The MSc in Occupational Health is a part-time programme running for 18 months over two years from the date of first registration for the programme.

Candidates for the MSc programme in Occupational Health must meet one of the following criteria:

1. A Level 8 honours primary degree (minimum Second Class Honours, Grade 2) in a relevant area, for example health-related (Public Health, Nursing, Medicine, Environmental Health, Psychology/Behavioural Science, Physiotherapy); Engineering and Human Resource Management and relevant professional experience¹ or work placement in an associated Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare area;
   OR
   
2. A minimum of a Diploma/Higher Diploma in Occupational Safety, Health and Welfare (minimum Second Class Honours, Grade 1), from UCC, or an equivalent qualification² from another Institution (Level 8 Diploma, minimum second class honours, grade 1) and a minimum of two years relevant professional work experience¹ in an area associated with Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare;
   OR
   
3. Applicants with a minimum of three years' professional work experience in an associated area¹ of Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare may be invited for interview to satisfy the selection committee of their suitability for the programme.

¹Relevant professional work experience, job title examples: Health and Safety Officers/Advisors/Managers/Coordinators; Environmental Safety Officers/Managers; Safety Engineers, Health Promotion Officers; HR Officers/Managers; Occupational Health Nurses, Health Scientists, Professional Trainers, Health and Safety Consultants.

²Level 8 examples: Diploma/Higher Diploma/International Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety; Diploma in Environment Management, Diploma in Health Promotion, Diploma in Learning, Development and Work-based Training.

Students take taught modules to the value of 60 credits and complete a research dissertation (EH6062) to the value of 30 credits.

Students take 90 credits as follows:

Year 1
EH6008 Information Retrieval and Interpretation in Occupational Health and Safety (5 credits)
EH6015 Occupational Health and Safety Management in the Workplace (10 credits)
EH6059 Principles of Psychosocial Epidemiology (5 credits)
EH6060 Risk Assessment and Management of Psychosocial Work Risks (5 credits)
EH6061 Applied Research for Occupational Health (5 credits)
EH6073 Critical Appraisal of Publications in Occupational Health (5 credits)
LW6107 Legal Aspects of Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare (5 credits)

Module Semester Information may be found here. Module Descriptions may be found here.

Year 2
AD6800 Training and Development Issues in Occupational Health (5 credits)
EH6017 Principles, Theory and Practical Application of Risk Assessment and Management Programmes in the Workplace (10 credits)
EH6041Psychology Applied to Occupational Health and Safety (5 credits)
EH6062 Workplace Health, Safety and Wellbeing Dissertation (30 credits)

Module Semester Information may be found here. Module Descriptions may be found here.

Examinations
Full details and regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards 2019/2020 Book and for each module in the Book of Modules, 2019/2020.

See also General Regulations for the Degree of Master.

Exit Award: Postgraduate Diploma in Occupational Health (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)
Candidates who have passed 60 credits of taught modules may choose to exit the programme with a Postgraduate Diploma in Occupational Health.

Programme Learning outcomes for MSc (Occupational Health) (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate an awareness of occupational health from a multidisciplinary perspective including occupational medicine, epidemiology, psychology, public health, law and training and development;
• Practise measures to prevent disease and injury, and to protect and promote health and safety in occupational settings;
• Perform risk assessments in the workplace including psychosocial risk factors;
• Identify the role of psychology in improving the quality of work life and to develop basic skills to protect and promote the safety, health and well-being of workers;
• Employ skills to critically appraise publications and statistics and stay up-to date with the newest research evidence;
• Discuss the wider aspects of health protection;
• Apply research evidence into occupational health and safety interventions and health promotion strategies by taking relevant legislation into account;
• Design occupational health training and development programmes in line with organisational policy;
• Carry out a focussed piece of scholarly research and health and safety programme evaluation.

Programme Learning outcomes for Postgraduate Diploma in Occupational Health (NFQ level 9, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate an awareness of occupational health from a multidisciplinary perspective including occupational medicine, epidemiology, psychology, public health, law and training and development;
• Practice measures to prevent disease and injury, and to protect and promote health and safety in occupational settings;
• Perform risk assessments in the workplace including psychosocial risk factors;
• Identify the role of psychology in improving the quality of work life and to develop basic skills to protect and promote the safety, health and well-being of workers;
• Employ skills to critically appraise publications and statistics and stay up-to date with the newest research evidence;
• Apply research evidence into occupational health and safety interventions and health promotion strategies by taking relevant legislation into account;
• Design occupational health training and development programmes in line with organisational policy;
• Design an occupational health research project.