Master of Science in Safety Management

Department of Public and Environmental Wellness 433 Meadow Brook Rd • (248) 370-3562 • Fax (248) 364-8657 (map) https://www.oakland.edu/shs/public-and-environmental-wellness/mssm/ Program Director Darryl Hill, Lecturer dhill@oakland.edu

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Program delivery

The Master of Science in Safety Management degree program is delivered fully online at in-state rates for both residents of Michigan and non-resident students. 

Program description

The Master of Science in Safety Management degree was developed through a cooperative effort between the School of Health Sciences and the School of Business Administration at Oakland University. This master’s degree program focuses on the business aspects of safety management in the workplace and combines an effective balance of core MBA coursework with application of these business skills to safety-related case studies in risk assessment, loss control, risk management, and safety program planning, administration and management.

This master’s degree is intended to benefit college graduates and in-service safety professionals with a safety-related bachelor’s degree or other bachelor’s degree coupled with safety-related work experience or required prerequisite safety courses. The goal of the MSSM degree program is to provide the business analytical tools and skills necessary for making sound management decisions in business and industry as they relate to occupational safety, health, and environmental issues in the workplace. Upon completion of this program of study, the graduate should be able to:

• Communicate effectively with top management or senior executives and cost justify interventions necessary to protect employees or community, property, and the environment.

• Enhance management commitment to workplace improvements in safety and health by increasing management’s understanding of the safety and health.

• Develop increased employee involvement in development of safety and health interventions through better understanding of the business ramifications and needs for safety and health.

• Implement safety and health programs/interventions that optimize business and safety performance in unison.
   
• Develop return of investment evaluations that demonstrate understanding for the financial and operational impacts of safety.

• Effectively integrate occupational safety and health programs that enhance operational efficiency, productivity, and operational sustainability.

• Translate moral, ethical, legal, and operational needs for safety and health program/interventions into terms that enable a business CEO or government agency director to recognize a valid business requirement or public policy.
• Identify strategies that align safety and health improvements with organizational priorities.
   
• Demonstrate that safety in the workplace makes good business sense beyond legal requirements and is sound public policy.

Admission terms and application deadlines

Before an applicant’s file can be reviewed for full program admission, all application documents must be received in Oakland University Graduate School by the semester deadlines listed below. Incomplete applications will not be sent to departments for admission review.

• February 15 (early) April 15 (regular) and July 15 (late) for fall semester
• October 1 (early) and November 15 (regular) for winter semester
• March 1 (regular) for summer semester
• International applicants  

Application requirements

To be considered for graduate admission, applicants must submit all Graduate Application Requirements and additional department requirements by the published application deadlines:

1. Graduate Application Requirements
      
    
2. Additional department application requirements

• Applicants must have earned a bachelor’s degree in occupational safety and health or earned a bachelor’s degree and have four years of safety-related work experience or earned a bachelor’s degree and completed 22 credit hours of undergraduate prerequisite Oakland University OSH or EHS course work.

• Earned bachelor’s degrees considered for admission must be from regionally-accredited institutions of higher education.
• A letter of recommendation from an academic instructor.
• Applicants should have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0.
• Curriculum vitae or resume
• Personal statement describing career experiences and professional goals.
• Applicants may be required to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) and arrange for their official GRE scores to be submitted to Oakland University. The institution code for Oakland University is 1497.
• Applicants with an undergraduate GPA less than 3.0 with the appropriate academic background and strong letters of recommendation may be considered for admission with limited standing. Applicants who qualify for this admission status must complete a minimum of 16 credits of graduate-level work, with a GPA of 3.0 or above within the first year of their program, to be advanced to full admission.

Admission review and assessment

Admission to graduate school at Oakland University is selective. In making admission recommendations to Oakland University Graduate School, each department assesses the potential of applicants for success in the program by examining their undergraduate records, goal statement, letters of recommendation, prerequisite courses and any other admission requirements established by the academic department. 

Related links

• Readmission (not enrolled for two years)      
• Transferring to Oakland University     
• Transferring to a new program  

Academic advising

Students who are considering applying to the Master of Science in Safety Management program may contact the academic adviser for the School of Health Sciences to review prerequisite courses and application requirements. Upon acceptance to the program, students are assigned a faculty adviser.