The MSPH in Occupational Health is an academic program that prepares occupational medicine physicians and health professionals with the research and professional knowledge and skills necessary to address the complex health and safety issues found in today's business environment.  There is sufficient flexibility to accommodate a variety of interests and career goals, including: practice of occupational medicine in an industrial setting; development, administration and management of occupational health programs, practice of occupational medicine in an industrial setting; the development and management of governmental programs which may be required by law to provide surveillance, monitoring and hazard evaluation; careers in teaching and research in an academic setting or; planning, management and administration of occupational programs in an industrial setting emphasizing epidemiological, clinical and toxicological research. The MSPH curriculum focuses on the worker, the workplace, information management and administration. The student is provided the opportunity to acquire sufficient knowledge and skills to administer and manage occupational health services programs. The MSPH emphasizes protective and preventive policies, procedures, practices and programs. Information management and administration are stressed. The MSPH also gives importance to social, legal, and ethical issues concerns. There is emphasis and sufficient opportunity for conducting research; students are sufficiently prepared to pursue further graduate work (e.g., PhD degree) or pursue a career in an academic institution.

The MSPH in Occupational Health includes an occupational/preventive medicine residency program that is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Programs. The residency program option is a two year concurrent academic and practicum with academic work in the evenings while the practicum takes place during the day.

In addition to the overall Master of Science in Public Health degree objectives, Occupational Health graduates will be able to:

1. Summarize the history and social context of occupational medicine and their influence on workers health;
2. Identify human and physical factors affecting workers health including geographic, socioeconomic and lifestyle characteristics;
3. Relate fundamentals of epidemiologic principles to the incidence of work related health problems and conditions;
4. Use appropriate research principles and practices in investigating, controlling and preventing occupational health hazards and conditions;
5. Apply principles of toxicology in the manifestation of exposure related illnesses and identify illnesses not related to exposures including psychological disorders;
6. Work effectively within the health and safety programs in industries of major importance to Florida and the nation;
7. Analyze the role of government regulations, insurance policies and procedures along with the ethical and legal ramifications in treatment and prevention of work related conditions and injury;
8. Develop a strategy for a preventive program on a health related issue in the workplace from such items as blood borne pathogens, ergonomics, respiratory protection, general preventive medicine, etc.;
9. Focus research activities on specific regional workforce needs; and
10. Be able to communicate a thorough understanding of occupational and environmental medicine and critical research needs in the field.

• Public health course prerequisites: None required.
• Suggested/preferred undergraduate majors: Majors that prepared candidates for matriculation into medical school; undergraduate majors in other clinical disciplines, e.g. nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy are acceptable.
• For residency program: Acceptance into the residency requires graduation from an approved medical school and completion of at least two years of clinical training in a primary care specialty.  Consideration will also be given for resident applicants with considerable occupational medicine practice experience and only one year of residency training.
• Prerequisite undergraduate courses: Clinical courses associated with a clinical profession.
• Work experience:
  • Residency Program: Two years of a primary care specialty residency program is preferred.  Candidates with significant experience or skills will be considered with one year of primary care training.
  • Other health professionals: two years clinical experience preferred
• Minimum undergrad GPA: Residency program or other physicians with a valid U.S. unrestricted medical license.
• Other 3.0 in last 60 credits of undergraduate program and a valid clinical license.
• Verbal GRE Score: Residency Program: waived with documentation of unrestricted valid U.S. medical license.
• Other health professionals: Verbal GRE score: minimum 450
• Quantitative GRE Score: Residency Program: documentation of unrestricted valid U.S. medical license.Wednesday, June 4, 2008 2:33 PM Health professionals: Quantitative GRE score: minimum 550