Undergraduate Training

Bachelor of Science in Occupational Safety and Health (Weber State University)

We are currently developing this degree to meet the tremendous need for bachelor’s-trained occupational safety and health professionals. Students who complete this degree will have the option of beginning a career within a number of field or advancing to a graduate program.

Minor (University of Utah)

Undergraduate students at the University of Utah may seek a minor in Occupational Safety and Health. They will learn foundational principles that are beneficial in a range of careers or that could serve as a springboard to pursuing a graduate degree at RMCOEH. To receive the minor, students must complete six courses, as well as an internship, totaling 21 credit hours.

Graduate Degrees

Master of Science in Occupational Health (MSOH) (University of Utah)

The MSOH degree program is designed to train students for professional careers in occupational health or for further research training. This degree is often considered a terminal degree, although some students choose to subsequently pursue doctoral training. The degree is intended to be completed in two years of full-time study and requires a research-based thesis or non-thesis project.

Students can select the following MSOH emphases:

• Ergonomics
• General Occupational Health
• Industrial Hygiene
• Occupational Injury Prevention
• Occupational Safety

Each emphasis involves major components involving the University of Utah Departments of Mechanical Engineering and Family and Preventive Medicine. Students must complete at least 42 credit hours, including a research-based thesis and oral defense, and pass a summative examination.

Full-time students may receive full or partial National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) stipend support, as well as possible tuition assistance from the University of Utah.

Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) (University of Utah)

Students with engineering backgrounds in our Ergonomics and Safety and Occupational Injury Prevention programs may also pursue a PhD through the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Students must have an engineering background. The degree is designed to be completed in two years and requires 36 credits, including a research-based thesis and oral defense.

Full-time students may receive full or partial National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) stipend support, as well as possible tuition assistance from the University of Utah.

Master of Occupational Health (MOH) (University of Utah)

The MOH is designed for professionals who either 1) already have a terminal degree or 2) are currently working in occupational health and safety. The degree may help a professional advance his or her career and may allow students to complete it while maintaining full-time employment. Students are required to complete 30 or more credit hours and pass a summative exam but do not need to complete a research project.

Students can select the following MOH emphases:

• Ergonomics
• General Occupational Health
• Industrial Hygiene
• Occupational Injury Prevention
• Occupational Medicine (also offered in an online, distanced-based format)
• Occupational Safety (also offered in an online, distanced-based format)

Residents in our Occupational Medicine Residency program complete the MOH in the first year of their training.

With the exception of physicians in the Occupational Medicine Residency, MOH students do not typically receive National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) stipend support, but may apply for scholarships through RMCOEH.

PhD in Mechanical Engineering (University of Utah)

Students in our Ergonomics and Safety and Occupational Injury Prevention programs may pursue a PhD through the Department of Mechanical Engineering. All students must complete a research project and dissertation, including an oral defense.

Full-time students may receive full or partial National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) stipend support, as well as possible tuition assistance from the University of Utah.

PhD in Occupational and Environmental Health (University of Utah)

The PhD in OEH program trains students who are interested in advanced-level OEHS problem solving, furthering professional occupational health practice through coursework applicable to research, attaining higher placement in a desired career area, or academia.

Students with a prior master's degree that includes core occupational and environmental health courses must complete 40 credit hours. Valid degrees include a Master of Science in Occupational Health (MSOH), Master of Occupational Health (MOH), or a related area (e.g., Master of Public Health). The RMCOEH Faculty Admissions Committee will consider equivalent degree transcripts for transferable credit on a case-by-case basis.

Students without a prior master’s degree or who have a degree that lacks the core occupational and environmental health courses must complete 64 credit hours. The RMCOEH Faculty Admissions Committee may award students partial credit for previous courses upon evaluation of transcripts.

All students must complete a research project and dissertation, including an oral defense.

Students can select the following PhD emphases:

• General Occupational and Environmental Health
• Industrial Hygiene
• Occupational Injury Prevention (students select one of two tracks: Occupational Injury Epidemiology or Occupational Safety Engineering through UU Department of Mechanical Engineering)

Full-time students may receive full or partial National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) stipend support, as well as possible tuition assistance from the University of Utah.

Graduate Certificates

RMCOEH has two graduate certificate programs:

• The Graduate Certificate of Occupational Health Nursing (Weber State University), projected to start in 2023, is designed for nurses working within the field who are interested in developing knowledge of occupational health, which offers tremendous career opportunities. It will prepare students to pass the Certified Occupational Health Nurse (COHN) exam. The certificate requires a minimum of five graduate-level courses totaling 15 credits.

• The Graduate Certificate of Occupational Safety and Health (COSH) (University of Utah) is designed to help meet graduate-level regional and national needs for personnel trained in various areas related to occupational safety and health. Students typically have a bachelor’s degree and are often working within the industry. The certificate provides them the training and knowledge to advance their careers. Some may pursue graduate degrees after obtaining the certificate. Students must complete at least 15 credit hours of graduate-level coursework. The following emphases are available: Industrial Hygiene, Ergonomics and Safety, Occupational Health, General.

Post-Doctoral Training

People with doctoral degrees who are interested in gaining more experience in research related to occupational and environmental health and safety may wish to join our Targeted Research Training program. Post-doctoral trainees may complete graduate-level coursework but have additional opportunities for professional development and independent research experiences, especially focused on: exposure science, occupational biomechanics, transportation safety, occupational safety and health economics, and workplace mental health.