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SAFETY MANAGEMENT M.S.

Aug. 16, 2023

Next Start Date

12

Courses Required

$698

Cost Per Credit Hour

36

Total Credit Hours

Online Synchronous

Learning Formats

Preparing Risk Minimizers

The Master of Science in Safety Management program offered by the Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources prepares you to help companies follow state and federal regulations, while designing programs to prevent disease, injury, or damage to the environment. And with a strong job market - Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a 4 percent yearly increase in the number of jobs in this field through 2024 – you will be ready to respond to the needs of the public and employers, to inspect hazardous situations, and to investigate and administer government regulations.

Fast Five

  1. The degree is housed in the WVU Statler College of Engineering & Mineral Resources and has been ABET-accredited since 1993.
  2. Military Friendly - The Safety Management program is the only online program that will count your armed forces training.
  3. Multiple start dates per year.
  4. No campus visits required.
  5. Job placement rates near 100 percent.

Safety worker inspecting an airplane engine.

The Master of Science in Safety Management program is accredited by the Applied and Natural Science Accreditation Commission of ABET. The Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering offers the online Master of Science in Safety Management for those seeking careers in occupational health and safety. Graduates will be able to identify hazards in the workplace, design and implement procedures to protect workers, investigate workplace accidents, and conduct training on safety procedures.

Enrollment coach, Gary Phillips.

Gary is here to help.

Gary Phillips, Your Personal Online Admissions Coach

"Being a WVU graduate and a first-generation college student, I’m happy to be back to help you navigate the WVU System. Something WVU Online wants to do is assist you in creating your sense of community and continuity, making sure you have the answers to any and all questions."

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Safety Management M.S. Admission Requirements

A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution (certain Board of Regents degrees will be considered). A minimum GPA of a 3.0, 63 credit hours at the undergraduate or graduate level in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology (15 credits at the junior/senior/graduate level) as well as 21 credit hours in communications, humanities, and social sciences. Individuals who have at least a 2.75 will be considered for provisional admittance. Provisional students must earn a 3.25 GPA in the first 12 hours of the program.

Admissions

  • Apply with the online Graduate Application
  • Personal Statement
  • Pay graduate application fee
  • Request official transcripts from all institutions attended (other than WVU) and
    1. Mail to:
      WVU Office of Graduate Admissions
      One Waterfront Place
      PO Box 6510
      Morgantown, WV 26506-6510
    2. or Email to: GraduateAdmissions@mail.wvu.edu

*This program will review unofficial transcripts prior to application submission. Please email Gary Phillips at GPhillip@mail.wvu.edu for details.

English Language Proficiency

Generally, applicants whose first language is not English must submit adequate TOEFL or IELTS results before an application can be considered for admission to WVU:

  • TOEFL Internet-Based = 79
  • TOEFL Paper-Based = 550
  • IELTS = 6.5

Applicants who have received a high school diploma or a bachelor’s degree in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand or Australia need not submit TOEFL/IELTS results.

However, applicants having only a master’s degree from an accredited US college or university must still provide acceptable TOEFL or IELTS scores.

Application Requirements

  • Official transcripts of all previous college course work
  • ABET-ANSAC prerequisite course requirements:
    • sixty-three credit hours of approved science, mathematics, and other technical courses. Of these, at least fifteen credit hours must be junior or senior level.
    • twenty-one hours of social sciences, humanities, and/or communications.
    • Based on application review, additional requirements may be required on a case by case basis.
  • International applicants must meet the WVU requirement of English language proficiency.

All applicants whose first language is not English must provide proof of English language proficiency. WVU accepts either the TOEFL or the IELTS for this purpose.

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Tuition, Fees, and Financial Aid

Financial aid is available. Students are encouraged to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form to determine their eligibility for federal and state funds as well as scholarships. WVU’s FAFSA Code is 003827. Please contact the WVU Financial Aid Office at (304) 293-5242 or financialaid.wvu.edu for additional information.


Safety Management M.S. total degree cost: $25,128 – Residents and Non-Residents

Credits Cost
1 $698
3 $2,094
6 $4,188
9 $6,282

Courses and Curriculum


A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required in all courses.

Course Requirements
A minimum of 60% of courses must be from 500 level or above.

