Master of Occupational Hygiene and Toxicology
Course code I01
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About this Course
Occupational Hygienists aim to identify, manage and control occupational and environmental hazards across all industries including advising organisations and local communities about the potential health impacts as a result of exposure to hazards.
This course will enable you to develop and upgrade your professional and communication skills in the field of occupational and environmental hygiene.
On completion of the program, you’ll be expected to demonstrate a high level of competence in the recognition, evaluation, assessment, and control of potential occupational and environmental hazards, and have a solid foundation of knowledge of the potential impacts of occupational hazards and conditions on exposed populations.
You’ll also be able to recommend and evaluate appropriate control measures to prevent, reduce or eliminate exposures to occupational and/or environmental hazards, and to participate in the development and implementation of appropriate occupational hygiene monitoring programs.
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level
This course has been accredited by ECU as an AQF Level 9 Masters Degree (Coursework) Award.
Course code I01
Entry requirements
ECU admission and English language requirements apply.
See Course Entry for further information.
Admissions
Fees
Commonwealth supported - estimated 1st year indicative fee AUD $9,350
See Fees and Scholarships for further information.
Availability & Campus
| Location | Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Joondalup | ||
| Mount Lawley | ||
| South West | ||
| Online | FT PT | FT PT |
Timetable
This course has a modified timetable. See Course Notes.
Course Entry
Admission requirements you'll need to meet for this course.
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The following course-specific admission requirements are mandatory and must be satisfied by all applicants. These requirements are in addition to or supersede the minimum requirements outlined within the Academic admission requirements band section below.
All applicants are required to have an appropriate undergraduate degree or postgraduate qualification in relevant sciences such as physics, chemistry, human biology or health and safety management.
Academic admission requirements (Band 8) may be satisfied through completion of one of the following:
- Bachelor degree in a cognate discipline; or
- Where accepted, equivalent prior learning, including at least five years relevant professional experience.
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English competency requirements may be satisfied through completion of one of the following:
- IELTS Academic Overall band minimum score of 6.5 (no individual band less than 6.0);
- Bachelor degree from a country specified on the English Proficiency Bands page;
- Successfully completed 0.375 EFTSL of study at postgraduate level or higher at an Australian higher education provider (or equivalent);
- Where accepted, equivalent prior learning, including at least five years relevant professional experience; or
- Other tests, courses or programs defined on the English Proficiency Bands page.
Course Details
Semester availability
Semester 1: Study full-time Online
Semester 1: Study part-time Online
Semester 2: Study full-time Online
Semester 2: Study part-time Online
Course Structure
| Unit Code | Unit Title | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|
| OHS6144 | Occupational Hygiene 1: Chemical Aspects | 20 |
| OHS6159 | Occupational Hygiene 2: Physical and Biological Aspects | 20 |
| OHS6162 | Occupational Hygiene 3: Control | 20 |
| OHS6136 | Occupational Epidemiology | 20 |
| OHS6178 | Occupational Toxicology | 20 |
| OHS6176 | Occupational Hygiene Sampling and Study Design | 20 |
| OHS6205 | Health, Safety and Workplace Environment | 20 |
| OHS6138 | Occupational Health Management | 20 |
| OHS6179 | Health Science Research Project | 40 |
| Unit Code | Unit Title | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|
| Student to select two units from the list below: | ||
| HST6337 | Communicable Disease | 20 |
| OHS6107 | Workplace Hazards | 20 |
| OHS6110 | Workers Compensation & Rehabilitation | 20 |
| OHS6133 | Human Factors and Ergonomics | 20 |
| OHS6135 | Health and Safety Principles in Practice | 20 |
| OHS6140 | Systems Safety | 20 |
| OHS6215 | Leadership in Workplace Health and Safety | 20 |
| HST6350 | Drug Use and Addictive Behaviours | 20 |
| HST6355 | Ageing, Health and Wellbeing | 20 |
| FBL5010 | Managing People and Organisations | 20 |
| MAN6720 | Managing Change | 20 |
| MBA6023 | Leading Respect at Work | 20 |
| OHS5300 | Managing Mine Work Health and Safety | 20 |
| RES5115 | Research Preparation: Principles and Approaches | 20 |
| SCI6110 | Integrated Environmental Management | 20 |
| SCI6100 | Environmental Monitoring and Investigation | 20 |
| MAT6206 | Machine Learning | 20 |
I01|7
For more detailed unit information for this course take a look at our Handbook. To organise your life for next semester visit the Teaching timetable.
