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Occupational Safety Management, MS

Master’s in Occupational Safety Management

Do you want to further position yourself to keep people and companies safe in today’s complicated world? Safety jobs are available in every industry, including construction, manufacturing, oil and gas, insurance, healthcare, government agencies and more. Whatever your undergraduate degree or how much work experience you have, you can find opportunities in the occupational safety field by pursuing a Master of Science in Occupational Safety Management (OSM) from the University of Central Missouri. 

UCM offers one of very few ABET-accredited MS programs in occupational safety management in the country, so your master’s degree will get employers to take notice. Our focus on hands-on experience means you’ll be ready to move into a leadership role in the workforce after graduation, and use the most current knowledge and technology. 

Our small classroom sizes range from just 10 to 25 graduate students, so you get the personal attention you deserve as you hone your skills and advance toward your individual goals.

You will be eligible for the Graduate Safety Practicioner (GSP®) designation from the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) upon graduation with the OSM MS degree at UCM.

Get ahead in occupational safety and health jobs — on the job

At the University of Central Missouri, you can work toward your graduate Occupational Safety Management degree at your own pace to meet your own goals. Typically, full-time students complete their Master of Occupational Safety Management within one to two years. Part-time students who take two courses each semester can complete the degree within five to six semesters. 

Whether you pursue your MS degree in Occupational Safety Management 100% online, in Warrensburg, in a hybrid format or even over the summer, you can advance your career while in your current job thanks to UCM’s flexible program options. Our customizable master’s program works with your schedule.

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Contact

Miaozong Wu, PhD, CSP, ARM
Associate Professor of Safety and Industrial Hygiene
Coordinator of MS in Occupational Safety Management
Warrensburg, MO
Tel: 660-543-4411
miawu@ucmo.edu

College of Health, Science and Technology

Department of Occupational Risk and Safety Science


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ABET-accredited master’s degree

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BCSP Qualified Academic Program

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Graduate Safety Practitioner® (GSP) designation

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Established, reputable program

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Finish in one to two years

 

What you will study

In the Occupational Safety Management program you will take advanced courses in occupational hazard management, safety program management, risk management and financing, sustainability, industrial hygiene, and gain your practical and research skills necessary for your career success in the environmental health and safety (EHS) management and leadership roles

Our ABET-accredited M.S. in Occupational Safety Management also allows you to customize your study plan and choose from over 20 electives based on your career focus, interests and goals. For example, our graduate safety and health lab course provides a thorough introduction to a variety of instruments used by professionals in occupational safety and health jobs.You can also advance your knowledge and practical skills by taking our advanced elective courses such as EHS legislation & standard, emergency planning and operations, environmental compliance and remediation, EHS Risk assessment, loss control, fire risk management, ergonomics, noise control, industrial ventilation, etc.

Based upon your education and work experience at the time of application, you will be admitted into one of our three OSM areas:

  • Professional Certification concentration: Applicants have possession of GSP, ASP, or CSP certification from BCSP. Students complete 30 graduate credit hours for M.S. Occupational Safety Management degree.
  • Work Experience concentration: Applicants have certificates (such as SMS, OHST, CHST, STS or STSC), or ASP exam eligibility letter approved by BCSP (you can apply ASP exam eligibility https://www.bcsp.org/associate-safety-professional-asp/). Students complete 33 graduate credit hours for M.S. Occupational Safety Management degree.
  • Foundation concentration: Applicants need to have possession of a bachelor’s degree from any discipline with  GPA 2.5 or above, and four background course requirements (one semester each of chemistry, physics, college level mathematics, and statistics). Students complete 36 graduate credit hours for M.S. Occupational Safety Management degree, including an internship to gain their occupational safety management field and practical experience.

 

Excellence in Occupational Safety Management

  • UCM offers the only ABET-accredited MS program titled with Occupational Safety Management. Our program is accredited by the Applied and Natural Sciences Accreditation Commission (ANSAC) of ABET.
  • Our MS in Occupational Safety Management also carries a distinction as a Qualified Academic Program (QAP) through the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP), setting your degree apart in the field. BCSP offers our OSM program a $5,000 scholarship annually.
  • Most Focused College for Occupational Safety & Health Technology (College Factual, 2022)

 

Unique learning opportunities in occupational safety management

No matter how you pursue your advanced occupational safety degree from the University of Central Missouri, take advantage of everything our one-of-a-kind graduate program offers:

  • State-of-the-art facilities: Learn best practices and occupational safety and health jobs skills using the latest safety and industrial hygiene equipment. 
  • Industry connections: Network with other industry professionals in Kansas City’s active chapters of the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) and American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA). Both chapters work closely with our program.
  • Applied projects: Our Occupational Safety Management degree program provides hands-on experience you need to advance your career in the industry. Gain exposure to new occupational safety and health jobs through applied projects, as well as internship opportunities.

