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Safety Management, M.S.

Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

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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 / 8-week terms

Dates:

Next Start: August 20, 2025 Admission Terms: Fall, Summer, Spring

Learning Format:

Online asynchronous

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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 . 

  • Accredited & Respected: Earn a degree from a program accredited by ABET’s ANSAC, ensuring high standards in safety education.
  • Flexible Online Format: Designed for working professionals seeking to advance their careers in occupational health and safety.
  • Real-World Application: Learn to identify hazards, investigate incidents, and implement effective safety procedures and training.
  • Regulatory Expertise: Gain in-depth knowledge of state and federal safety regulations and how to apply them in diverse industries.
  • Leadership & Communication: Develop the skills to communicate safety data, lead teams, and make ethical, research-informed decisions.

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.

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.

  • 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**

Electives
Select three from the following:

  • 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 Development for 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 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
  • IENG 474: Technology Entrepreneurship, 3 credit hours
  • Other online courses may be approved as electives by advisor
Final Examination
M.S. students following the thesis or problem report option must prepare a written research proposal. The proposal must be approved by the student's AEC at least one semester prior to the final oral examination. All students, regardless of option, are required to pass a final oral or written examination, administered by their AEC, covering the thesis or problem report and/or related course material.

*Students who do not hold a baccalaureate degree in safety management may be required to take a set of undergraduate courses above and beyond the minimum coursework requirements.

**Students who have SHE work experience have the possibility to waive SAFM 689 and take an additional elective, please see your advisor for approval.

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.
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 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
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.

Tuition, Fees and Financial Aid

The University provides a comprehensive approach to helping you finance your education. Learn more on the WVU Financial Aid Website.

Tuition and fees are usually not the only educational expenses you may have while pursuing a degree. You may have other costs such as books, supplies, and living expenses. Visit the Estimate Costs and Aid webpage to estimate and plan for other potential expenses.

Students are encouraged to:
  • 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.
Tuition per credit hour is listed on the page of your program of interest. Please note, tuition and fees are reviewed and subject to change at the start of each academic year.

Connect with Our Team

Ann Clayton Online Admissions Coach

(304) 293-0915 Ann.Clayton@mail.wvu.edu

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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

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Get in Touch

The WVU Online team is here for you during your online learning journey. We can help you navigate the curriculum of your program of interest, understand the application process, and keep you posted on upcoming events and deadlines.

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