Occupational Safety, MS

1. Foundational/transitional courses - 6 s.h.

• SAFT 6001 - Regulatory Aspects of Occupational and Environmental Safety
• SAFT 6002 - Technical Aspects and Field Audits in Occupational Safety

2. Required courses - 21 s.h.

• SAFT 6040 - Critical Thinking and Research Methods in Occupational Safety
• SAFT 6250 - Occupational Ergonomics
• SAFT 6290 - Fire Protection and Prevention and Emergency Management
• SAFT 6310 - Risk Management and Workers’ Compensation
• SAFT 6402 - Applied Safety Management
• SAFT 6410 - Systems Safety and Risk Analysis
• SAFT 6805 - Occupational Safety Monitoring and Control

3. Options - 9-12 s.h.

(Choose one of the following.)

Note:

Electives from CMGT, ITEC, PSYC, SAFT or other areas are selected as approved by the graduate program coordinator. Students who are deficient in the foundational regulatory and technical aspects of occupational safety may be required to take additional courses. Program prerequisites include chemistry with lab and statistics.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate School. Acceptance into MS in occupational safety program is based on:

BS or BA degree from an institutionally accredited institution in safety, environmental sciences, biology, chemistry, engineering, technology, environmental health, community health, health education and promotion, economics, business, psychology, and other related fields;

1. Satisfactory GRE score; submission of GRE score is waived for applicants holding board certifications such as CSP, CIH, CPE, or PE.
2. Three letters of recommendation;
3. Statement of purpose or intent;
4. Resume;
5. Satisfactory completion of pre-requisites, include chemistry with lab and a course in statistics.

After a preliminary review of all applications, the program admissions committee will conduct an interview of all applicants to evaluate the qualifications of applicant and content of application for the admission. The program admissions committee reserves the right to deny any applications based on the result of the interview.

Degree Options

The program offers two options: practicum option and thesis option. Students enrolled in the program may choose either one of the options, based on their qualification and approval of the program’s admission committee or the program coordinator.

Delivery Methods

The master of science in occupational safety is offered on-campus and online, with identical curriculum. The online mode of delivery is designed only for qualified working professionals in occupational safety and health or closely related fields. The on-campus mode is designed for individuals who are not working in the field. The program’s admissions committee reviews and approves the best mode for applicants, based on evaluation of the application materials and results of admission interview.

Mission, Goals, and Objectives

The mission of the MS in occupational safety program is to provide society with servant leaders who possess the highest ethical values and technical capabilities to make a positive impact through strategically managing risks associated with occupational safety and health.

The overarching goals developed to support the mission of the degree program are to:

1. enroll, educate, and support top-quality students from diverse backgrounds, and prepare them to be servant leaders in the practice and further development of safety, health, and environment;
2. maintain one of the leading graduate occupational safety programs regionally, nationally, and globally;
3. and endow our students with the multidisciplinary technical foundations and attitudes necessary to continue to learn throughout their professional careers.

Program objectives include educating graduates with a working knowledge and general understanding in the broad discipline of occupational safety and health. The areas of emphasis include but are not limited to, safety regulations, industrial hygiene, ergonomics and biomechanics, risk management and workers’ compensation, system safety and risk assessment, construction safety management, fire safety, transportation safety, organizational and behavioral aspects of safety, and environmental science and legal implications. Upon successfully completing the plan of study, graduates will be expected to:

1. anticipate, recognize, evaluate, and develop control strategies for hazardous conditions and work practices;
2. demonstrate the application of business and risk management concepts;
3. demonstrate knowledge of the fundamental aspects of safety, industrial hygiene, environmental science, fire science, hazardous materials, emergency management, ergonomics and/or human factors;
4. design and evaluate safety, health, and/or environmental programs;
5. apply adult learning theory to safety training methodology;
6. identify and apply applicable occupational safety, health, and environmental standards, regulations, and codes;
7. conduct accident investigations and analyses; and
8. apply principles of safety and health in a non-academic setting through an intern or supervised experience.

Students graduating from the MS in occupational safety program will be expected to be able to demonstrate the ability to:

(a.) apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and applied sciences;
(b.) design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data;
(c.) formulate or design a system, process, or program to meet desired needs;
(d.) function on multidisciplinary teams;
(e.) identify and solve applied science problems;
(f.) understand professional and ethical responsibility;
(g.) communicate effectively; describe the impact of solutions in a global and societal context;
(h.) recognize the need for and an ability to engage in life-long learning;
(i.) identify and describe contemporary issues; and
(j.) use the techniques, skills, and modern scientific and technical tools necessary for professional practice.

Transfer Credits

Applicants with a baccalaureate degree in occupational safety and health from an institutionally accredited institution, significant verifiable work experience, or appropriate professional designations (i.e., CSP, CIH, ARM, and CPE) may be qualified to receive credit for up to two courses, including foundational/transitional courses (SAFT 6001  and SAFT 6002 ), with appropriate documentation.