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Master of Science

Click here for the Occupational Safety and Health Master of Science Curriculum Sheet.

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OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH

MASTER OF SCIENCE

CIP 15.0701

CHAIR: David G. Kraemer

GRADUATE PROGRAM COORDINATOR: Bassam H. Atieh

ACCREDITED BY
Applied Science Accreditation Commission of ABET (ASAC/ABET), www.abet.org.

REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION

Applicants must meet the Murray State University requirements (see Chapter 2).

Additional requirements for unconditional and conditional admission are as follows.

UNCONDITIONAL

- Baccalaureate degree in Occupational Safety & Health.

- A minimum of a 3.00 undergraduate G.P.A.

CONDITIONAL

Recommendation of the graduate advisory committee and completion of the prerequisite

undergraduate requirements. Upon recommendation of the advisor, prerequisite undergraduate

requirements may be taken while enrolled for graduate credit.

NOTE: Within departmental guidelines, the individual student's program is developed in consultation with advisor.

FOR GRADUATE ADMISSION CRITERIA, REFER TO ADMISSION

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OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH

MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE

CURRICULUM OPTIONS, FALL 2010 – SUMMER 2012

OBJECTIVES

The graduate program in Occupational Safety and Health is designed to prepare students to become competent and demonstrate knowledge in the occupational safety and health program options: environmental health and safety, industrial hygiene and safety management. Persons pursuing this degree must have a B.Sc. degree in Occupational Safety and Health, or a related field, and/or complete a core of 21credit (semester) hours of undergraduate work.

SPONSORING UNIT

Department of Occupational Safety and Health

College of Health Sciences and Human Services

Murray State University

Murray, Kentucky 42071

DEGREE OFFERED

Master of Science

TOTAL CREDIT HOURS: [30]

Thesis Track

Non-Thesis Track

SCIENCE AND MATH REQUIREMENTS

Undergraduate course work is required in biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics.

The following courses are the minimum accepted requirements for pursuing a master's degree in OSH.

- BIO 101, Biological Concepts

- CHE 105, Introductory Chemistry I

- CHE 210/215, Brief Organic Chemistry and Lab

- MAT 230, Technical Math. II

- PHY 125/126, Brief Introductory Physics and Lab

OTHER DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

- Comprehensive examination (non-thesis track)

- Oral defense of thesis (thesis track)

- 15 hours of 600 level courses excluding practicum and internship credits (non-thesis track)

- 12 hours of 600 level courses excluding thesis (thesis track)

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS AND NOTES

- Students selecting the environmental option must take OSH 311

- Students selecting the industrial hygiene option must take OSH 425, OSH 626, and OSH 656

- Students selecting the safety management option must take OSH 384

- Students selecting to do thesis must take OSH 657

- Students with no adequate undergraduate statistics preparation must take OSH 637

- OSH 644 can substitute for OSH 670

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OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH

MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE

COURSE OF STUDY, 2010-2012

UNDERGRADUATE PREREQUISITES [21 CREDIT HOURS]

OSH 192 Introduction to Occupational Safety and Health (3)

OSH 287 OSHA Standards for General Industry and Construction (3)

OSH 320 Environmental and Occupational Health Engineering Tech. (3)

OSH 353 Prevent. of Musculoskeletal Disorders in the Workplace (3)

OSH 420 Fundamentals of Industrial Hygiene (3)

OSH 452 Systems Approach to Hazard Control (3)

and SELECT 1 COURSE FROM THE FOLLOWING BASED ON OPTION

(Environmental Option)

- OSH 311 Hazardous Materials and Emergency Planning (3)

(Safety Management Option)

- OSH 384 Construction Safety (3)

(Industrial Hygiene Option)

- OSH 425 Physical Agents (3)

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS * [18 CREDIT HOURS]

OSH 621 Industrial Hygiene and Safety Program Development (3)

OSH 623 Occupational Diseases (3)

OSH 626 Industrial Hygiene Sampling Strategies (3)

OSH 636 Motor Fleet Safety (3)

OSH 637 Biostatistics and Probability (3)

OSH 640 Safety and Health Program Management and Training (3)

OSH 645 Loss Control Measurement and Management (3)

OSH 646 Fundamentals of Risk Control (3)

OSH 654 Philosophy of Safety and Health (3)

