* Tuition:
$18,150 | 36 Credit Hours | Finish in as little as 12-24 months Begin as soon as: January 11, 2027 or March 15, 2027
Why Choose UCM for Your Occupational Safety Management MS?
Prepare for leadership roles in keeping people and workplaces safe with the Master
of Science in Occupational Safety Management at the University of Central Missouri.
Designed for professionals from any academic background or experience level, this
flexible program helps you master risk management, industrial hygiene and safety leadership.
As one of the few ABET-accredited graduate safety programs in the country, UCM gives
you a clear competitive advantage and eligibility for the Graduate Safety Practitioner
(GSP) designation upon graduation. With online, hybrid and on-campus options, you
can earn your degree without stepping away from your career.
What Will You Learn in UCM’s Occupational Safety Management MS Program?
UCM’s Occupational Safety Management MS curriculum builds advanced expertise in environmental
health and safety (EHS) leadership, occupational hazard management, risk management,
sustainability and industrial hygiene. You can customize your study plan with over
20 electives and specialized lab courses using modern equipment.
Admissions pathways allow you to enter one of three program concentrations based on
your background:
Professional Certification Concentration (30 credit hours): Designed for applicants holding GSP, ASP or CSP credentials
Work Experience Concentration (33 credit hours): Designed for applicants holding SMS, OHST, CHST or STS certifications, or an approved
BCSP ASP exam eligibility letter
Foundation Concentration (36 credit hours): Designed for applicants with a bachelor's degree in any field (minimum 2.5 GPA) and
prerequisite coursework in chemistry, physics, college mathematics and statistics;
includes a practical field internship
Unique Learning opportunities in UCM’s Master of Science in Occupational Safety Management
Program
Professional GSP Designation: Graduate from a BCSP Qualified Academic Program and qualify for the Graduate Safety
Practitioner (GSP) designation, accelerating your progress toward Certified Safety
Professional (CSP) certification.
Industry Networking: Connect with active Kansas City chapters of the American Society of Safety Professionals
(ASSP) and the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA).
Hands-On Facilities & Applied Projects: Practice using current safety and industrial hygiene instruments in dedicated laboratories
and field projects.
Award-Winning Faculty: Learn from published authors and safety professionals holding CSP credentials, ASSP
Outstanding Safety Educator of the Year honors and AIHA fellowship recognitions.
Fast Facts About UCM's Occupational Safety Management MS Program
ABET Accreditation: Accredited by ABET and recognized as a BCSP Qualified Academic Program (QAP)
National Ranking: Ranked a Best Master's in Occupational Health and Safety Online Program by Online
Master's Colleges (2025)
Flexible Completion Options: Complete full-time in 1 to 2 years or part-time in 5 to 6 semesters via 100% online,
Warrensburg campus, hybrid or summer courses
Small Class Sizes: Personalized learning environment with 10 to 25 graduate students per class
Financial Aid and Scholarships for UCM’s Occupational Safety Management MS Students
As a UCM student, you’ll have a financial aid advisor as part of your six-person student
support team to help you find the best way to finance your college education.
UCM safety science students can apply for dedicated scholarships, including:
$5,000 Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) Scholarship
Missouri Employers Mutual full tuition scholarship through the UCM Foundation
Construction Safety Group of Kansas City Scholarship ($1,000 to $1,500)
International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) Daniel K. Shipp Scholarship ($2,500)
Don B. Daily Safety Steel Intern Scholarship (includes a paid summer internship)
ASSP Foundation and AIHA Foundation Scholarships
Explore financial aid options through the UCM Scholarship Finder and speak with your financial aid advisor to build your aid package.
Career Opportunities and Outcomes for UCM’s Occupational Safety Management MS Graduates
An MS in Occupational Safety Management from UCM prepares you for high-demand environmental
health and safety leadership roles. Safety professionals protect lives and manage
risks across diverse industries, including construction, manufacturing, oil and gas,
healthcare, insurance, government agencies and non-profit organizations.
Graduates advance into EHS management, risk analysis and corporate safety leadership
positions across public and private organizations.
The UCM Career and Life Design Center is here for undergraduate students, graduate
students and alumni from all majors, identities and interests. We are a hub for career
exploration and career readiness. We offer resources and support for:
exploring career options
life design (explore and build career and life journeys, designing next steps)
job and internship searching
document reviews (resumes, cover letters, personal statements, etc.)
interviews (coaching and mock interviewing)
Professional Clothing Studio
preparation for graduate school (application materials, exploring programs)
and more!
Frequently Asked Questions
You will learn environmental health and safety (EHS) leadership, hazard management,
risk management, sustainability and industrial hygiene. Depending on your background
and credentials, you will enter one of three program concentrations and can customize
your study plan with over 20 specialized electives and practical lab courses.
