Through Southeastern Oklahoma State University, you can pursue an online Bachelor of Science in Occupational Safety & Health. This degree requires a minimum of 124 credit hours, although completion times vary.
What Can You Learn From an Occupational Safety Degree?
A Bachelor of Science in Occupational Safety & Health program focuses on teaching students how to ensure safety and security in the workplace. By the end of the degree plan, you should be able to properly identify, examine, and solve workplace risks, hazards, and infractions.
What Classes Does This Degree Offer?
To graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Safety & Health, you must complete a minimum of 124 credit hours, categorized into the following requirements:
- 41 Occupational Safety and Health credit hours.
- 18-24 credit hours from a minor.
- 44 General Education credit hours.
- Electives determined by an advisor to meet university graduation requirements.
The Occupational Safety and Health credit hours consist of mostly upper-level courses, 4000 and up. The entry-level course is Introduction to Occupational Safety and Health, as expected — while the upper-level courses delve deeper into specific hazards, with classes such as:
- Systems Approach to Hazard Control.
- Safety Training and Instructional Techniques.
- Lab Industrial Hygiene.
- Hazardous Materials and Waste Management.
The General Education credit hours make up most of the degree’s requirements, covering an array of university core classes that require nine hours of communications courses, 12 hours of social behavioral sciences courses, 14 hours of science and mathematics courses, and nine hours of humanities courses.
With the aid of an advisor, you can choose a minor that positions you for your future career. The elective courses can also be designated with the help of your advisor, but only as needed in accordance with your graduation requirements. Some of the electives this program offers are:
- Legal Environment of Business.
- Oil and Gas Safety and Production.
- Management and Organizational Behavior.
- Human Resource Management.
This program also offers the invaluable opportunity to receive credit through a professional internship in the field of occupational safety. Another option is the Special Studies credit — the exciting chance for you to create your own individualized project with the support of your professor.
What Can You Gain From This Degree?
This degree can provide you with an understanding of policy, regulatory compliance and enforcement. You can gain the critical thinking skills and knowledge to design and implement your own safety measures. With this degree on your resume, you open the doors to careers in the occupational safety and compliance sector.
As well as providing practical knowledge, the Bachelor of Science in Occupational Safety & Health degree program is also a Qualified Academic Program with the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP), which entitles graduates to the following:
- The Graduate Safety Practitioner (GSP) certification.
- The option to opt out of the Associate Safety Professional (ASP) portion of the Certified Safety Professional (CSP) exam.
Learn more about Southeastern Oklahoma State University’s online Bachelor of Science in Occupational Safety & Health.