OSH 655 Legal Aspects of Safety and Health (3)

OSH 656 Ergonomics and Biomechanics (3)

OSH 658 Introduction to Occupational Epidemiology (3)

OSH 670 Internship in Safety and Health (3) or approved elective with prior safety internship or equivalent

OSH 680 Graduate Seminar in Occupational Safety and Health (3)

OSH 698-699 Thesis (THESIS MAY SUBSTITUTE FOR OSH 670 & OSH 680) (6)

SAFETY MANAGEMENT OPTION [12 CREDIT HOURS]

OSH 621 Industrial Hygiene & Safety Program Development (3)

OSH 650 Occ. Safety & Health Organizational Leadership and Management (3)

OSH 655 Legal Aspects of Safety and Health (3)

OSH 657 Current Literature and Research in Safety and Health (3)

INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE OPTION [12 CREDIT HOURS]

OSH 621 Industrial Hygiene and Safety Program Development (3)

OSH 622 Toxicology of Industrial Materials (3)

OSH 627 Air Contaminants and Industrial Ventilation (3)

OSH 663 Applied Workplace Ergonomics (3)

ENVIRONMENTAL OPTION [12 CREDIT HOURS]

OSH 627 Air Contaminants and Industrial Ventilation (3)

OSH 687 Wastewater Treatment (3)

OSH 689 Solid and Hazardous Waste Treatment (3)

OSH 697 Research in Environmental Health and Safety(3) OR an approved higher level course in environmental sciences

* Technical requirements courses (18 credit hours) are selected based on the student's program option and must be approved by the graduate program advisor.

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GRADUATE LEVEL OSH COURSES, LIST AND DESCRIPTION

OSH 621 Industrial Hygiene and Safety Program Development (3)

Advanced, in-depth study of harmful chemical, biological and physical agents found in the workplace.

Emphasis is on analytical methods, control measures, monitoring and surveillance techniques, and developing and writing a comprehensive industrial hygiene or safety program.

Prerequisites: OSH 420.

OSH 622 Toxicology of Industrial Materials (3)

A study of the environmental and occupational health effects and hazards associated with the exposure to industrial chemicals and contaminants. Emphasis is given to laboratory animal and statistical risk toxicological studies and case histories, compliance testing and engineering controls.

Prerequisites: OSH 420.

OSH 623 Occupational Diseases (3)

Survey of occupational diseases covering routes of entry and modes of action. In particular, the pathogenicity, epidemiology and diagnosis of occupational diseases will be stressed as they relate to chemical, biological and radiological hazards, dermatoses, airway diseases, plant and wood hazards, chemical carcinogens, and pesticides.

Prerequisites: CHE 210.

OSH 626 Industrial Hygiene Sampling Strategies (3)

Advanced in-depth study of the approaches to workplace sampling. Emphasis is on statistical sampling methods, passive monitoring, colorimetric devices, breathing zone and area sampling strategies. Course work will include laboratory exercises and field experience.

Prerequisites: OSH 420 and PHY 125.

OSH 627 Air Contaminants and Industrial Ventilation (3)

A course examining air contaminant problems, gas calculations, and industrial ventilation. This course covers the EPA laws and regulations, and the scientific principles and controls of classical air pollution problems. It also focuses on the engineering evaluation and design of industrial ventilation systems.

Prerequisites: OSH 320 or instructor’s approval.

OSH 636 Motor Fleet Safety (3)

A basic introduction to problems and practices of motor fleet safety with emphasis on regulatory requirements.

OSH 637 Biostatistics and Probability (3)

The study and application of biostatistics and probability distributions in environmental and health

related sampling. Emphasis is given to hypothesis testing and graphical determination of confidence intervals. This course will also cover the use and application of log scales and their application in log-normal distributions.

Prerequisites: MAT 135 or PSY 300, or instructor’s approval.

OSH 640 Safety and Health Program Management and Training (3)

The concepts, relationships and principles of managing the occupational safety and health function and

the development of training procedures and practices to integrate that function into the organization.

Prerequisites: OSH 192.

OSH 644 Graduate Cooperative Education (3)

Course may be repeated for a maximum of six credits.

Prerequisites: permission of chairman.

Graded: pass/fail.

