Occupational Safety

Division of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences
University of Illinois at Chicago
School of Public Health

The Occupational Safety graduate training program is administratively housed within the Division of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences (EOHS), and exists in partnership with the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering (MIE).  Our program provides pertinent scientific, engineering and public health training to prepare students to protect the safety of workers and the general public.  Graduates from our Division regularly find positions in the environmental and occupational health fields in government, industry, and consulting, including the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Abbott Laboratories, Ford Motor Co., Motorola, Mittal Steel, Loyola Medical Center, the Veteran’s Administration, Environ Consulting, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Cook County Department of Environmental Control, and the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory.

Recently funded faculty research projects include demolition related lead exposure monitoring; exposure and health effects in animal research workers, swine confinement facilities, and welders; effects of air pollution on asthmatics in public housing; environmental assessment and health effects in water recreators; welding fume characterization; retrospective exposure reconstruction; health and safety needs in immigrant and other at-risk populations; and occupational injury surveillance.

Our curriculum emphasizes quantitation and as much practical experience as possible. EOHS field investigations, both as academic courses and research projects, take advantage of the access to industries ranging from heavy manufacturing, through health care, agricultural, pharmaceutical, to high technology; and of the air, water and solid and hazardous waste problems associated with a major urban metropolis.

To qualify for the program you must have taken the GRE; and have taken two semesters of calculus, a year of general chemistry, at least one semester of organic chemistry, and a course in human physiology. In unusual cases, if only a single course requirement is missing, permission may be given to take it in the first semester of residence.

If you are interested in a career dedicated to solving major societal problems we would welcome your application. Financial support from traineeships and research assistantships is available. For more information about the program and to obtain application materials contact Iraida Rios, Student Coordinator, Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, U. of Illinois (M/C 922), 2121 W. Taylor, Chicago, IL 60612.  Phone: (312)-996-8855.  E-mail: irios@uic.edu

Requirements for obtaining an MS in Occupational Safety
with NIOSH Traineeship,
University of Illinois at Chicago (2008-2009)

And one of these four:

Research

• Required Courses (46 credits) + Research (16 credits) = 62 semester credits
• NIOSH Trainees must attend interdisciplinary seminar
• NIOSH Trainees must attend Occupational Medicine Clinic (on a rotating basis this usually works out to once/3 weeks)
• NIOSH Trainees must participate in at least one extended field study
• NIOSH Trainees must complete the 40-hour training First Responder program

*Prerequisites for entering the OS program are a full year of general chemistry, at least one semester of organic chemistry, two semesters of calculus, and a course in human physiology.