Industrial Hygiene (IH) is the science and art devoted to the anticipation, recognition, evaluation, prevention, and control of workplace contaminants and stressors that may cause sickness, injury, impaired health, or impaired well-being among workers or among citizens of the community.
The Plan A program is research-based, requiring original research and the development of a thesis. The curriculum is designed to prepare individuals both technically and philosophically to practice the science and art of Industrial Hygiene.
Full accreditation of the M.S. program by ABET - Applied Science Accreditation Commission was received in 1995. Additionally, the Plan A Program is a designated Qualified Academic Program by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals, requiring credits in safety coursework.
The Industrial Hygiene program strives to maintain a balance between its historical emphasis on a small number of individually trained students and the required breadth of the interdisciplinary training implicit in the profession.
Students interested in graduate work should refer to the Graduate and Professional Bulletin.
Learning Objectives
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Identify, formulate, and solve broadly defined technical or scientific problems by applying knowledge of mathematics, physics, epidemiology, chemistry, environmental and occupational health.
- Formulate and design a system, process, procedure or program to meet desired needs.
- Develop and conduct experiments and test hypotheses, analyze and interpret data and use scientific judgment to draw conclusions.
- Demonstrate effective communication skills both verbally and in writing with a range of audiences.
- Explain ethical and professional responsibilities in the field of industrial hygiene.
- Explain the impact that technical and/or scientific solutions have in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts with consideration to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Demonstrate teamwork by establishing goals, planning tasks, meeting deadlines, and analyzing risk and uncertainty.
Effective Fall 2026
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| ERHS 520 | Environmental and Occupational Health Issues | 3 |
| ERHS 526 | Industrial Hygiene | 3 |
| ERHS 527 | Industrial Hygiene Laboratory | 1 |
| ERHS 528 | Occupational Safety | 3 |
| ERHS 532 | Epidemiologic Methods | 3 |
| ERHS 536 | Advanced Occupational Health | 3 |
| ERHS 540 | Principles of Ergonomics | 3 |
| ERHS 637 | Environment, Safety, and Health Management | 3 |
| ERHS 679 | Occ Env Health Interdisciplinary Symposium 1 | 2 |
| ERHS 699 | Thesis | 3 |
| Select one group from the following: | 3 | |
Group A: | ||
| Fundamentals of Toxicology | ||
Group B: | ||
| Toxicology Principles | ||
| Occupational and Environmental Toxicology | ||
| Statistics 2 | 3 | |
| Elective Courses | 3 | |
| Choose a minimum of 3 credits from the following in consultation with your advisor: | ||
| Fundamentals of Toxicology | ||
| Toxicology Principles | ||
| Occupational and Environmental Toxicology | ||
| Radiological Physics and Dosimetry I | ||
| Ergonomics in Product and Process Design | ||
| Equipment and Instrumentation | ||
| Environmental Health Risk Assessment | ||
| Principles of Radiation Biology | ||
| Industrial Hygiene Control Methods | ||
| Occupational Noise Control | ||
| Research Seminar: Industrial Hygiene | ||
| Research Seminar: Occupational Health and Safety 3 | ||
| Research | ||
Out-of-Department Elective (see list below) | ||
| RCR | ||
| Responsible Conduct Research Training is required of all master’s students enrolled in the program | 0 | |
| Program Total Credits: | 36 | |
A minimum of 36 credits are required to complete this program.
Out-of-Department Elective Example Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CIVE 526 | Pollution, Exposure, and the Environment | 3 |
| CIVE 527 | Tools for Food-Energy-Water Systems Analysis | 3 |
| DM 575 | Human Factors in Design | 3 |
| EDAE 624 | Adult Teaching and Learning I | 3 |
| EDAE 639 | Instructional Design | 3 |
| HES 455 | Health Promotion Programming | 3 |
| JTC 670 | Communication in the Social Processes of Risk | 3 |
| MIP 540 | Fundamentals of Biosafety and Biosecurity | 2 |
| MIP 555 | Principles and Mechanisms of Disease | 3 |
| MIP 666 | Writing Scientific Manuscripts | 3 |
| MECH 577 | Aerosol Physics and Technology | 3 |
- 1
MAP ERC Trainees are required to take 4 credits.
- 2
Select three credits of statistics with approval of advisor and graduate committee.
- 3
MAP ERC Trainees are required to take ERHS 693E.
Non-Coursework Requirements
Oral Examination:
The student must sit and pass (>70%) an oral examination administered by section faculty prior to the thesis defense covering rubric areas that, in part, support the program’s ABET accreditation.
Thesis:
The student will develop an original research proposal, approved by their graduate committee. Once the proposal is approved, the student will perform the research, write the thesis, and orally defend the thesis (presentation of research findings and Q&A session) before a faculty committee.
For more information, please visit Requirements for All Graduate Degrees in the Graduate and Professional Bulletin.
Summary of Procedures for the Master's and Doctoral Degrees
NOTE: Each semester the Graduate School publishes a schedule of deadlines. Deadlines are available on the Graduate School website. Students should consult this schedule whenever they approach important steps in their careers.
Forms are available online.
| Step | Due Date |
|---|---|
| 1. Application for admission (online) | Six months before first registration |
| 2. Diagnostic examination when required | Before first registration |
| 3. Appointment of advisor | Before first registration |
| 4. Selection of graduate committee | Before the time of fourth regular semester registration |
| 5. Filing of program of study (GS Form 6) | Before the time of fourth regular semester registration |
| 6. Preliminary examination (Ph.D. and PD) | Two terms prior to final examination |
| 7. Report of preliminary examination (GS Form 16) - (Ph.D. and PD) | Within two working days after results are known |
| 8. Changes in committee (GS Form 9A) | When change is made |
| 9. Application for Graduation (GS Form 25) | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School Website |
| 9a. Reapplication for Graduation (online) | Failure to graduate requires Reapplication for Graduation (online) for the next time term for which you are applying |
| 10. Submit thesis or dissertation to committee | At least two weeks prior to the examination or at the discretion of the graduate committee |
| 11. Final examination | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School Website |
| 12. Report of final examination (GS Form 24) | Within two working days after results are known; refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School website |
| 13. Submit a signed Thesis/Dissertation Submission Form (GS Form 30) to the Graduate School and Submit the Survey of Earned Doctorates (Ph.D. only) prior to submitting the electronic thesis/dissertation | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School website. |
| 14. Submit the thesis/dissertation electronically | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School website |
| 15. Graduation | Ceremony information is available from the Graduate School website |