Division of Occupational and Environmental Health Science

Degree Programs

The division of Environmental and Occupational Health offers the following academic programs at the master's and doctoral levels. For a more detailed description of the programs, see the PMB Graduate Student Handbook. For additional information contact 301-319-6988 or email oehs@usuhs.mil.


Master of Public Health (MPH)

The MPH degree program is a 1 year rigorous, quantitatively oriented curriculum which provides a broad didactic experience in preventive medicine and its principal subspecialties, and is primarily designed for individuals planning careers in Preventive Medicine and Community Health within the Uniformed Services. The core courses for a MPH degree can be found in the PMB information handbook and include biostatistics, environmental and occupational health, epidemiology, health services administration, and social and behavioral sciences. A MPH candidate will also need to complete a Practicum and an independent project. Nine (9) specialty tracks are available to a MPH candidate. The three (3) specialty tracks offered through the Division of Occupational and Environmental Heath Sciences include:


Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH)

The MSPH degree program is a two-year program requiring at least 60 credit hours of coursework, completion of a practicum, and successful completion and defense of a thesis, based on the students original research. The core courses for an MSPH include biostatistics, environmental health, epidemiology, health services administration, and social and behavioral sciences. Three (3) specialty tracks within the MSPH degree are available. Students are expected to select one of them. The two (2) specialty tracks offered through the Division of Occupational and Environmental Heath Sciences include:


Doctor of Public Health

The DrPH degree program is typically a three-year advance degree that is designed to provide rigorous, advanced training for graduate students who plan to assume leadership roles in research, teaching, or the policy. The objective of the degree is to produce scholarly health professionals who are knowledgeable in the diverse competencies relevant to public health. The core courses for DrPH degree can be found in the PMB information handbook and include biostatistics, environmental and occupational health, epidemiology, health services administration, and social and behavioral sciences. In addition, a DrPH candidate will be required to complete required advanced electives, a minimum of one (1) teaching assignment per year, completion of an oral and written qualifying examination and successful completion and defense of a dissertation. The specialty track offered through the Division Occupational and Environmental Heath Sciences include:

**Perspective students for the above specialty for this degree must contact a member of the EOH staff prior to submitting an application to the school. Contact 301-319-6988 or email oehs@usuhs.mil.


Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Health Sciences

The PhD degree program is typically a three-year advance degree that offers extensive classroom and research experience in selected subspecialties concerned with the health effects of biological, chemical, physical, and radiological hazards encountered in air, soil and water. The objective is to teach the ability to critically assess and solve complex problems as they relate to exposure assessment. The core courses for a PhD candidate can be found in the PMB Information Handbook. The specialties offered through the Occupational and Environmental Heath Sciences include:

**Perspective students for either of these two specialties must contact a member of the EOH staff prior to submitting an application to the school. Contact 301-319-6988 or email oehs@usuhs.mil.


Master of Public Health (MPH) - Aerospace Physiology

General requirements for the completion of the MPH degree can be found in the PMB Information Handbook. Specific requirements for the Aerospace Physiology concentration are listed below.

The specialty track in Aerospace Physiology supplements the general MPH degree by providing students with the fundamental concepts and principles of the physiological aspects associated with aviation including a foundation in human factors, exercise physiology, flight/mission enhancement technologies, and mishap investigation. Upon completion of the core courses in this discipline, students will be able to identify, measure, and analyze aeromedical factors affecting pilot/aircrew performance and health. This specialty track will also help prepare the student for eligibility to take the Aerospace Physiology Certification exam administered by the Aerospace Physiology Society of the Aerospace Medical Association.

Courses required to complete this specialty track (15 credits)
- PMO841 Aerospace Operational Physiology I (3)
- PMO842 Aerospace Operational Physiology II (3)
- PMO845 Human Factors in Aviation (3)
- PMO846 Exercise Physiology (3)
- PMO848 Special Topics in Aerospace Physiology (3)

Suggested Electives
- PMO847 Aerospace Performance and Health (3)
- PMO849 Aerospace Medicine in the Modern Age (3)
- PMO548 Joint Medical Operations and Humanitarian Assistance (3)
- PMO606 Non-Ionizing radiation (3)
- PMO599 Introduction to Risk Communication (2)

A total of five (5) core courses and at least one (1) prior approved elective course are required to fulfill this specialty track. PMO599 is very strongly recommended as one of those electives.


Master of Public Health (MPH) - Environmental and Occupational Health

General requirements for the completion of the MPH degree can be found in the PMB Information Handbook. This section highlights the requirements for the EOH concentration.

This concentration provides students with the fundamental concepts and principles of environmental and occupational health, including a foundation in epidemiology and biostatistics, toxicology, industrial hygiene, and a survey of occupational/environmental diseases.

Upon completion of the core course in this discipline, students will be able
to identify, measure, and analyze environmental and occupational factors affecting health; describe the factors that may impact health in the community, home, and workplace; effectively communicate risk; and explain the standards and controls necessary to mitigate these factors.

