Online Bachelor of Science in Occupational Safety Curriculum
Program Requirements:
- Core Courses: 36 credit hours
- Supporting Courses: 37 credit hours
- General Education: 36 credit hours
- University Requirements: 1 credit hour (maybe waived for transfer students)
- Free Electives: 10 credit hours
- May need up to 19 hours to account for 9 hours of MAT, CHE and PHY that are both general education and supporting course requirements but hours cannot count twice.
Total Curriculum Requirements: 120 credit hours
Occupational Safety Core Courses
OSH 110 | Introduction to Safety Studies | 3 Credits |
Students will develop the necessary writing , study, research resource, and Blackboard navigation skills necessary to successfully complete occupational safety related curriculum. Students will also be introduced to the profession, terminology of the field, and basic hazard recognition. | ||
OSH 261 | Principles of Occupational Safety and Health | 3 Credits |
In the Principles of Occupational Safety and Health course students explore the history of the development of occupational safety and health, the structure and functioning of OSHA according to the OSHA Act, methods of record-keeping, and receive an introduction to workers compensation. Other topics include: accident investigation, injury prevention, hazard control, workplace safety standards, compliance, employer’s responsibilities, and safety and health initiatives. (Pre-Req and/or Co-Req OSH 110) | ||
OSH 262 | Principles of Occupational Safety and Health Legislation | 3 Credits |
Review of OSHA standards with emphasis on compliance and liability reduction. Discussion of OSHA regulations including citations, penalties, inspections, and record keeping. (Prerequisite or Corequisite: OSH 261. ) | ||
OSH 300 | Safety Training Strategies | 3 Credits |
Students will learn how to apply adult learning and technical training strategies to occupational training programs for management and workforce safety related topics. | ||
OSH 350 | Measurement of Safety Performance | 3 Credits |
Strategies and methods for calculating, analyzing, interpreting and communicating safety performance data. Presents lagging and leading metrics of safety, quantitative and qualitative statistical techniques, descriptive and inferential. (Prerequisite: OSH 261) | ||
OSH 366 | Hazard Identification and Control | 3 Credits |
Hands-on approach toward identification and control. Areas of study include noise levels, chemical land electrical hazards, air contaminants, and heat/cold stress. Control measures include administrative, engineering, and safeguarding methods. (Prerequisite: OSH 261, with a C or higher or departmental approval) |
OSH 367 | Human Factors in Occupational Safety | 3 Credits |
Focuses on ergonomics, man/machine interface and human efficiency. Study of work‑related stress, psychological factors, and Cumulative Trauma Disorders. Solutions are reviewed for common problems found in labor‑intensive operations. (Prerequisite or Corequisite: OSH 261) | ||
OSH 379 | Construction Safety | 3 Credits |
An in-depth analysis of the federal and Commonwealth of Kentucky’s OSHA requirements for construction safety. | ||
OSH 390 | Workers Compensation I | 3 Credits |
An in-depth study of the foundations of Workers Compensation law. Emphasis will be placed on the history and theory of injuries “arising out of” and being “in the course of” employment. | ||
OSH 410W | Safety Management Systems | 3 Credits |
This writing-intensive course is designed to provide the student with the knowledge and skills to apply safety management systems components, hazard analysis, and causal analysis. (Prerequisite: ENG 102, 105(B), or HON 102; OSH 261) | ||
OSH 412 | Safety and Health Program Management | 3 Credits |
Emphasis on personnel aspects, communication, and motivation in managing safety and health programs. Practice in writing safety programs and implementing safety training. Evaluation of the effectiveness of various methods and programs. (Prerequisite or Corequisite: OSH 410) | ||
OSH 495 | Senior Capstone | 3 Credits |
Students examine case studies, examine real life situations, combine knowledge they have gained from previous coursework, analyze and develop strategies, develop countermeasures, engage in strategic planning and policy development and training. (Prerequisite: OSH 410 or 410W with a grade of C or higher) |
Occupational Safety Supporting Courses
CHE 101/101L | General Chemistry | 4 Credits |
Basic principles of structure and properties of matter, chemical nomenclature and reactivity. Relates chemistry concepts to everyday life phenomena. Basic laboratory techniques, methods of separation, types of chemical reactions, solution preparation, titrations, household chemicals, and molecular modeling. | ||
MAT 114 | College Algebra | 3 Credits |
Prerequisite: MAT 098 with a minimum grade of “C-” or a minimum score of 22 on the mathematics portion of the ACT or a minimum score of 530 on the math portion of the SAT or a passing score on the EKU MAT 107 Prerequisite Skills Test. Real and complex numbers, integer and rational exponents, polynomial and rational equations and inequalities, graphs of functions and relations, exponential and logarithmic functions, systems of equations, matrices. Use of graphing calculators. 3 Lec (1 Lab when taught in large lecture sections.) Gen. Ed. II or VII (QS) |
PSY 101 | Conceptual Physics | 3 Credits |
Conceptual approach to topics such as kinematics, Newtonian mechanics, electricity, magnetism, and optics. Not intended for science majors. (Prerequisite: MAT 105 or higher or departmental approval) |
Occupational Safety Supporting Courses - Fire Prevention/Protection
Select 9 hours from the following courses.
