Master of Science in Environmental and Occupational Health

Rationale

The primary goal of Environmental and Occupational Health is preventing disease and

promoting the health of humans. It is devoted to prevention and management of

occupational and environmental injury, illness and disability, and promotion of health and

productivity of workers, their families, and communities. This entails recognizing,

assessing, understanding and controlling the impacts of people on their environment and

the impacts of the environment on the people. Complexity of the problems require

multidisciplinary approaches. Graduates will acquire knowledge to help them understand

intrinsic mechanisms relating health and environment; an awareness of the most pressing

environmental health concerns that challenge populations around the globe; and a general

knowledge of current research on how environmental change affects human health and

vice versa.

Our environment is a complex network of physical, chemical, biological, and ecological

components that make up the natural world. There is increasing concern that

environmental degradation caused by human activities could translate into serious, long-term health effects for human populations. This is after the realization that almost every

disease has an environmental component. In addition, there is increasing demand from

both industry and enforcement agencies to integrate occupational health, safety and

environmental issues. This course will contribute to the resolution of these issues by

producing professionals who have the ability to identify, evaluate and provide solutions to

a wide range of health, safety and/or environmental problems, and function well in a

multi-disciplinary team.

 

Programmme Objectives

Develop Environmental Science Department at Egerton University into a recognized

centre of excellence in Environmental and Occupational Health research and training.

Train professionals who understand how environmental risk factors can cause diseases.

Produce graduates who can work as environmental and occupational health specialists,

risk assessors, and project managers as well as work in health research institutions and

industry.

 

Admission Requirements

Applicants should be holders of B.Sc in Environmental Science, or related discipline se.g.

natural resources, environmental health, public health, etc. with a minimum of second

class honours degree upper division. from Egerton University or any other recognized

university. However, candidates with second class honours lower division. shall be

considered if supported with two years of work experience.

 

Course Structure and Duration of Study

The programme will extend for a minimum period of 18 months and a maximum of 24

months, of which the first 12 months must be spent in the University doing course work.

The rest of the period will be spent on thesis research. The programme consists of course

work, examination and thesis. At least forty five (45) credit factors of graduate work are

required for the award of the degree of which the thesis will be 15 credit factors.

All candidates shall conduct independent research, under the direction of a subject

specialist, write and submit a thesis, in partial fulfillment for Master of Science in

Environmental and Occupational Health. The thesis shall be awarded grade ‗P‘ if

accepted or ‗F‘ if it is not. The regulations of the Board of Post Graduate Studies of

Egerton University shall apply in the Submission and examination of theses.

Courses leading to the degree of M.Sc in Environmental and Occupational Health shall be

coded ENSH. Course numbers shall be coded and serialized from 710 and above. The

first digit denotes a graduate-level course, the second one denotes semester when the

course is offered whereas the third digit indicates the sequence of the course in the

programme. Courses borrowed from the other programmes/departments will maintain

their codes.

 

Examination regulations

All examinations for the MSc in Environmental and Occupational Health shall be

conducted in accordance with examination regulations as stipulated in Egerton University

Statute XXIX.

 

Grading

The grading of examination for MSc Environmental and Occupational Health shall be in

accordance with Egerton University Statute XXIX.

 

Graduation Requirements

To graduate with MSc. Environmental and Occupational Health a student shall be

required to take and pass all required courses within the stipulated time.

Degree Classification

The MSc Environmental and Occupational Health is not classified