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 focuses on occupational safety, health, and environmental issues in the workplace. Through an effective balance of health and safety classes, business administration coursework, and application of the developed skills to safety-related case studies, students develop the analytical tools and skills necessary for making sound health and safety decisions in industry and business.
The program consists of two concentrations: a Technical concentration and a Management concentration. The Technical concentration is designed for those looking to enter the field, while the Management concentration is intended for those with a safety-related bachelor’s degree-seeking to advance their education and career.
The Technical concentration provides a gateway into the field by focusing on occupational health and safety in the workplace. Students take courses related to occupational hygiene, safety, standards, and more in addition to core courses in areas such as safety administration and analysis, research, and risk management/loss control.
The Management concentration focuses on the business aspects of managing safety in the workplace through business administration coursework with application to safety. In addition to core courses in areas such as safety administration and analysis, research, and risk management/loss control, students take business courses in accounting, human resources and legal aspects of business, and more.
The Master of Science in Safety Management is accredited by the American Board of Engineering and Technology (ABET).
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:
-
- Additional department application requirements
Management Concentration
- The Management concentration is designed for both recent college graduates and in-service safety professionals. Applicants must have:
- Earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental health and safety (EHS) or occupational safety and health (OSH) or;
- Earned a bachelor’s degree and have four years of professional occupational safety and health (OSH) related work experience or;
- Earned a bachelor’s degree and completed 22 credit hours of undergraduate prerequisite Oakland University EHS and natural science coursework listed below:
- EHS 2250; EHS 2350; EHS 3300; EHS 3380; EHS 3350; EHS 4410 and CHM 2010 or PHY 1010 or PHY 1200 or equivalent.
- Earned bachelor’s degrees considered for admission must be from regionally-accredited institutions of higher education.
- Three (3) letters of recommendation from an academic instructor.
- Applicants should have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0.
Technical Concentration
The Technical concentration is designed for college graduates without a prior safety-related degree or work experience.
- Earned a bachelor’s degree from a regionally-accredited institution of higher education and completed the following:
- Prerequisite requirements for the Technical concentration:
- Six (6) credits hours of undergraduate Oakland University EHS coursework in the following:
1. EHS 2250 - EHS Training Methods
2. EHS 3380 - EHS Engineering and Technology and;
2. Undergraduate course (one each) in the following courses:
1. CHM 2010 - Intro to Organic and Biological Chemistry (or equivalent)
2. PHY 1200 - Physics of Everyday Life (or equivalent)
3. BIO 1002 - Human Biology (or equivalent)
3. MIOSHA Training Institute Level 2 Safety and Health Management Systems Certificate
1. Students must have completed or be enrolled in the certificate program.
2. Certificate recipients are eligible for undergraduate competency credit for 3 courses
(EHS 2350, EHS 3300, and EHS 4410)
2. Applicants should have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0.
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
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.