M.S. Occupational Safety and Health
Degree: Master of Science (M.S.) | Total Hours: 35 | Department: Occupational Safety & Health | School: Arts and Sciences | Major Code: 107
Founded in 1989, Southeastern’s Department of Occupational Safety & Health is a highly successful undergraduate program with over 2,000 alumni. Building on that success, a Master of Science degree program was created in 2007. In 2017, the program gained the QAP designation from BCSP, making its graduates eligible for the Graduate Safety Professional designation. The program is offered primarily online.
Program Admission Requirements
All applicants must first be admitted to the School of Graduate Studies, then meet the following program-specific requirements:
- Applicant must have completed College Algebra or a higher math course.
- Applicant must have completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Safety & Health or a related field, OR
- Applicant must have completed a bachelor’s degree and the following additional courses or their equivalents: Introduction to Occupational Safety & Health, Introduction to Fire Science, Construction Safety, Industrial Hygiene, Ergonomics, and HAZMAT.
- A minimum 2.75 GPA on all undergraduate work and a 3.0 minimum GPA in all occupational safety courses.
- An 800-word essay describing anticipated contributions to the profession of occupational safety & health.
The department chair may waive program entrance requirements for applicants with at least five years of formal work experience in occupational safety or those holding the CSP or CIH designations. The applicant must still hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
Course Requirements
Core Courses (32 hours)
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SFTY 5103 | Advanced Safety Program Management | 3 |
| SFTY 5123 | Crisis Preparedness and Occupational Security | 3 |
| SFTY 5143 | Legal Liability & Workers Compensation | 3 |
| SFTY 5153 | Occupational Safety Statistics | 3 |
| SFTY 5163 | Construction Safety II | 3 |
| SFTY 5214 | Industrial Hygiene II (with weekend on-campus lab) | 4 |
| SFTY 5223 | Toxicology | 3 |
| SFTY 5233 | Advanced Ergonomic Engineering | 3 |
| SFTY 5244 | HAZMAT II (with weekend on-campus lab) | 4 |
| SFTY 5263 | Indoor Air Quality | 3 |
Elective — Choose One Course (3 hours)
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SFTY 5253 | Philosophy of Safety Management | 3 |
| SFTY 5273 | Food Safety & Sanitation | 3 |
| SFTY 5313 | Current Literature in Occupational Safety | 3 |
| SFTY 5323 | Internship in Occupational Safety | 3 |
| SFTY 5330 | Research in Occupational Safety (thesis track only) | 3 |
Graduation requires either successful completion of a capstone comprehensive exit examination (non-thesis track) or completion of an original thesis and defense (thesis track; enrollment in SFTY 5330 required).
Total Hours Required: 35