Master of Science (MS) in Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
Offered By: Department of Environmental Health and Engineering
Onsite | Full-Time or Part-Time | 1.5 years
About This Program
This program is part of the Education and Research Center for Occupational Safety and Health (ERC) which is sponsored by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
The MSOEH is accredited by the Applied and Natural Sciences Accreditation Commission (ANSAC) of the Accreditation Board for Engineering Technology (ABET). It is designed to prepare students to pass the Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) examination given by the American Board of Industrial Hygiene (ABIH).
The MSOEH is flexible and can be customized to meet a variety of professional and career goals. Students may enroll in a full-time program or the part-time/online program. Both options confer the same degree and students must meet the same academic requirements.
This degree program is administratively managed through the Whiting School of Engineering. The full-time option is managed through Whiting/Homewood and the part-time option through Whiting’s Engineering for Professionals. All courses are offered through the Bloomberg School of Public Health. Limited funding is available to support full-time students.
Full-time program (MSOEH)
- June 1 application deadline for a fall start
- Onsite
- 1.5 years to complete
Part-time program (MSOEH)
- Hybrid/online
- Must be completed within 5 years
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Certificate in Environmental and Occupational Health
Our certificate is open to degree-seeking students and working professionals.
- Available to degree and non-degree students
- 18 credit hours
- Time to completion is dependent on course selections and offering times
- Tuition is charged at BSPH per credit rate for part-time students.
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Pearl Lee, MS' 19
This master's program has allowed me to meet full time professionals in the same field who are equally devoted to learning and being the best in their field.
What Can You Do With This Degree?
Possible careers include industrial hygienist, environmental risk assessor, occupational health specialist, emergency preparedness coordinator, environmental policy analyst, and environmental/occupational health or safety manager. Current job titles and employers of some recent graduates are listed below.
- Industrial Hygienist, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
- Health, Safety & Environment Advisor, Oceaneering, Hanover, MD
- Health and Safety Site Lead, JUUL Labs, North Carolina
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialist R.T. Vanderbilt Co., Towson, MD
- EHS Engineer, Northrop Grumman, San Diego, CA
- Corporate and Occupational Health Specialist, Arkema, Pottstown, PA
- Industrial Hygiene Consultant, Safex, Westerville, OH
Curriculum
Earning a master's degree in Occupational and Environmental Hygiene will provide students with the analytical and technical skills needed to identify and address environmental and/or occupational hazards in the workplace and surrounding community. The course of study includes risk analysis and management, environmental sampling techniques, air pollution, program management, toxicology, epidemiology, biostatistics, and occupational health.
Admissions Requirements
The GRE is required for this program; it is one of the ABET-mandated minimum requirements for admitted students. The MCAT is acceptable but not preferred. A waiver may be requested if the applicant has:
- A graduate degree (master’s or doctoral degree) or
- Successfully completed the Certificate in Environmental and Occupational Health and earned at least a ‘B’ in all courses taken for the Certificate.
Prior education must include (1) an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited four-year college or university, (2) successful completion of college-level courses in biology, chemistry, calculus and physics.
If prior education does not include the prerequisites above, you must complete them before you can be admitted to the program. Courses completed at a local community college are acceptable.
Degree Requirements
- Academic ethics course
- 76-credit core curriculum
- Internship/Independent Professional Project, Master’s Essay and Oral Presentation: The student is expected to assume independent responsibility for a project, the content of which should be based on an occupational or environmental health problem that is pertinent to the educational goals of the student and approved by their adviser.
Students must meet the minimum academic standards to remain in the program. Failure to meet any of these criteria is grounds for dismissal from the program.
- Maintain a minimum of 2.75 cumulative grade point average
- Retake a required course in which they receive a grade of “D” or “F”
- If a grade of “D” or “F” is received twice in the same required course, students may not repeat the course a third time and will be dismissed from the program
Students have up to five years to complete the degree requirements.
Internship, Culminating Project, Master’s Essay and Presentation
Tuition and Funding
ERC Awards
Additionally, first-year full-time MS-OEH students are eligible for a limited number of partial-tuition awards from The NIOSH Education and Research Center (ERC) to be used toward full-time study. As decided by a committee of faculty members, the awards are offered to selected students based on their prior academic achievements and professional potential. Award decisions are made during the admissions process and communicated to students in their letters of acceptance.
Teaching Assistants
Several departmental courses require teaching assistance. Full-time students selected as Teaching Assistants (TAs) gain experience in teaching and receive compensation for their efforts. Open positions will be advertised via email by the department’s Academic Program Administrator before the start of each term.
Contact Us
Questions about the program? We're happy to help.
Program Director
Kirsten Koehler, PhD
kkoehle1@jhu.edu
Program Manager for part-time/online MS OEH
Carla Reinhard, MHS
410-502-0742
creinha2@jhu.edu
Sr. Academic Program Coordinator
Zoe Petersen
410-516-7092
zpeters2@jhu.edu