MSc in Environmental and Occupational Health

Nepal Open University (NOU) has developed the Master in Science in Environmental and Occupational Health (MSc EOH) curriculum for producing qualified graduates in Environmental and Occupational Health (EOH). Viewing the necessity of an interdisciplinary and more specialized EOH program to maintain an ever-increasing need and demand for EoH professionals, MSc EOH course has been designed for the first time in Nepal. The two-year masters’ degree EOH program under the Faculty of Science, Health and Technology in NOU provides the broader perspective on EOH with emphasis on applications and policy implications.

The program focuses on preventing environmental and occupational health-related issues and promoting health through education, research, professional services and community development. The program seeks to analyze and describes the linkages of health with,environment and occupation. The EOH program educates, mentors, and inspires learners in environmental and occupational health, and develops proficient graduates in addressing global challenges in the health sector, and the environment and occupation health domains. The program provides a great deal of flexibility to the students to design and pursue learning in prominence areas through a set of thematically linked courses, field practicum, and research and thesis work. 

EoH aims to equip individuals with the specialized skills and advanced knowledge required for professional practices or research in environmental and occupational health. Graduates of EOH program seek to identify how exposure from different substances and hazards in the natural and built environment affects human health. This interdisciplinary program develops proficient students who can identify the causes and consequences of wide ranges of environmental and occupational hazards and they can apply analytical and practical skills to protect the local, regional, and global health from environmental and occupational issues. The program will consider the historical, institutional, legal, organizational, functional, policy, and theoretical issues to scholars and practitioners of EOH. 

MSc EOH program prepares career-oriented professionals in the growing field of environmental health research, practice or consulting, and industrial and occupational hygiene. Students will gain the scientific knowledge and technical skills to assess and measure exposures of environmental and occupational hazards and develop control strategies to remediate these  exposures, with the ultimate aim of ensuring safe and healthy environments and workplaces. On the completion of this course, a student will have a detailed understanding of risks and issues in EOH in national and international perspectives and caliber to utilize the scientific skills in EOH sector in research, policy evaluation, and programs and practices.

Aims and Objectives of the Program

EOH program is designed for graduates who are seeking to develop a professional and skilled career in the areas of environmental and occupational health and investigate and manage environmental and occupational health hazards to promote healthy living.

The course aims to enhance the quality of human health, based on a sustainable environment and job-related services. The knowledge gained through case studies, seminars, workshops and field practice of EOH is aimed to develop comprehensive understanding and practices on environmental and occupational health-related professional skills. Graduates will lead andinfluence the development of high standards of environmental health and occupational safety.

The overall objective of the program is to graduate professionals in environmental and occupational health. The specific objectives are: 

• To equip students with the technical knowledge, and practical skills through interdisciplinary learning, observation;
• To provide learning opportunities to the students in contemporary and frontier fields of EoH by utilizing the interdisciplinary knowledge of health, environment, science and society; thereby developing their skills and expertise for EoH friendly development practices and prosperous EoH interventions;
• To produce professionals, skillful and capable human resources who are committed to take challenges by utilizing ideas and innovations in EOH sector at various professions including local government authority, local officials and development practitioners;
• To develop professionals capable of stepping out the conventional practices and explore new opportunities for the development and interventions in the current context.