Occupational Safety and Health, B.S.

James D. McIntosh, CIH, CSP, Chair
mcintoshj@marshall.edu

The safety profession is an occupational field concerned with the preservation of both human and property resources through the application of various principles drawn from disciplines such as engineering, education, psychology, physiology, hygiene, health, physics and management. “Occupational Safety and Health” is a term for everything that goes into the prevention of accidents, illnesses, fires, explosions and other events which damage people, property and the environment.

The Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Safety and Health offers students the option of preparing for entry-level positions in industry, governmental agencies and related service industries. The need for safety professionals has expanded due to Federal and State legislation governing safety and health in the workplace and an increase in public awareness of safety and health factors.

The program is accredited by the Applied Science Accreditation Commission/Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ASAC/ABET) and recognized by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) for the preparation of safety professionals. The BCSP recognition allows graduating seniors to be awarded the designation of GSP (Graduate Safety Practitioner). This certification provides a significant advantage to our students entering the job market. Students can apply online for the GSP at https://www.bcsp.org/. The GSP designation will take the place of the ASP designation as the student graduates and continues work toward becoming a Certified Safety Professional (CSP).

Marshall University's B.S. in Occupational Safety and Health is a Qualified Academic Program (QAP) through the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP). Thus, Marshall's graduates are eligible to apply for the Graduate Safety Practitioner (GSP), a BCSP-approved credential necessary to apply for the Certified Safety Professional (CSP).

Marshall University's B.S. in Occupational Safety and Health also is recognized with the Associate Safety and Health Manager (ASHM) program by the Institute of Hazardous Materials Management (IHMM). Much like the BCSP with the GSP designation, the ASHM designation, which students may apply for after graduation, is an important stepping stone to the accredited Certified Safety and Health Manager (CSHM) certification. The CSHM is accredited by the Council of Engineering and Scientific Specialty Board.

The Program Educational Objectives of Marshall University’s BS in Occupational Safety and Health have been developed to prepare graduates to achieve the professional accomplishments and recognition appropriate for successful careers in occupational safety and health including:

Graduates will be able to apply a broad educational background in mathematics, science, technology, communications, and management to the challenges and demands of occupational safety and health in industrial, commercial, governmental, and service organizations of today’s global economy.
Graduates will be able to apply critical thinking skills to the anticipation, identification, evaluation, prevention and control of occupational and environmental hazards relative to accident prevention, construction safety, environmental protection, emergency preparedness, ergonomics and human factors, fire prevention, hazardous materials safety, industrial hygiene, process safety, and occupational health.
Graduates will be able to apply communication, problem solving, and team building skills to facilitate the continuous improvement of occupational safety, environmental health, and risk control management systems.
Graduates will develop ethical, societal, and professional responsibility, recognize the limits of their knowledge, and pursue life-long learning opportunities to enhance their value to the organizations, communities and stakeholders they serve.

It is the responsibility of the Weisberg Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering to ensure that baccalaureate degree students graduating from the Occupational Safety and Health Program at Marshall University will be able to demonstrate the following Student Outcomes with respect to the occupational safety and health profession:

An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and applied sciences, formulate or design a system, process, or program to meet desired needs, identify and solve applied science problems.
Ability to understand the impact of solutions in a global and societal context and an ability to engage in life-long learning.
Ability to design and conduct experiment, as well as to analyze and interpret data.
Ability to communicate effectively.
Ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern scientific and technical tools necessary for professional practice, knowledge of contemporary issues, understanding of professional and ethical responsibility.
Ability to function on multidisciplinary teams.

To qualify for admission to the B.S. in Occupational Safety and Health degree program a minimum Math ACT of 17 and minimum composite ACT of 17. (MTH SAT 440; composite SAT 820) is required. Each student in the program will be expected to maintain a 2.0 GPA overall and in areas of specialization. An internship (capstone experience) is required to be completed under the Core Curriculum and the program requirements.

Course Requirements

Bison image - General Education Course

Cap graduation image - Milestone course: a key success marker for your major. See your advisor to discuss the importance of this course in your plan of study.

The Core Curriculum is designed to foster critical thinking skills and introduce students to basic domains of thinking that transcend disciplines. The Core applies to all majors. Information on specific classes in the Core can be found at https://www.marshall.edu/gened/.