Earn your GSP designation

All Occupational Safety Management graduates are eligible for the Graduate Safety Practitioner (GSP) designation awarded by the BCSP. GSP is an alternate path toward the professional certification of Certified Safety Professional (CSP). Only students who graduate from an ABET-accreditied saftey program or a Qualified Academic Program (QAP) meeting the BCSP standards are eligible for the GSP designation, making it highly respected. Our Occupational Safety Management M.S. degree are both ABET-accredited and BCSP QAP.

What can you do with a master’s degree in Occupational Safety Management from UCM?

Our OSM graduates find occupational safety and health jobs in a variety of industries, including but not limited to, construction, insurance, manufacturing and oil and gas. Our graduates are also employed by government agencies and non-profit organizations.

Use our interactive tool below to learn more about how your Master of Occupational Safety Management degree from the University of Central Missouri will help you achieve your future career goals.

Check out UCM’s first destination success and salary statistics 

 

 
 


 

Financial assistance options for your Occupational Safety Management master’s degree

The University of Central Missouri offers a variety of ways to help you finance your Occupational Safety Management M.S. degree

In addition, several scholarships specifically for safety science students are available, including:

  • A $5,000 annual scholarship through the Board of Certified Safety Professionals will be awarded to an OSM student
  • Missouri Employers Mutual full tuition scholarship offered through the UCM Foundation
  • A $1,000 to $1,500 scholarship from the Construction Safety Group of Kansas City 
  • ASSP Foundation Scholarships
  • AIH Foundation Scholarships  
  • International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) Daniel K. Shipp Scholarship ($2,500)
  • Don B. Daily Safety Steel Intern Scholarship, which includes a paid summer internship at a North American steel manufacturing facility or industry supplier

You can learn more about program-specific scholarships at the UCM Scholarship Finder.

 

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Take your degree further.

Add a Ph.D. to your graduate Safety Science degree to sharpen your leadership skills for careers in the public or private sector.

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Make yourself more marketable.

Adding a graduate certificate to your master’s degree gives you a competitive edge in the industry. You’ll understand a company’s entire operations and deliver value both from a safety and cost-savings perspective.

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Explore programs related to occupational safety management.

You may also be interested in other master’s programs at UCM that offer specialized training and experience as an alternative program or a dual degree. 

What are the admissions 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 OSA 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:
    1. Eligibility to sit for the ASP exam; An ASP exam eligibility letter from BCSP must be submitted with application to the program. OR
    2. Possession of current certification in good standing of any of the following certifications through the BCSP:
      1. Safety Management Specialist (SMS)
      2. Occupational Hygiene and Safety Technician (OHST)
      3. Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST)
      4. Safety Trained Supervisor (STS)
      5. 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.

How do I apply?

Complete your application and be sure to provide the Graduate and International Student Services with official transcripts.

Those transcripts can be sent to:

University of Central Missouri
Graduate and International Student Services
Ward Edwards Building, Room 1800
Warrensburg, MO 64093

If you have any questions about applying, contact the Graduate and International Student Services at

660-543-4621 or 660-543-4092
FAX: 660-543-4778

Website: https://www.ucmo.edu/offices/ graduate-and-international- student-services/index.php  

 

Program Student Outcomes

 At the time of graduation, the student with a Master of Science degree in Occupational Safety Management will have:  

  1. 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
  2. An ability to formulate or design a system, process, procedure or program to meet desired needs
  3. An ability to develop and conduct experiments or test hypotheses, analyze and interpret data and use scientific judgment to draw conclusions.
  4. An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
  5. An ability to understand ethical and professional responsibilities and the impact of technical and/or scientific solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
  6. An ability to function effectively on teams that establish goals, plan tasks, meet deadlines, and analyze risk and uncertainty.
  7. 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

Program Educational Objectives

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.

Where can I find enrollment and graduation data?

The UCM Campus Data Hub allows you to access enrollment and graduation data for the University and individual programs at: https://www.ucmo.edu/ offices/university-analytics- and-institutional-research/ campus-data/index.php 

 

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