Division of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences

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, please see the OEHS trifold, 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. Five (5) concentrations are available to a MPH candidate. The two (2) specialty tracks offered through the Division of Occupational and Environmental Heath Sciences are:


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 health 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 the 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 DrPH area of expertise offered through the Division Occupational and Environmental Heath Sciences TS:

**Perspective students for the above specialty for this degree must contact a member of the OEHS staff prior to submitting an application to the school. Contact 301-295-6983 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 specialty offered through the Occupational and Environmental Heath Sciences TS:

**Perspective students for this specialty must contact a member of the EOH staff prior to submitting an application to the school. Contact 301-295-6983 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)
- 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 Concentration 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 concentration.

 

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

The EOH specialty track is composed of a core curriculum that is quantitatively oriented and designed primarily for individuals planning careers in public health in one of the uniformed services. The uniformed services (primarily U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force) support this program by educating and manning the EOH faculty; they also send specially selected officers through the EOH specialty track as students.

The EOH specialty track curriculum provides the basis for professional certification in the practice of industrial hygiene and related fields. The entire MSPH curriculum provides opportunities for teamwork, as well as the chance to hone communication skills with presentations, group projects, and independent writing projects. 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 Applications (1)
- PMO530 Behavioral & Soc Sciences Applied to Public Health (4)
- PMO540 Environmental Health (4)
- PMO680 Intro to Public Health (1)
- PMO503 Biostatistics I (4)
- PMO511 Introduction to Epidemiology I (4)
- PMO671 Intro to the MPH Project and Practicum (1)
- PMO584 Introduction to Health Physics (3)
- PMO600 Fundamentals of Human Physiology (2)
- PMO504 Biostatistics II (4)
- PMO527 Principles of Healthcare Management (2)
- PMO550 Industrial Hygiene I & Lab (4)
- PMO631 EOH Journal Club (1)
- PMO549 Principles of Toxicology (4)
- PMO971 Doctoral Study Journal Club (1)
- PMO941 EOH Directed Research (1-15)
- PMO942 EOH Directed Rotation (3)

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

Additionaly, MSPH students are required to complete a 108-hour practicum (i.e., a well-defined, directly supervised, practical field experience at an off-site location, pre-arranged according to explicit learning objectives) and a written, orally-defended thesis project based on original research.

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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