Accreditation

Program Information

Mission, Objectives, Outcomes

Mission Statement

The academic program in the Department of Occupational Safety and Health at Murray State University provides a comprehensive, broad-based educational background designed to prepare academically sound graduates with practical experience for positions in the occupational safety, health, and environmental profession.

Program Educational Objectives

The objectives of the occupational safety and health undergraduate and graduate programs at Murray State University are to prepare graduates who:

Apply a broad educational background in mathematics, science, technology, and management as occupational safety and health professionals in state, regional, national, or international levels in industry, government, or academia;
Are critical thinkers and anticipate, identify, and evaluate hazardous conditions and practices, and implement effective hazard control strategies in such areas as accident prevention, safety management, occupational health, industrial hygiene, loss/risk control management, ergonomics, emergency planning and response, and environmental health and safety;
Are effective communicators and ethical leaders within the occupational safety and health profession; and
Pursue life-long learning to effectively practice within a rapidly evolving, continually changing and increasingly diverse global environment.

Student Outcomes

Baccalaureate and master of science degree students graduating from the occupational safety and health programs at Murray State University will demonstrate:

An ability to identify, formulate, and solve broadly-defined technical or scientific problems by applying knowledge of mathematics and science and/or technical topics to areas relevant to the safety and health field;
An ability to formulate or design a system, process, procedure, or program to meet desired needs;
An ability to develop and conduct experiments or test hypotheses, analyze and interpret data pertinent to the safety and health field, and use scientific judgment to draw conclusions;
An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences;
An ability to understand ethical and professional responsibilities and the impact of technical and/or scientific safety and health solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts; and
An ability to function effectively on teams that establish goals, plan tasks, meet deadlines, and analyze risk and uncertainty.

Advisory Council

The Advisory Council is a valuable link between the Department of Occupational Safety and Health at Murray State University and the occupational safety and health field. Membership of the council consists of professional representatives from the faculty, alumni, and employer constituency groups. In addition, the council also consists of constituents including representatives from academia, professional organizations, and governmental agencies. The members perform an invaluable advisory role, providing feedback for program improvements that will produce the highest quality occupational safety and health professionals to meet the needs and demands of the field. The council meets at least annually on-site at the university to review program updates and develop recommendations to ensure program relevance and future-anticipating curricula. The following is a list of Advisory Council members.

Jason Adams - Inland Marine Services
Bradley Barber - General Motors
Tara Falin - Cummins
Mike Farris - Montco Oilfield Contractors
Brad Giles - Bradley Giles and Associates
Rob Hobson - Shimmick
John Kind - Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health
Kim Kleine - The Kalvis Group
Travis Kruse - Grainger
Anthony Miller - Sunbelt Rentals
Stephanie Miller - URS CH2M Oak Ridge, LLC
Troy Ogden - Brasfied & Gorrie
Jimmie Rhodes - Google - Data Centers
Adelle Rosa - General Motors
Chuck Stribling - Kentucky Labor Cabinet
John Tindall - Brasfield & Gorrie
Jason Underhill - Marathon Petroleum
Cindy Weatherford - Overland Solutions, Inc.

Enrollment and Graduation Statistics

The following details recent enrollment and graduation figures for the Bachelor and Master of Science degree programs in occupational safety and health.

Enrollment

Fall 2023

BS Students - 159
MS Students - 42

Graduation

2023-2024 (Aug/Dec/May)

BS Degrees Conferred - 36
MS Degrees Conferred - 16

ANSAC/ABET Accreditation

We are proud that both our BS and MS programs are accredited by the Applied and Natural Science Accreditation Commission of ABET, under the commission’s General Criteria and Program Criteria for Safety. ANSAC/ABET accreditation is proof that you will receive an education that prepares you for a successful career in safety.

Qualified Academic Program by BCSP

Distinguished by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP), students graduating from both the BS and MS OSH programs at Murray State are eligible to receive the Graduate Safety Practitioner (GSP) designation. The GSP is a pathway to the Certified Safety Professional (CSP) certification.

Recognized by IHMM

Distinguished by the Institute of Hazardous Materials Management (IHMM), students graduating from both the BS and MS OSH programs at Murray State are eligible to receive the Associate Safety and Health Manager (ASHM) designation. The ASHM is a pathway to the Certified Safety and Health Manager (CSHM) certification.

NIOSH Training Project Grant (TPG) Institution

The Occupational Safety and Health MS program at Murray State is a recipient of a Training Project Grant (TPG) by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/ National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). TPG institutions provide state-of-the-art training for the generation of leaders in OSH practice and research.

Essential Employability Qualities Certification (EEQ CERT)

The EEQ CERT is granted by the Quality Assurance Commons for Postsecondary Education following a rigorous external and internal review process. Programs that receive the certification are scored on five categories: graduate EEQ preparation, career support services, employer engagement, student and alumni engagement and public information. Murray State University is one of the first universities in Kentucky to have programs achieve the certification.