OSH 645 Loss Control Measurement and Management (3)

An analysis of actual or potential exposures to hazards and their resultant losses posed by agents,

energy forms, forces and substances in the workplace; measuring the loss exposures created by those hazards; and managing the appropriate counter-measuring to compensate for perils presented by those losses.

Prerequisites: OSH 192 and OSH 287.

OSH 646 Fundamentals of Risk Control (3)

An analysis of risk control as a component of risk management, the systematic process of managing an organization's risk exposures to achieve its business objectives in a manner consistent with public interest, human safety, environmental factors, and the law. Risk control consists of the administrative, procedural and engineering activities undertaken with the intent of preventing accidental or unplanned loss consistent with the organization's overall risk management plan.

OSH 650 Occupational Safety and Health Organizational Leadership and Management (3)

An overview of the safety and health leader's role in accomplishing organizational objectives

emphasizing leadership and management. Concepts covered include safety and health-related leadership issues, implementation of codes and standards, integration of leadership with safety engineering and management principles as well as leadership skills including communication, motivation, initiating change, team building, delegation, and credibility.

OSH 654 Philosophy of Safety and Health (3)

Examination of past and current philosophical beliefs, practices and approaches to controlling safety and health hazards, risks exposure, accidents and loss.

OSH 655 Legal Aspects of Safety and Health (3)

An analysis of legislation, liability and litigation in safety and health.

OSH 656 Ergonomics and Biomechanics (3)

This course is concerned with the health, behavioral and technical sciences and their role in the reduction of worker stress. These factors are thus related to the neuro-muscular and skeletal systems and the mechanics involved in efficient workplace design.

OSH 657 Current Literature and Research in Safety and Health (3)

Survey of current literature and research in safety and health, including accident causation and prevention, hazard abatement, risk management, and loss control.

Prerequisites: graduate standing.

OSH 658 Introduction to Occupational Epidemiology (3)

This course will give the students an overview of biostatistics which relate to occupational field investigations, including rates, ratios and proportions, charts, tables, and graphs; the 2X2 table; measures of central tendency; and significance testing. Basic principles of epidemiology necessary to understand scientific literature, monitor data in industry, and/or to conduct scientific investigations or surveillance activities will be taught. The major types of epidemiologic study (cohort, case referent and cross-sectional) will be described. Students will learn how to calculate rate ratios, odds ratio and attributable risk. Epidemiologic principles of reliability, validity, bias, screening, and surveillance will be discussed.

OSH 663 Applied Workplace Ergonomics (3)

This course is designed to provide the student the opportunity to apply the principles of ergonomics to the work environment. It is intended to offer students practical experience in applying ergonomics through the development of an industrial case study.

OSH 670 Internship in Safety and Health (3)

Supervised work experience in safety and health-related operations focusing on the career objectives and educational objectives of the student. Evaluation of the experience made by the department.

Prerequisites: permission of chairman.

Graded: pass/fail.

OSH 671 Problems in Safety and Health (1-3)

Individual study and research relating to safety and health. Course may be repeated for additional credit.

Prerequisites: approval of problem before registering for course and junior standing.

OSH 680 Graduate Seminar in Occupational Safety and Health (3)

This course involves on-site analysis of safety and health programs of area industry. Students are exposed to a variety of industrial settings and have the opportunity to interact with practicing safety and health professionals. Extensive weekly travel is required. Students also organize and present a seminar related to occupational safety and health.

OSH 687 Wastewater Treatment (3)

A study of the operation and process design of wastewater treatment systems. This course focuses on aerobic biological treatment and process control for the activated sludge system. Topics will include treatment evaluations, trouble shooting, system design, and operational control strategies.

Prerequisites: OSH 320 or instructor’s approval.

OSH 689 Solid and Hazardous Waste Treatment (3)

A study of the engineering related principles and practices utilized in the solid and hazardous waste treatment and disposal field. Topics include sludge treatment and dewatering, RCRA hazardous waste regulations, waste minimization, incineration, landfills, and groundwater monitoring and modeling.

Prerequisites: OSH 320 or instructor’s approval.

OSH 697 Research in Environmental Health and Safety (3)

This course is designed to address issues and problems related to the environment and to scientifically reach solutions to existing and potential problems and hazards that threaten the health and safety in any industrial/environmental setting.

OSH 698 Thesis (3)

OSH 699 Thesis (3)

Direct questions about the Department or Departmental Programs to msu.osh@murraystate.edu