Safety Management, M.S.
Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources
The Master of Science in Safety Management program prepares you to help companies follow state and federal regulations, while designing programs to prevent disease, injury, or damage to the environment. After graduation from the program, 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.
Cost:
$746 / Cost per credit hour *
Courses and Credits:
12 Courses / 36 Credits
Duration:
One to two years
Dates:
Next Start: August 20, 2025 Admission Terms: Fall, Summer, Spring
Learning Format:
Online asynchronous
Program Overview
Preparing Risk Minimizers
The Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering offers the fully-online Master of
Science in Safety Management for those seeking careers in occupational health and
safety. Graduates will be equipped to identify hazards in the workplace, design
and implement procedures to protect workers, investigate workplace accidents, and
conduct training on safety procedures.
The Master of Science in Safety Management program is accredited by the Applied
and Natural Science Accreditation Commission of ABET
.
After completing the program, you 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.
Curriculum
Program Educational Objectives/Outcomes
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:
- A thorough understanding of 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.
- SAFM 501: Safety Management Integration
- SAFM 502: Controlling Environmental and Personnel Hazards
- SAFM 505: Safety Legislation and Compliance
- SAFM 528: Economic Aspects of Safety
- SAFM 534: Fire Safety Management
- SAFM 550: Loss Control and Recovery
- SAFM 552: Safety and Health Training
- SAFM 640: Instrumentation for Safety Managers
- SAFM 689: Professional Field Experience
- SAFM 470: Managing Construction Safety, 3 credit hours
- SAFM 471: Motor Fleet Safety, 3 credit hours
- SAFM 533: Disaster Preparedness, 3 credit hours
- SAFM 539: Security Management, 3 credit hours
- SAFM 580: Fundamentals of Environmental Management, 3 credit hours
- SAFM 641: Leadership Safety Management, 3 credit hours
- EMGT 501: Engineering and Systems Management, 3 credit hours
- EMGT 502: Quality Management Systems, 3 credit hours
- EMGT 503: Project Management, 3 credit hours
- EMGT 504: Operations and Supply Chain Management, 3 credit hours
- EMGT 506: Lean Six Sigma, 3 credit hours
- EMGT 511: Analytics for Decision Making, 3 credit hours
- EMGT 512: Machine Learning for Business Analytics, 3 credit hours
- EMGT 513: Managerial Accounting/Financial Analytics, 3 credit hours
- EMGT 521: Strategic Engineering Management, 3 credit hours
- EMGT 522: New Product and Services Development, 3 credit hours
- EMGT 523: Team Facilitation, 3 credit hours
- RESM 440: Foundations of Applied Geographic Information Systems, 3 credit hours
- RESM 460: Energy Project and Program Management, 3 credit hours
- AGEE 421: Agricultural and Natural Resource Communications, 3 credit hours
- IENG 474: Technology Entrepreneurship, 3 credit hours
- FNRS 421: Renewable Resources Policy and Governance, 3 credit hours
- FNRS 425: Global Forest Resources, 3 credit hours
- FNRS 485: Environmental Water Resource, 3 credit hours
Any online STEM or related course 400-795 and approved by the student's advisor.
- Coursework Option (most students pursue this option)
- Final Oral or Written Examination
- Total: 36-42 Credit Hours
- Thesis Option
- SAFM 697: Research, 6 credit hours
- Final Oral or Written Examination
- Thesis
- Problem Report Option
- SAFM 697: Research, 3 credit hours
- Final Oral or Written Examination
- Formal Written Report or Professional Report/Paper
Admissions Requirements and Eligibility
- 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
- 21 credit hours in communications, humanities, and social sciences.
- Based on application review, additional requirements may be required on a case by case basis.
Admissions Process and How to Apply
- Personal Statement
- Your personal statement should include a very brief background (education, work, life). Connect this to where you are going with it (career, life, etc.).
- Please include what you expect to get out of the Safety Management M.S. degree
and how gaining the M.S. degree can positively influence your career and its
effect on others. "What does this safety degree mean to me and what can I do
with it."
- Pay graduate application fee
- Request official transcripts from all institutions attended (other than WVU) and
- Mail to: WVU Hub P.O. Box 6004 Morgantown, WV 26506
- or Email to: GraduateAdmissions@mail.wvu.edu.
-
TOEFL Internet-Based = 79
-
TOEFL Paper-Based = 550
- IELTS = 6.5
However, applicants having only a master’s degree from an accredited US college or university must still provide acceptable TOEFL or IELTS scores.
Tuition, Fees and Financial Aid
- File the application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by the June deadline to determine eligibility for funding and scholarships.
- Inquire with your employer about potential financial support for continuing your education.
Connect with Our Team
Ann Clayton Online Admissions Coach
(304) 293-0915 Ann.Clayton@mail.wvu.edu
Explore Profile Schedule Chat
Careers and Employment
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.
Career Paths
- Occupational Health and Safety Technician/Specialist
- Industrial Safety and Health Engineer
- Emergency Management Director
- Environmental Specialist