The environment encompasses not only the natural surroundings - the air, the water, the plants and animals used for food - but also shelter, modes of transportation and all other products of technology, including pollutants and waste materials; all of which interact to affect health. Environmental considerations become increasingly important during these times of changing emphasis in the fields of energy, economics, and technology.
The objective of the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health (OEH) is to unite in an interdisciplinary training and research program, persons grounded in natural, physical, and health sciences in order to develop an understanding of human response to the environment as well as the response of the environment to the activities of humans. Toward this end, the department has developed flexible and diversified programs of graduate study, field training, and basic and applied research to accommodate students with a wide range of academic and occupational backgrounds. Most courses are offered in the late afternoon and evening format, for the convenience of practicing professionals.
The Department of Occupational and Environmental Health has been recognized as a national leader in industrial hygiene education. The Master of Science (MS) program in Industrial Hygiene and Environmental Health Sciences is accredited by the Applied and Natural Science Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Industrial Hygiene Program Criteria. ABET accreditation is the only program accreditation recognized by the American Board of Industrial Hygiene, and is the hallmark of excellence for industrial hygiene education. The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center is one of only twenty-three universities nationwide with an accredited graduate industrial hygiene program.
The department is currently offering the following degree programs, please click each degree for detail information on application, curriculum, and accreditation: