Graduate Programs

Overview

The Master of Science in Occupational Health (MSOH) at The University of Toledo will train you to protect the health of workers. Specifically, you will be prepared to anticipate, recognize, evaluate, prevent and control workers' exposures to factors and agents that can cause harm. 

• Many UToledo students receive financial support for tuition.
• Students have access to internship opportunities in manufacturing, the petroleum industry, and healthcare to gain real-world experience; some are paid.
• Full (1.5 years) or part-time (3 years) options. 
• Program is accredited by the Applied Natural Sciences Accreditation Commission of ABET.
• Administered by the Department of Population Health within the College of Health and Human Services.

Top Reasons to Study occupational health industrial hygiene at UToledo

1. Nationally recognized program.

   UToledo's master's degree program is recognized as a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/NIOSH training program. Funding is available to US citizens through this grant from NIOSH.
2. Learn by doing.

   Students receive comprehensive, hands-on training in the lab and field.
3. Community partnerships.

   The program has relationships with businesses and organizations which offer networking and internship opportunities. 
4. High earning potential.

   The median annual salary for someone with less than five years in the profession is $77,000 (source: 2019 American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) survey).
5. Flexible scheduling.

   The program works for employed professionals with evening and hybrid classes.
6. Prep for certification exams.

   Graduates are well prepared for the Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) and Certified Safety Professional (CSP) certification exams.

Faculty in UToledo’s Occupational Health-Industrial Hygiene master’s program perform research related to exposure and risk assessment of chemical and physical agents. Our research is currently evaluating whether microcystin is present in the air when algal blooms are on Lake Erie and whether algal blooms increase the risk of inhalation exposure to microcystin. 

Students collaborate on research projects with faculty and apply traditional industrial-hygiene sampling methods to a variety of occupational settings to evaluate hazards. Students have completed theses or projects on a variety of topics that are often presented at the national American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition (AIHce). 

Recent presentations or theses have included:  

• Airborne microcystin 
• Exposure assessment applied to noise data within power plants 
• Noise levels and perceptions in nursing homes 
• Formaldehyde exposure in a walk-in cooler storing preserved cadavers 
• Application of drones in chemical response 
• Noise levels in a college football stadium

What jobs can I get with an occupational health industrial hygiene degree?

Graduates of UToledo's Occupational Health-Industrial Hygiene master's program are qualified for entry- and upper-level positions in occupational health and industrial hygiene. They are employed in a variety of organizations in northwest Ohio and beyond, including:

• Academic institutions
• Chemical and pharmaceutical companies
• Consulting firms
• Government agencies
• Healthcare organizations
• Manufacturing industries
• Public utilities

Internship Opportunities For Occupational Health-Industrial Hygiene Master's Degree

Those who don't have previous experience in the field complete at least 150-internship hours to gain real-world experience. Internship sites have included:

• John D. Dingell Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center
• Marathon Petroleum Company 
• Owens-Illinois
• ProMedica 
• The University of Toledo Environmental Health and Radiation Safety 
• U.S. Public Health Service Junior Commissioned Officer Student Training and Extern Program