Number of credit hours: 42

Average time to degree: Two years.

Prerequisites:

• Minimum cumulative grade-point average: 3.0
• A bachelor’s degree is required. Our students come from a variety of undergraduate majors, but your undergraduate preparation should include previous coursework in mathematics, biology, chemistry, and either physics or engineering.

Funding opportunities: Many of our students in this degree program receive financial support. Financial support may be in the form of tuition payment and/or a monthly stipend.

Thesis: You will be required to complete a research project and thesis.

When and how to apply: The application deadline is May 1. You should apply as soon as possible to secure your position and funding. Learn more about how to apply to the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health.

How and where courses are delivered: All courses are delivered in person at our Iowa City campus, with most taking place in the College of Public Health building.

Full-time or part-time study options: Most students study full-time, but it’s possible to study part-time.

All of our students in this degree program receive financial support—100% tuition paid and a monthly stipend.

This funding, which is only available to U.S. citizens, is provided by the Heartland Center for Occupational Health & Safety through a grant from NIOSH.

Semester 1, Fall

Semester 2, Spring

Semester 3, Fall

Semester 4, Spring

Required Courses

All of the following:

Elective Credits

Students should complete at least 9 s.h. of electives; it is recommended that students select elective courses from the list below and work with their advisor to identify appropriate areas of emphasis (e.g. industrial hygiene, injury prevention, environmental health, or communication).

Recommended Elective Courses

(this is a partial list of OEH courses, any OEH course can fulfill an elective requirement)

Approved Elective Courses in other departments

(additional courses may be considered with your advisor’s approval)

Thesis

Completion and acceptance of a master’s thesis is required. A maximum of 4 semester hours will be allowed for thesis credit hours.

Total Semester Hours Required for MS Degree (Minimum): 42 s.h.

The Agricultural Safety and Health MS program will provide graduate students with knowledge about the industry of agriculture and the related occupational and environmental exposures and risks. Students will gain the necessary skills for anticipation, diagnosis, exposure assessment, treatment and prevention of agricultural illnesses and injuries. Graduates of the program will be prepared for positions in education, health care, insurance and agribusinesses as agricultural safety and health specialists.

Students must complete the required courses and all of the courses from one of the focus areas below.

Graduates of the MS in Agricultural Safety & Health will be able to:

• Describe basic concepts and theories of agricultural safety and health.
• Comprehend epidemiological principles that can be used to determine health outcomes associated with exposure to occupational hazards.
• Apply biostatistical methods for interpreting the significance of occupationally derived data relative to an exposure or health outcome.
• Explain appropriate research design, methodological, and analytical approaches in relation to the field of agricultural safety and health science.
• Demonstrate the ability to critically analyze agricultural safety and health intervention programs.
• Design and implement a research project relevant to the peer-reviewed literature in agricultural safety and health.
• Interpret and communicate orally and in writing the results and conclusions of a research project.