Online Graduate Certificate in Occupational Safety

Secure your future through safety.

Earning an occupational safety and health certificate from Eastern Kentucky University can be a step on your path to learning and leadership. The safety strategies you learn here can make an immediate impact on your career path and the well-being of workers in your community. While our 12-credit hour occupational safety graduate certificate uses the exact curriculum — and is taught by the same faculty — as our Master’s in Safety, it can be completed independently of a degree program.

Use your newfound knowledge to explore the vast and growing occupational safety field, which is expected to grow by 67,100 new jobs by 2022.*

*U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Calendar icon

Earn your certificate in 1 year or less.

Person in front of a computer looking at webpage icon

Complete coursework 100% online.

Traffic cone icon

Learn from a veteran faculty of safety professionals with public and private sector experience.

Chat icon

Benefit from EKU’s interactive course delivery and discussion boards.

Rankings and Accreditation

Included in U.S. News & World Report‘s annual listing of top colleges and universities.

Ranked 9th as Top Online College for Occupational Safety Degrees.

What You Can Learn

The occupational safety certificate combines an overview of the safety and security industry with an in-depth look at leadership principles in workplace safety.

Choose EKU online and you can:

  • Learn how different work environments (industrial, construction and corporate) operate, and the unique threats, hazards and risks involved with each.
  • Develop safety procedures and emergency response policies within the frame of governmental regulations for health and safety.
  • Study the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in working to make an impact on the safety of American workers.

Topics of study include:

  • Industrial Safety Management
  • Hazard Control Principles
  • Risk Identification and Countermeasures
  • Construction Safety
  • Regulatory Requirements for Health and Safety
  • Development of Safety Programs
  • Emergency Management
  • Workplace Risk Factors
  • Fire Safety
  • Management Techniques

“What does an EKU graduate have that the others don’t have? They have had the advantage of a phenomenal faculty, an exceptional academic experience while they’re here and the opportunity to go out and work with and for companies through the cooperative education program, and to walk out of here being absolutely prepared to take on the challenges of the occupation.”

— Tom Schneid, Chair, Safety, Security and Emergency Management

Online Graduate Certificate in Occupational Safety Courses

SSE 828 Industrial Safety Management 3 Credits

Investigation and analysis of hazard control principles relating to the management of personnel, facilities, and equipment, including control procedures, work-task analysis, risk identification and countermeasures, safety training, and pertinent safety management techniques.

SSE 832 Construction Safety 3 Credits

Introduction/analysis of general construction safety utilizing the key components of 29 CFR 196. Included in this study will be general safety & health provisions of OSH Act and a review of the various subparts of 29 CFR 1926.

SSE 834 Corporate Compliance 3 Credits

The assessment, analysis and development of safety, emergency management, security and environmental compliance programs. This course will address the regulatory requirements and best business practices for each of the compliance areas.

SSE 845 Personal/Environmental Hazards 3 Credits

Analysis and investigation of hazard and threat control principles relating to personal and environmental risks in the workplace. Investigation techniques, inspection methodologies, management techniques and prevention programs essential to the manager within the safety, fire and security functions are emphasized.