Yes. Because UCM’s MS in Occupational Safety Management is a BCSP Qualified Academic
Program, graduates qualify for the Graduate Safety Practitioner (GSP) designation.
This designation provides an alternate path toward becoming a Certified Safety Professional
(CSP) without taking the Associate Safety Professional (ASP) exam.
Yes. UCM offers flexible program options, including 100% online courses, on-campus
classes in Warrensburg, hybrid formats and summer coursework. Full-time students typically
finish in one to two years, while part-time students taking two courses per semester
complete the degree in five to six semesters.
Yes. UCM offers safety science scholarships, including the $5,000 BCSP Scholarship,
the Missouri Employers Mutual full tuition scholarship, the ISEA Daniel K. Shipp Scholarship,
ASSP and AIHA foundation awards and the Don B. Daily Safety Steel Intern Scholarship.
You can apply through the UCM Scholarship Finder.
Admission pathways depend on your background. Students without prior safety credentials
need a bachelor's degree with a minimum 2.5 GPA and background courses in chemistry,
physics, math and statistics. Applicants with professional safety certifications or
BCSP eligibility letters qualify for streamlined credit hour requirements.
Students are admitted into one of three concentrations based upon their education,
work experience and professional credentials at the time of application. Students
must specify which concentration they are seeking admission into. Once admitted into
a concentration, students may not change concentrations without applying for a change
of degree program through the Graduate School and being approved by our program.
All Applicants must meet the following admission requirement:
Possession of a bachelor’s degree of any discipline from a Regionally Accredited University
with a GPA of 2.5 or higher
Additional requirements by concentration are as follows (only need to meet the requirements
of the concentration applying for and admitted into):
Professional Certification Area – Admission into this Area requires current possession of any of the following designations
or certifications in good standing: Graduate Safety Practitioner (GSP), Associate
Safety Professional (ASP), or Certified Safety Professional (CSP). Other safety professional
credentials will be evaluated by OSM program coordinator on a case by case basis.
Work Experience Area – A minimum of 1 year of full-time work experience with at least 50% job duties related
to safety. Work experience must be documented from one of the following:
Eligibility to sit for the ASP exam; An ASP exam eligibility letter from BCSP must
be submitted with application to the program. OR
Possession of current certification in good standing of any of the following certifications
through the BCSP:
Safety Management Specialist (SMS)
Occupational Hygiene and Safety Technician (OHST)
Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST)
Safety Trained Supervisor (STS)
Safety Trained Supervisor Construction (STSC)
Foundation Area –
One semester each of chemistry, physics, college level mathematics (e.g., algebra,
geometry, mathematical analysis), and statistics at the undergraduate or postgraduate
level. Upon approval by the program coordinator, students can be conditionally admitted
into the OSM program if these courses have not been completed, but students are required
to take additional SAFE courses.
Complete your application and be sure to provide the Office of Graduate Studies with official transcripts.
Those transcripts can be sent to:
University of Central Missouri Graduate Studies Ward Edwards Building, Room 1900 Warrensburg, MO 64093
If you have any questions about applying, contact Graduate Studies at gradadmit@ucmo.edu.
At the time of graduation, the student with a Master of Science degree in Occupational
Safety Management will have:
An ability to identify, formulate, and solve broadly defined technical or scientific
problems by applying knowledge of mathematics and science and/or technical topics
to areas relevant to the discipline
An ability to formulate or design a system, process, procedure or program for the
intended purpose
An ability to develop and conduct experiments or test hypotheses, analyze and interpret
data and use scientific judgment to draw conclusions.
An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
An ability to understand ethical and professional responsibilities and the impact
of technical and/or scientific solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal
contexts.
An ability to function effectively on teams that establish goals, plan tasks, meet
deadlines, and analyze risk and uncertainty.
An ability to develop a project or research activity resulting in a report that demonstrates
both the mastery of the subject matter and a high level of communication skills
Within a few years after graduation, the graduates with a Master of Science degree
in Occupational Safety Management are expected to:
Demonstrate the ability to communicate professionally, both verbally and in writing.
Demonstrate knowledge of professional integrity and ethical standards.
Recognize the importance of contemporary, global and societal issues as they relate
to the practice of occupational safety and health.
Develop, coordinate, and/or participate on multidisciplinary teams to protect people,
property, and the environment.
Recognize the importance of life-long learning for the purpose of enhancing technical
competencies in safety, health and environmental fields.
* Estimated program cost for 2026-2027 academic year. These figures are calculated
based on 2026-2027 tuition rates and specific program requirements for a student taking
less than 9 credit hours. The costs for the program may vary depending on the number
of credit hours a student enrolled in each semester. These calculations do not include
cost of housing, cost of living, or other fees a student may incur as a result of
being enrolled at UCM. These figures are not guaranteed and are subject to change
based on program requirements or tuition changes. For more information regarding the
cost of the program please contact the Office of Student Financial Services.