Additional courses required for the Specialty track in Environmental and Occupational Health (8 credits)
- PMO549 Principles of Toxicology (4)
- PMO550 Industrial Hygiene I and Laboratory (4)

Suggested Electives
- PMO601 Environmental Health Risk Assessment (2)
- PMO519 Occupational & Environmental Epidemiology (2)
- PMO630 Environmental Health Policy (3)

A total of two (2) core courses and five (5) approved electives, in addition to the general requirements for the MPH degree, are required to fulfill this specialty track.

 

Master of Public Health (MPH) - Operational Ergonomics

General requirements for the completion of the MPH degree can be found in the PMB Information Handbook. This section highlights the requirements for the EOH concentration.

This concentration focuses on public health concerns raised by workplace injuries and their associated costs. Students will acquire additional knowledge and skills in technical human factors engineering and occupational ergonomics to have competency in the assessment, prevention, control, and management of work-related musculoskeletal disorders, disease non-battle injuries and garrison, field and training injuries in military and civilian settings. This area of concentration is the first part of a two-year training program, which is followed by a year long practicum phase conducted by the U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine.

Additional courses required for the specialty track in Operational Ergonomics (13 credits)
- PMO651 Human Factors Engineering (3)
- PMO652 Occupational Ergonomics (3)
- PMO653 Work analysis Methods (3)
- PMO654 Safety Engineering (3)
- PMO655 Current Injury Prevention and Initiatives (1)

A total of two (5) core courses, in addition to the general requirements for the MPH degree, are required to fulfill this specialty track.

 

Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH) - Environmental and Occupational Health


The EOH Specialty Track is guided by a Joint Steering Committee whose membership includes related specialty leaders from Air Force, Army and Navy Service branches. The EOH specialty track will cover industrial hygiene, environmental chemistry, health physics, environmental health risk assessment, analytical instrumentation, environmental surveillance, and toxicology

Upon completion of the MSPH program, students will be able to demonstrate in-depth knowledge and understanding of the science and practice of public health as it pertains to environmental and occupational health and the other core disciplines of public health.

Coursework Requirements
Non-Research -Year One
- PMO505 Microcomputer Fundamentals (1)
- PMO530 Behavioral & Soc Sciences Applied to PH (2)
- PMO540 Environmental Health (4)
- PMO680 Intro to Public Health (1)
- PMO503 Biostatistics I (4)
- PMO511 Introduction to Epidemiology I (4)
- PMO590 Introduction to the U.S. Health Care Industry (2)

Add for EOH Specialty Track
- PMO584 Introduction to Health Physics (3)
- PMO671 Intro to MPH Project and Practicum (1)
- PMO600 Fundamentals of Human Physiology (2)
- PMO549 Principles of Toxicology (4)
- PMO550 Industrial Hygiene I & Lab (4)
- PMO607 Environmental Chemistry (3)
- PMO601 Environmental Health Risk Assessment (2)
- PMO631 EOH Journal Club (1)
- PMO549 Principles of Toxicology (4)
- PMO605 Analytical Instr Meth in Envir Health (3)
- PMO555 Industrial Ventilation (4)
- PMO552 Industrial Hygiene 2 (CBRNE Detection) (4)
- PMO971 Doctoral Student Journal Club (1)
- PMO942 EOH Directed Rotation

Research -Year Two (60 credits)
- PMO941 EOH Directed Research (1-15)
- PMO941 EOH Directed Research (1-15)
- PMO941 EOH Directed Research (1-15)
- PMO941 EOH Directed Research (1-15)

A written, orally-defended thesis is also required for the MSPH degree in Environmental and Occupational Health


Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH) - Health Physics

MSPH (Health Physics Track) Degree Requirements

The Health Physics Specialty Track is an interdepartmental effort with the Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences and the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute (AFRRI). Students will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to function as a Health Physicist. Studies include ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, radiation dosimetry, biological effects of radiation, radiation instrumentation, industrial hygiene, ventilation, toxicolgy, environmental or occupational regulatory issues, laboratory analytical methodologies, and principles of medical physics. Upon completion of this curriculum, the student will be eligible to take the American Board of Health Physics examination.

Degree requirements for the MPH and MSPH Programs are found in the PMB Information Handbook.

Please contact the Admissions Office at USUHS for further information.

Required Courses for Health Physics Track
- PMO 549 Toxicology (3)
- PMO 550 Industrial Hygiene I (3)
- PMO 584 Introduction to Health Physics (3)
- PMO 581 Radiation Dosimetry (3)
- PMO 588 Instrumentation of Ionizing Radiation (3)
- PMO 582 Radiation Biology (3)
- PMO 589 Introduction to Medical Physics (3)
- PMO 587 Nuclear Reactors, Criticality, and Shielding (3)
- PMO 606 Non-ionizing Radiation (3)
- PMO 585 Environmental Health Physics (3)
- PMO 941 Thesis Research (60)
- PMO 942 Directed Rotation (3)

Recommended Electives
- PMO 635 Military Radiological Operations: Peacetime (1)
- PMO 636 Military Radiological Operations: Conflict (1)
- PMO 635 Military Radiological Operations: Homeland Defense (1)

Contacts

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics
4301 Jones Bridge Road
Bethesda, MD 20814

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