Student handbookCourse notes
Important course notes
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Three units within this course include a compulsory on-campus attendance component, two of which are offered in Semester 1 (OHS6144 and OHS6159), while the third unit (OHS6162) is offered in Semester 2. For each of these three practical units, students are required to participate in a 3-day workshop. If students enrol in both OHS6144 and OHS6159 during the same semester, an intensive workshop will be scheduled to cover both units. However, if students select to enrol in one unit at a time, you will be required to participate the 3-day workshop for each unit. Note that participation in the practical workshops is a mandatory requirement. Students must attend the practical workshops in the same semester they enrol in the unit, as completing the theory and practical components in separate semesters is not allowed. Recognition of Prior Learning cannot be awarded for the practical units due to accreditation requirements.
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Graduates are eligible to apply for membership with The British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS). Students enrolled into the MOHT can apply for free 12-month student membership with BOHS.
Students can apply for membership with Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists (AIOH). Students enrolled into the Master of Occupational Hygiene and Toxicology can join the AIOH as an Associate member before they graduate, and can get the first year of membership free. Completion of the Master of Occupational Hygiene and Toxicology will allow students a pathway to full membership.
Course learning outcomes
- Reflect critically on a complex body of discipline knowledge, research principles and methods to demonstrate mastery of Occupational Hygiene professional practice or scholarship.
- Apply cognitive, technical and creative skills to investigate, evaluate and synthesise complex occupational hygiene ideas, concepts and theories in workplace situations.
- Apply communication and collaboration skills to design innovative contributions to professional occupational hygiene practice or scholarship.
- Use high level self-management skills to initiate, plan and execute an occupational hygiene project.
Professional Recognition
CourseAccredited by: British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS)
The British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS) accredits the Master of Occupational Hygiene and Toxicology (MOHT) at the level of the BOHS Diploma of Professional Competence in Occupational Hygiene. As a result, completion of the ECU MOHT will allow students a pathway to become Chartered Members of the BOHS. Students will have to demonstrate 5 years professional experience in the field of Occupational Hygiene and submit a Professional Experience Portfolio (PEP) as part of their application for the Diploma, which they can make directly to the BOHS. Students enrolled in the MOHT can join the BOHS as a Student Member for free.
Accredited by: Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists (AIOH)
The Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists (AIOH) accredits the Master of Occupational Hygiene and Toxicology (MOHT), which expedites the pathway to Full Membership of the AIOH. Students will have to demonstrate 5 years professional experience in the field of Occupational Hygiene as part of their application, which they can make directly to the AIOH. Students enrolled in the MOHT can join the AIOH as an Associate Member, of which the first year is free. As part of the requirements of the AIOH Accreditation, students attending the practical workshops will be taught be appropriate industry experienced Certified Occupational Hygienists (COHs), and a staff to student ratio of 1:10. This maximises contact time and learning opportunities, through engaging with real workplaces during the workshops. ECU hosts one of the largest OHS teaching facilities in Australia, and students are able to obtain practical experience with multiple types of, and including state of the art, equipment.
Fees and Scholarships
Fees
- AUD $9,350 - Commonwealth supported estimated 1st year indicative fee 1
Note
1 The 'estimated 1st year indicative fee' is provided as a guide only, based on a typical enrolment of students undertaking the first year of this course. At ECU, you pay for the individual units you enrol in, not an overall course fee, so the total cost of your course will vary, depending on what units you choose. An indicative fee will be provided with your course offer, however you can use our Course Fee Calculator to estimate the actual amount you'll need to pay. ECU fees are adjusted annually.
