Masters in Occupational Safety

The pursuit of a Masters in Occupational Safety allows students to master the skills required to maintain levels of safety in the workplace. Coursework involves a heavy emphasis on engineering principles, laboratory techniques, inspecting procedures and report preparation. In most cases students will combine academic coursework with field research or internships. Many students enter this field in the middle of their career, as a way of utilizing existing skills and strengthening them to advance to a more managerial side of the workforce. Some specific courses that are usually completed include fire prevention management, hazardous materials management, and industrial nursing.

As more technology improves, more and more students are turning to the possibilities that an online degree allows. Those who are making a mid-career switch in particular may be interested in the convenience that taking courses online allows, as this means that students can complete the classes on their own time, after work or on weekends, without the strain of a commute. In addition, Occupation Safety Master’s Programs tend to be less costly when they are completed online. It’s always a good idea to research the differences in programs before committing to one, as there may be differences in price and academic reputation.

The job outlook for occupational safety managers is quite promising, because they possess such a unique and specific skill set. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for safety directors is $91,897 and $111,861 for health and safety managers. Graduates may work in any number of corporate or industrial settings, putting the skills they have learned to work. Many times safety managers will work as part of a larger team of analytical engineers, to help regulate the codes in the workplace for the optimum level of safety for numbers of workers.