum
The overall goal of the industrial hygiene M.S. program is to train individuals to prevent occupational disease and injury in industry, environmental, and occupational sectors. The M.S. curriculum is designed to prepare students philosophically and technically to practice the art and science of industrial hygiene.

Ph.D. curriculum
The Ph.D. program trains individuals to conduct and supervise research or to manage advanced applied programs in academic, governmental, or private industrial hygiene settings. The overall goal of the program is to contribute to occupational disease prevention and injury prevention in industrial, environmental or agricultural sectors.

Student Interaction and Program Integration

Our students engage in a variety of classroom and other educational experiences to develop an appreciation of multi-disciplinary efforts. In the Occupational Health course, for example, students working toward degrees in industrial hygiene, occupational medicine, occupational nursing, occupational injury prevention, agricultural health, and ergonomics visit a site together and produce a comprehensive report on occupational safety and health issues at that site.

In the Occupational and Environmental Health seminar, IH students also interact with those from other program areas, doing joint presentations (research findings and literature reviews) and participating in “IH Jeopardy,” a didactic version of the popular game show that has become a yearly tradition.

Ergonomics courses involve IH, ergonomics, and nursing students. In the aerosol technology course, our IH students interact with those in chemistry, chemical and biochemical engineering, civil engineering, and pharmacy.

We also promote interactions between students and practitioners in industry, government, and private practice. Local and regional industrial hygienists have been active in providing our students with preceptorships. They also participate as guest lecturers in classes and seminars, with favorable response from our students. These relationships have not only strengthened our curriculum, but have resulted in employment opportunities.