Some units require the payment of a fee for incidental goods or services required to complete those units. For more information and the full list of incidental fees for courses and units, visit What are Incidental Fees.
Scholarships
ECU has a scholarship program that provides many opportunities each year to students undertaking studies here.
Find a scholarshipCareer Opportunities
Graduates of this course are in demand to handle the many issues relating to occupational hygiene in both Australia and internationally. Graduates are suitable for roles as occupational hygiene technicians or occupational hygienists in a range of industries including the mining, oil & gas, construction, manufacturing, government and non-government sectors, and consulting.
Possible future job titles
Snr Occupational Hygienist, Occupational Hygienist, Occupational Hygiene Technician, Industrial Hygienist, Industrial Hygiene Technician
Need some help deciding what to study?
Our future student events include a mix of on-campus and online sessions designed to help you decide what to study at ECU.
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Student stories
The course is offered online which is fantastic if you need flexibility
Master of Occupational Hygiene & Toxicology student, Constanze Spicer, talks about studying the course with Edith Cowan University (ECU). Constanze discusses why she chose ECU's Master of Occupational Hygiene & Toxicology as well as some of the activities she's undertaken in her studies, including exposure monitoring in the field.
Quick guide to uni-speak
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The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) is the national regulator of qualifications in the Australian education and training system. The AQF defines the essential characteristics, including the required learning outcomes, of the different types of qualifications issued across the higher education systems in Australia.
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ATAR is the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank, the primary criterion for entry into most undergraduate university courses in Australia. The ATAR is a percentile score which denotes a student's ranking relative to their state-wide peers upon completion of their secondary education.
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CRICOS is the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students. A CRICOS code is allocated to education institutions (like ECU) who are approved to recruit, enrol and deliver education to overseas students. Courses with a CRICOS code are available to international students who meet the entry requirements.
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A major, or unit set, is your chosen area of in-depth study in an undergraduate course. It usually involves 8 units of study, or one-third of the units in a 3-year degree. Talk to your Student Information Office if you need help choosing a major subject.
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Minors include between 4 and 6 study units in a specific discipline. Not all courses require you to complete a minor. Your minor subject doesn't appear on your printed degree (parchment), but is part of your academic transcript.
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If you're enrolled in 3 or more units in a semester this is considered full-time study. To complete most 3-year degrees studying full-time you'll need to complete 4 units per semester, i.e. 24 units over 3 years.
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If a course is available to study part-time you can generally expect it to take twice as long to complete as it would in full-time mode. Part-time students are enrolled in 1 or 2 units maximum per semester.
Note: International students who hold a student visa can only choose the full-time study option for our courses. This is to ensure the course is completed within the duration of the student visa.
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Most courses start in Semester 1 each year, usually in the last week of February. Some courses can be started in Semester 2 (we call this mid-year). There's a week of Orientation before each semester to help you get used to uni life.
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A lot of our courses start in Semester 2 each year, usually in the last week of July. We call this mid-year. There's a week of Orientation beforehand to help you get used to uni life.
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We use a points system to make it easier for you to understand your study progress. Most Bachelors degree study units are allocated 15 credit points. If you're studying a 3-year full-time degree you'll need to successfully complete 360 credit points - that's 24 units x 15 points per unit.
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These are compulsory units you have to successfully complete as part of your course.
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An elective is a unit you choose to study that counts towards your course requirements, but isn't compulsory. For some courses we recommend elective units. In some situations, a course coordinator may approve an elective unit as a replacement for a compulsory one.
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Do you have any questions about the Master of Occupational Hygiene and Toxicology?
The Important Things
Things you should know about if you're thinking about studying here.
Course Entry
There's more than one admission pathway into an ECU course. It depends on what you've studied already, or your work or life experience.
Fees & Scholarships
Course tuition fees can change, but we can give you an estimate of your costs. If you're eligible, a scholarship or student loan can help too.
Applying
Applying for a course is a fairly simple process, especially if you have scanned copies of qualifications, your resume or other paperwork, ready to upload.
ECU Experience
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