December 8, 2020
As non-standard work, such as “gig” and contract work, as well as extreme environmental events and emerging pathogens become increasingly common, the landscape of worker health and safety is changing. The impacts of work environments on the overall health and wellbeing of individuals and communities have become more apparent than ever, and expertise in this area is in high demand. This new graduate certificate traineeship offers an opportunity for UW graduate students in all disciplines and professions to explore and consider how dimensions and contexts of work influence the health and well-being of populations.
Additionally, trainees eligible to receive federal funds can receive one-quarter of tuition support, during the quarter they complete a capstone project. Students in a variety of fields and professions may find value in incorporating an occupational health perspective into their studies and work. Environmental scientists could learn how the climate impacts workers, for example, understanding extreme temperatures that agricultural workers may be increasingly exposed to. Future business owners and managers may want to understand best practices for creating healthy workplaces. Health care, human and social service providers in their future practices could consider how their clients’ health may be impacted by work, and future policy makers could learn tools to craft labor legislation.
There are countless ways that graduate students in different programs may want to add a Work and Health perspective into their studies. All graduate students with or without a preexisting focus on occupational health are welcome to apply to the program.
The program accepts applications quarterly. The application deadline is January 15th, to begin the program in Spring quarter.
PROGRAM DETAIL
The Work and Health Traineeship is a subset of the Advanced Practice Environmental and Occupational Health (APEOH) Graduate Certificate program. Trainees will graduate with an APEOH Graduate Certificate as well as specific training and coursework in occupational health and safety.
The program involves twelve credits of occupational health coursework and a three-credit capstone project, based on the student’s interests.
Any trainees receiving program funding will also be required to participate in Northwest Center for Occupational Health and Safety (NWCOHS) interdisciplinary activities, including the NWCOHS Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training unless the trainees home degree program provides RCR training.
The timing of the coursework requirements is flexible based on the trainee’s schedule and home degree requirements.
LEARN MORE
For more information, reach out to the program director, Jenny Tsai (jennyt@uw.edu), or visit the program’s NWCOHS page at https://deohs.washington.edu/nwcohs/work-and-health-graduate-certificate.
