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Each year, thousands of workers throughout the world are killed, injured, or otherwise adversely affected by chemical, biological, and/or physical, agents encountered in the workplace. Common hazards include dusts, gases and vapors, bio-aerosols, pathogens, noise, and ionizing and non-ionizing radiation. Ergonomic stresses and safety hazards are also important causes of workplace morbidity and mortality. The goal of our graduate program is to educate individuals to anticipate, recognize, evaluate, control, and manage such workplace health risks.

The Industrial Hygiene (IH) Program at the University of Michigan (UM) is one of the longest-standing and most highly regarded IH Programs in the country. Graduates from our program have gone on to leadership positions in private industry, government, and academia in the U.S. and throughout the world.
The
UM IH program is a key
component of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH) Education
and Research Center (ERC) at UM, which also includes accredited graduate
programs in hazardous substances, occupational
safety engineering, and occupational
health nursing. Also complementing the IH Program within the Department
of Environmental Health Sciences are graduate academic programs in toxicology, environmental
sciences, and human
nutrition. Interactions among students and faculty in these complementary
programs contributes significantly to the richness of the educational
experience.
The mission of the industrial hygiene program is to provide outstanding comprehensive graduate-level education in occupational health science, ensuring that graduates are qualified to pursue careers and assume leadership roles in the modern practice of industrial hygiene.
Our emphasis on interdisciplinary coursework, research, and field experience prepares our Master's (MS or MPH) graduates for the challenges of this exciting profession. Many students opt for a dual major in Industrial Hygiene and Environmental Health through our Hazardous Substances Academic Training Program (HSAT). Doctoral work leading to the PhD degrees engages students in world-class research at the cutting edge of the field, and prepares graduates for careers in research and development.
In addition to the residential Master's degree options, we offer a non-residential MPH degree program, referred to as the On-Job/On-Campus (OJOC) program. OJOC students attend classes at UM once each month for four days (Thurs - Sun) while maintaining full-time employment. Students from around the country have graduated from this unique program without having to relocate from their permanent residences. Combining classroom and distance learning elements in this program allows for effective interactions/contacts/connections among the students and between students and faculty with minimal disruption to employment and family life.
The Master's degree programs typically require two years of study, including a 4-month summer internship (for residential students). The doctoral programs typically require 4 years of study.
Qualified students can receive financial support through grants from the Rackham Graduate School or the School of Public Health, traineeships from the NIOSH ERC, various scholarships, and/or research assistantships from faculty research grants. Every effort is made to provide financial aid for admitted students.
Average enrollment in the UM IH Program is 30 students, with approximately 15 graduating each year. With over 700 alumni, the UM IH Program ranks as the leading institution in the U.S. for graduates with advanced degrees in this field. This network of proud alumni spans the world and facilitates internships and employment for students and recent graduates.
We have an active IH student organization, the University of Michigan Industrial Hygiene Student Association (UMIHSA), which is a valuable resource for prospective and current students. UMIHSA sponsors a number of academic, social, and community activities, including: welcoming and orienting incoming students to the IH Program; providing liaison with the faculty, other student organizations on campus, and various external organizations; assisting with continuing education programs; maintaining a resume book and internship/employment opportunities listing; planning social functions, and participating in community service (e.g., fund raising for local charities).
Internship and employment opportunities abound for our students and graduates. Potential employers regularly contact the faculty and UMIHSA, providing an array of career opportunities to consider.