Course Title Credit Hours
SAFM 501 Safety Management Integration 3
SAFM 502 Controlling Environmental and Personnel Hazards 3
SAFM 505 Safety Legislation and Compliance 3
SAFM 528 Economic Aspects of Safety 3
SAFM 534 Fire Safety Management 3
SAFM 550 Loss Control and Recovery 3
SAFM 552 Safety and Health Training 3
SAFM 640 Instrumentation for Safety Managers 3
SAFM 689 Professional Field Experience 3

Electives
Select three from the following:

Course Title Credit Hours
SAFM 470 Managing Construction Safety 3
SAFM 471 Motor Fleet Safety 3
SAFM 533 Disaster Preparedness 3
SAFM 539 Security Management 3
SAFM 580 Fundamentals of Environmental Management 3
OEHS 527 Noise Measurement and Control 3
OEHS 528 Industrial Ventilation Design 3
OEHS 725 Industrial Hygiene Sampling and Analysis 3
IENG 561 Industrial Hygiene Engineering 3
IENG 564 Industrial Ergonomics 3
IENG 660 Human Factors System Design 3
IENG 662 Systems Safety Engineering 3
ENVP 515 Hazardous Waste Training 3
ENVP 515L Hazardous Waste Training Laboratory 3
ENVP 555 Environmental Sampling and Analysis 3
MINE 471 Mine and Safety Management 3
RESM 440 Foundations of Applied Geographic Information Systems 3
RESM 440L Foundations of Applied Geographic Information Systems Laboratory 3
RESM 480 Environmental Regulation 3
OEHS 601 Environmental Health 3
OEHS 620 Industrial Hygiene 3
OEHS 622 Public Health Toxicology 3
OEHS 623 Occupational Injury Prevention 3
OEHS 630 Public Health Biology 3
OEHS 665 Worksite Evaluation 3
SBHS 601 Social and Behavioral Theory 3
FIN 455 Risk Management 3
CHPR 614 Injury Prevention and Control 3

Any BIOS, EPID, IENG (except IENG 461), IH&S, OEHS, PUBH, SAFM, SBHS course 400-795, as approved by the student's AEC

Choose 1 of the following options:

Thesis Option

Course Title Credit Hours
SAFM 697 Research 6
Final Oral or Written Examination
Thesis

Problem Report Option

Course Title Credit Hours
SAFM 697 Research 3
Final Oral or Written Examination
Formal written report or professional report/paper

Coursework Option

Course Title Credit Hours
Final Oral or Written Examination

Total Hours: 36-42

Your future in Safety Management

To meet Program Educational Objectives of the Safety Management program, students must be able to meet the following outcomes at the time of their graduation:

  • Mathematics and science and/or technical topics to areas relevant to safety management.
  • An ability to formulate or design a system, process, procedure or program to meet desired needs.
  • 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.

The Benefits to Choosing Our Program

A graduate of the Safety Management program will be able to:

  • Communicate effectively, orally and in writing, including the transmission of safety data to management and employees.
  • Demonstrate knowledge and skills in the area of safety management.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of ethical and professional responsibilities and knowledge of applicable legislation and regulations.
  • Demonstrate the ability to apply various research activities through the decision-making process used in safety management.

Career Outlook for Safety Management

Students who graduate from WVU Online with the Safety Management M.S. degree may be prepared for the following careers. These are only a few examples of some of the many opportunities that will be open to you with this degree. Advanced degrees or certifications may be required for some positions: occupational health and safety technician/specialist, industrial safety and health engineer, emergency management director, and environmental specialist.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long will it take me to earn my Safety Management Master's Degree?

Completion of the Master of Science Degree in Safety Management should take a student 18 months to complete following the coursework option plan of study.

Do I need to have a Bachelor's Degree in Safety Management?

Students who do not have a bachelor’s degree in Safety Management may be required to take a set of undergraduate courses above and beyond the minimum coursework requirements.

What exactly is a Risk Minimizer?

The Safety Management program will prepare graduates to meet the safety mission of any enterprise. The goal is to protect, conserve, and improve the resources – people, property and efficacy – of the organization.

What kind of jobs can I get with a Master's Degree in Safety Management?

Jobs in this field can include but are not limited to the following careers: occupational health and safety technician/specialist, industrial safety and health engineer, emergency management director, and environmental specialist.

Is there a place to view courses in detail?

To view the courses related to this degree please visit the WVU Catalog.

WVU Online

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Occasionally a student will encounter an issue with an online course that he or she doesn’t know how to resolve. Should this occur, please visit the link below.

Internal Student Complaint Process

Contact Us

WVU Online
West Virginia University
PO Box 6800
Morgantown, WV 26506-6800


Phone: (800) 253-2762
Email: WVUOnlineInquiry@mail.wvu.edu

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