The long-standing Department of Environmental Health has recently changed its name to the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety Sciences. Moving forward, this rebranding provides an all-encompassing identity for our program and comprehensively elucidates the professional career fields that we have traditionally and currently prepare our graduating students to enter. Students and faculty participate in extracurricular activities with such organizations as the Tennessee Environmental Health Association (TEHA) as well as the American Industrial Hygiene Association – Tennessee Valley chapter. The student-run Student Environmental Health Association (SEHA) is currently very active, with participation on several recent environmental clean-ups in the region. The department still offers a science-based, BS degree in Environmental Health, an MPH – Environmental Health option, and a strong Safety minor.
The Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety Sciences research and teaching resources include the time-honored Environmental Health Sciences Laboratory (EHSL), the Air Quality Research Laboratory (AQRL), and the newly-established Industrial Hygiene Characterization Laboratory (IHCL). The faculty members (Drs. Scheuerman, Metts, Li, Handy, and a new TBD assistant/associate professor) are all active scholars and teachers that enjoy working closely with both undergraduate and graduate students. Because of the size of the department, current students have many opportunities to interact with faculty members, both inside and outside of the classroom. The staff (Mr. Patton and a new TBD research specialist) are knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and always willing and able to assist. The program advisory board is made up of a diversified group of professionals with decades of experiences in environmental health, occupational health, and/or safety management.
Choosing Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety Sciences as a career path will lead a student to a challenging but satisfying and noble career. There are currently opportunities in a wide range of areas, including environmental health inspection, environmental engineering science, environmental and industrial toxicology, climate and health relationships, air and water quality and safety, regulatory science and administration, occupational health/industrial hygiene, and safety management. Past graduating students have secured jobs working for the federal government, state government, local government, private industry, and consulting firms.
For any questions or to provide additional information, feel free to contact the department.