FSE 101 | Fire Prevention | 3 Credits |
An introduction to fire and safety related codes; fire prevention methods; mechanical systems; and engineering solutions for hazards. An in-depth look at the Life Safety Code, the function and testing of fire related building components. | ||
FSE 120 | Fire Behavior and Combustion | 3 Credits |
Introduction to the chemistry and dynamics of fire; including basic terminology and concepts that are applied to the physical and chemical properties of the development and spread of fire in a structure; hazardous materials and the Computer Fire Analysis. | ||
FSE 221 | Fire Protection Systems | 3 Credits |
Introduction to fire detection, protection, control systems and extinguishment. Fixed and portable systems of the following types will be studied: automatic sprinklers,standpipes, dry chemical, foam, halogenated agents, fire alarm systems and diction. (Prerequisite courses: FSE 101 and FSE 120) | ||
FSE 224 | Human Behavior In Fire | 3 Credits |
Examine current and past research on human behavior, systems models,life safety education and building design to determine interactions emergency situations. Develop a best practice building life safety system. (Prerequisites: FSE 101 and FSE 120) |
FSE 349 | Applied Learning in Fire and Safety Engineering | |
Work in placements related to academic studies. One to eight hours credit per semester or summer. Total hours: eight, associate; sixteen, baccalaureate. A minimum of 80 hours employment required for each semester hour credit. Credit will not be awarded for both FSE 349 and OSH 349. (Prerequisite: departmental approval) | ||
OSH 225 | Legal Aspects of Occupational Safety | 3 Credits |
Study of the OSH Act, OSHA standards,correlating laws and legislation impacting the safety function and employee safety. Emphasis on legal rights,responsibilities, legal risks, liabilities, scope of authority,ethical/professional standards for safety professionals. | ||
OSH 305 | Hazardous Materials | 3 Credits |
Study of hazardous material problems in transportation,storage, and use. Chemical properties relating to specific reactions, engineering controls, and control in an emergency situation. Emphasis on the role of pre-emergency planning, combating, coordinating, and controlling a hazardous materials incident. res. (Prerequisite course: FSE 120) | ||
OSH 489 | Topical Seminar | |
Development of special skills and content knowledge of contemporary issues in occupational safety. May be retaken to a maximum of six hours, provided the subject matter differs each time. |
Occupational Safety Supporting Courses - Industrial Risk Management
Select 18 hours from the following courses.
EHS 280 | Introduction to Environmental Health Science | 3 Credits |
Elements of environmental health, including water and waste treatment, air pollution,food sanitation, vector control, solid waste disposal, and general sanitation problems | ||
EHS 340 | Industrial Hygiene | 3 Credits |
The impact of the workplace on safety and health, and methods for avoiding work-related illnesses. Emphasis will be on the evaluation and the control of the work environment to protect worker health. (Prerequisites: BIO 111, CHE 111, 111L and EHS 280; or departmental approval) | ||
HLS 210 | Cyber and Physical Security | 3 Credits |
Principles of cyber and physical design and application to include assessments and subsequent identification of countermeasures as well as policy development and implementation in an effort to safeguard life and critical infrastructure. | ||
OSH 349 | Applied Learning in Occupational Safety | |
Work in placements related to academic studies. One to eight hours credit per semester or summer. Total hours: eight, associate; sixteen, baccalaureate. A minimum of 80 hours employment required for each semester hour credit. Credit will not be awarded for both FSE 349 and OSH 349. (Prerequisite: departmental approval) | ||
OSH 370 | Process Safety Management | 3 Credits |
This course is designed to introduce the occupational safety student to the process safety management standard, 29 CFR 1910.119, and cover complex management topics involved in managing processes of highly hazardous chemicals. (Prerequisite: OSH 366) |
OSH 420 | Environmental Law and Management | 3 Credits |
Review/analysis of laws affecting workplaces, including the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, RCRA and CERCLA. Additionally, study of these laws and related policies/practices will be covered as related to safety | ||
OSH 489 | Topical Seminar | |
Development of special skills and content knowledge of contemporary issues in occupational safety. May be retaken to a maximum of six hours, provided the subject matter differs each time. | ||
TRS 225 | Basic Fleet Management Safety Principles | 3 Credits |
A classroom and laboratory program designed to introduce personnel to problems and practices of motor fleet safety programming and regulatory requirements. | ||
TRS 395 | Marine Transportation Safety | 3 Credits |
This course explores the history of the development of marine safety and health and the functioning regulations. Emphasis is placed on OSHA 29 CFR standards and USCG Title 46 as resources. (Prerequisite OSH 261 or OSH 361) |