Environmental and Occupational Health

PhD in Public Health Concentration

Solve environmental and occupational problems that impact public health

   Request Info about OSU Grad School

Improve the health and well-being of workers and communities

The Oregon State University public health doctoral degree program with a concentration in environmental and occupational health (EOH) provides research-based training for identifying and measuring hazards, studying potential adverse health effects and discovering new ways to control hazards.

Our program’s specialty areas are ergonomics, occupational safety, environmental health and environmental epidemiology.

Our environmental and occupational health doctoral graduates go on to prestigious post-doctoral training, and academic and research positions. They work in a variety of settings, both locally and globally, in government agencies, academia and private industries.

Environmental and occupational health research

As an environmental and occupational health doctoral student, you will collaborate with a world-class faculty member on interdisciplinary, community-engaged research spanning a variety of areas, including:

Various exposures:

  • Heavy metals
  • air pollutants
  • climate
  • whole-body vibration
  • physical hazards

Various health outcomes:

  • Cardiovascular health
  • musculoskeletal health
  • respiratory health
  • cumulative trauma
  • traumatic injuries

Meet environmental and occupational health faculty.

Global study finds air pollution major risk for cardiovascular disease regardless of country income

Learn about this research project.

Couches, toxins and development: How environmental health at home can affect children

Learn about this research project.

Uncovering clues to alleviate bodily stress from heavy equipment vehicles

Learn about this research project.

   Read more EOH stories

Your experience as a public health doctoral student

See which courses you’ll take as a public health doctoral student.
Public health handbook

What you’ll learn in the environmental and occupational health concentration.
Learning competencies

Get information about assistantships, your investment and more.
Fellowships and awards. Tuition and funding.

Add a graduate minor in ergonomics


The graduate minor in ergonomics is for master’s and doctoral level students who seek additional formal training and mentoring in ergonomic practice.

Andres Cardenas, PhD-EOH ’15, MPH-Biostatistics ’12

Assistant Professor of Epidemiology and Population Health at Stanford University

 

“The EOH doctoral program at OSU provided me with excellent technical skills that I continue to apply daily as a researcher and faculty. The small program made it possible for me to work one-on-one with faculty across the school, learn from other graduate students and develop strong relationships with multiple mentors. To this day I remain connected with many of my classmates and professors that continue to serve as mentors.”

Meet EOH doctoral students.

We’re here to help

We’re happy to connect with you by email, phone or virtual meetings.

  

For questions about the application process and requirements, contact CPHHS graduate admissions.

  

For academic or professional information specific to the environmental and occupational health doctoral program, please contact program director Perry Hystad, Ph.D.

Accreditation

In 2014, our college was accredited by the Council for Education in Public Health – the first in Oregon. This distinction provides our students with more resources, more opportunities to engage in research, and faculty experts who specialize in a variety of public health topics.