The Occupational Safety program is intended for students with backgrounds in science or engineering seeking a professional public health career in occupational safety. In addition to core public health courses, the program builds upon a variety of courses enabling the student to recognize, evaluate and control existing and potential safety hazards due to faulty equipment, process design, chemical storage and handling. Students are trained to apply these safety principles in assessing engineering controls, personal protective techniques, administrative practices, conducting facility audits and to know when to consult with other environmental and occupational health and safety professionals to prevent or control work related injuries, illnesses or discomfort in the workplace. The program is a collaborative effort between the College of Public Health and the College of Engineering.

In addition to the overall Master of Public Health degree objectives, Occupational Safety graduates will be able to:

• Recognize safety hazards that cause disease/injury associated with occupations;
• Apply basic scientific and engineering principles to anticipate and identify actual potential safety hazards in the workplace;
• Interpret toxicology literature and chemical and safety data and incorporate this knowledge into the management of occupational safety hazards;
• Apply the principles of engineering in the design of appropriate controls for workplace safety hazards;
• Evaluate, use, maintain, and manage the use of appropriate types of personal protective equipment for control of worker exposures;
• Conceptualize, develop, manage and evaluate occupational safety programs in industry and elsewhere;
• Communicate to labor, management, and diverse community populations, both verbally and in writing, the nature, risks, and remediation of workplace safety hazards; and
• Interpret and assure compliance with applicable governmental regulations and standards pertaining to occupational safety and health.

• Public health course prerequisites: None.
• Suggested/preferred undergraduate majors: science, engineering, technology and management.
• Prerequisite undergraduate courses: No specific courses, however 60 credit hours of science, mathematics, engineering and technology with at least 15 credit hours in upper division classes.
• Work experience: None required; however occupational work experience is beneficial.
• Minimum undergrad GPA: Upper division GPA 3.0 or GRE of 1000 combined Quantitative plus Verbal Score.
• Verbal GRE score: minimum 450
• Quantitative GRE score: minimum 550
• Other criteria: Two Letters of recommendation.