Course List
Code	Title	Credit Hours
Core Curriculum
Core 1: Critical Thinking
FYS 100	First Yr Sem Critical Thinking	3
SFT 235	Intro to Occup Safety (CT)	3
PSY 201	Introductory Psychology (CT)	3
Core 2
ENG 101	Beginning Composition	3
ENG 201	Advanced Composition	3
CMM 103	Fund Speech-Communication	3
MTH 127	College Algebra-Expanded	3-5
or MTH 130	College Algebra
BSC 104	Introduction to Biology	3-4
or BSC 120	Principles of Biology I
BSC 104L	Introduction to Biology Lab	1
or BSC 120L	Principles of Biology I Lab
Core II Humanities (WI section)		3
PSY 201	Introductory Psychology (CT)	3
Core II Fine Arts		3
Additional University Requirements
ENG 354	Scientific & Tech Writing	3
Writing Intensive (rec. Core II Hum)		3
SFT 235	Intro to Occup Safety (CT) (Multicultural or International)	3
SFT 490	Safety Internship (Senior Project)	3
Major-Specific
ENG 354	Scientific & Tech Writing (WI)	3
Select one of the following:		3-5
MTH 122	Plane Trigonometry
MTH 132	Precalculus with Sci Applica
MTH 229	Calculus/Analytic Geom I (CT)
CHM 211	Principles of Chemistry I	3
CHM 217	Principles of Chem Lab I	2
CHM 212	Principles Chemistry II	3
CHM 218	Principles of Chem Lab II	2
PHY 201	College Physics I	3
PHY 202	General Physics I Laboratory	1
PHY 203	College Physics II	3
PHY 204	General Physics 2 Laboratory	1
BSC 104	Introduction to Biology	4
or BSC 120	Principles of Biology I
MGT 320	Principles of Management	3
or ACC 215	Intro Financial Accounting(CT)
Stats Elective: Select one of the following:
PSY 223	Elem Behavioral Stat
MGT 218	Business Quantitative Methods
STA 225	Introductory Statistics (CT)
PSY 201	Introductory Psychology (CT)	3
HS 201	Intro Appl Anat & Physiol	3
SFT 235	Intro to Occup Safety (CT) (I)	3
SFT 340	Indust Fire Prevent	3
SFT 372	Safety & Industrial Tech	3
SFT 373	Prin Ergonomics & Hum Factors	3
SFT 373L	Prin of Ergonomics Lab	1
SFT 375	Construction Safety I	3
SFT 378	Safety Eval & Measurement	3
SFT 454	Industrial Hygiene	3
SFT 454L	Industrial Hygiene Lab	2
SFT 460	Safety Training Methods	3
SFT 465	Incident Investigation Tech	3
SFT 498	Envir Safety & Health Legis	3
SFT 499	Dev & Mgt of Occup Safety Prog	3
SFT 490	Safety Internship	3
SFT Electives		12
Select four of the following:
SFT 453	International Safety & Health
SFT 458	Hospital Safety
SFT 461	Workers Compensation
SFT 480	Special Topics
SFT 481	Special Topics
SFT 482	Special Topics
SFT 483	Special Topics
SFT 485	Independent Study
SFT 486	Independent Study
SFT 487	Independent Study
SFT 491	Workshop
SFT 493	Workshop
SFT 494	Workshop
BSC 250	Microbiol & Human Disease
ENGR 222	Engr Cost Analysis & Economy
ENGR 451	Intro to Proj Management
Free Elective		3
Free Elective		2

Major Information

The mathematics a student must take will depend upon several factors such as the student’s ACT score and mathematics proficiency. It is very important to talk to your advisor in selecting courses.
A minimum of 120 hours is required for graduation.
Because the B.S. degree is an accredited program by ASAC/ABET, students must be able to demonstrate “proficiency” in the areas of mathematics and statistics; chemistry, physics, and sciences; communication studies; psychology and physiology; and major field of study, i.e. safety. To demonstrate proficiency in the areas, a grade no less than a C is required. Courses in the areas of proficiency listed above cannot be completed under the CR/NC course option.
Course offerings and course attributes are subject to change semesters. Please consult each semesters schedule of courses for availability and attributes.
Students are required to know and track their degree requirements for graduation or for entrance to a professional school.

Semester Plan

Bison image - General Education Course

Cap graduation image - Milestone course: a key success marker for your major. See your advisor to discuss the importance of this course in your plan of study.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
First Semester		Credit Hours
SFT 235	Intro to Occup Safety (CT)	3
ENG 101	Beginning Composition	3
MTH 127 or MTH 130	College Algebra-Expanded or College Algebra	3-5
CMM 103	Fund Speech-Communication	3
FYS 100	First Yr Sem Critical Thinking	3
UNI 100	Freshman First Class	1
	Credit Hours	16-18
Second Semester
BSC 104 or BSC 120	Introduction to Biology or Principles of Biology I	3-4
BSC 104L or BSC 120L	Introduction to Biology Lab or Principles of Biology I Lab	1
Core II Fine Arts		3
ENG 201	Advanced Composition	3
SFT 372	Safety & Industrial Tech	3
Select one of the following:		3-5
MTH 122	Plane Trigonometry
MTH 132	Precalculus with Sci Applica
MTH 229	Calculus/Analytic Geom I (CT)
	Credit Hours	16-19
Second Year
First Semester
PSY 201	Introductory Psychology (CT)	3
PHY 201	College Physics I	3
PHY 202	General Physics I Laboratory	1
SFT 340	Indust Fire Prevent	3
SFT 375	Construction Safety I	3
Core II Humanities (WI)		3
	Credit Hours	16
Second Semester
PHY 203	College Physics II	3
PHY 204	General Physics 2 Laboratory	1
SFT 373	Prin Ergonomics & Hum Factors	3
SFT 373L	Prin of Ergonomics Lab	1
ENG 354	Scientific & Tech Writing	3
Select one of the following Statistics courses:		3
STA 225	Introductory Statistics (CT)
PSY 223	Elem Behavioral Stat
MGT 218	Business Quantitative Methods
Free Elective		1
	Credit Hours	15
Third Year
First Semester
CHM 211	Principles of Chemistry I	3
CHM 217	Principles of Chem Lab I	2
HS 201	Intro Appl Anat & Physiol	3
SFT 460	Safety Training Methods	3
SFT 378	Safety Eval & Measurement	3
Writing Intensive		3
	Credit Hours	17
Second Semester
CHM 212	Principles Chemistry II	3
CHM 218	Principles of Chem Lab II	2
SFT 498	Envir Safety & Health Legis	3
SFT 465	Incident Investigation Tech	3
SFT Elective (II)		3
	Credit Hours	14
Fourth Year
First Semester
SFT 454	Industrial Hygiene	3
SFT 454L	Industrial Hygiene Lab	2
MGT 320 or ACC 215	Principles of Management or Intro Financial Accounting(CT)	3
SFT Elective (II)		3
SFT Elective (III)		3
	Credit Hours	14
Second Semester
SFT 499	Dev & Mgt of Occup Safety Prog	3
SFT 490	Safety Internship	3
SFT Elective (IV)		3
Free Elective		3
	Credit Hours	12
	Total Credit Hours	120-125