Studying Occupational Health and Safety: Degrees at a Glance
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of occupational health and safety specialists is expected to grow by 9% from 2010-2020. Although this rate of growth is slower-than-the-average for all occupations, the BLS expected growth to stem from new environmental regulations and laws that specialists must enforce in the workplace.
Occupational health and safety careers typically require a bachelor's degree in occupational health, safety or a related field (including engineering and chemistry). Some management positions may require a master's degree. Employers in this field strongly value work experience, so applicants with a combination of educational and professional experience are best poised for career opportunities.
| Master's | PhD | |
|---|---|---|
| Who Is This Degree For? | - Bachelor's holders new to occupational health and safety or seeking a career change | - Individuals seeking careers in academia, policy and research |
| Common Career Paths (with approximate annual salary) | - Occupational health and safety specialist ($67,000)* - Loss control manager ($96,000)** | - College professor ($74,000 - may vary with experience)* Researcher (salary unavailable) |
| Time to Completion | Typically 2 years (full-time) | 3-4 years (full-time) beyond the master's degree |
| Common Graduation Requirements | - Internship/practicum - Thesis or capstone project | - PhD qualifier exams - Research, write and present a dissertation - Residency requirement (if applicable) |
| Prerequisites | - Bachelor's degree - Resume - GRE scores (if required) - Letter(s) of recommendation - Personal statement - Prerequisite courses in science and environmental health (if applicable) - GPA requirements Relevant work experience (if applicable) | - All of the master's requirements plus -Master's degree (varies by program) -Knowledge of the core issues/topics in occupational health |
| Online Availability | Yes | None found at this time |
Sources: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2011 mean figures), **Salary.com (September 2012 median figures).
Occupational Health and Safety Master's Degrees
Occupational health and safety master's degree programs prepare students for careers in public and private organizations. Throughout the program, you'll learn to identify and assess safety hazards that affect human health, and how government programs and policies are created to prevent these hazards. Students should note that master's programs typically focus on hands-on application and research. In addition to coursework, you may be required to complete a research paper/project, internship or practicum.
Pros/Cons
Pros
- Hands-on training gained through direct activities, internship and practicum experience
- Prepares you for admission into a PhD program
- Financial assistance from federal and private sources may be available to students in the form of research assistantships, which include tuition
Cons
- Occupational health and safety specialists may be exposed to dangerous or stressful work conditions*
- Some specialists may work weekends or irregular hours in emergencies*
- A bachelor's degree is the baseline degree for this occupation
- Some online programs may require you to hold three or more years of work experience prior to applying for the program
Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Common Courses and Requirements
A typical occupational health and safety master's program consists of required 'core' courses, electives and an internship/practicum or thesis requirement. Courses typically feature a mixture of management and safety topics. In your internship, you learn to apply your classroom knowledge to real-world settings. You may also need to complete a capstone research paper (thesis) or project.
Sample courses may include:
- Safety engineering
- Occupational health
- Health risk assessment
- Occupational safety management
- Environmental monitoring methods
Online Course Options
There are online course options for working professionals or other students interested in occupational health and safety distance learning. Some schools offer online degree programs, while others offer a combination of online and offline requirements (such as a practicum). As a student in an online degree program, you will likely satisfy requirements similar to those of an on-campus program. Online programs may be designed for mid-level professionals and require additional work experience.
Stand Out With This Degree
According to the BLS, job growth for occupational health and safety workers will be best in nuclear power and loss prevention. Students that tailor their research or internship experiences towards these fields may be in increased demand. Additionally, graduates well versed in policy and regulation areas, as well as managerial roles and functions may have greater opportunities for advancement.
Moreover, you can stand out from your peers in the occupational health and safety field by obtaining a voluntary certification. Industry certifications show potential employers that you meet current industry quality standards, and you can maintain your expertise through re-certification (typically every few years). Depending on your specialty, you can obtain certification through professional or industry organizations in your field. General certification, such as the Certified Safety Professional (CSP) credential, is also available. Typically, individuals must meet academic standards (such as obtaining a degree in a related field) and have several years of professional work experience before they are eligible to sit for a certification exam.
Alternative Degree Programs
If you would like a degree program that examines environmental science, but are interested in a field with greater job prospects, you could consider a graduate degree in environmental science. While both of these programs examine the environmental hazards and policies, environmental science master's programs delve further into the science behind resource management and resource sustainability. According to the BLS, environmental scientists are projected to see a fast-as-average job growth of 19% from 2010-2020. While only a bachelor's degree is required to get into the field, a master's degree can provide job advancement opportunities.
Occupational Health and Safety PhD Degrees
Occupational health and safety PhD programs emphasize research and scholarly contributions and prepare students for professional careers in research, government and academia. Students in a PhD program must meet certain requirements, for example, passing qualifying examinations or completing a dissertation. As a PhD candidate, you may be able to tailor your studies to an area of interest, such as toxicology or ergonomics.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Academia positions can open the door to research and travel opportunities
- PhD holders in academia may have scheduling flexibility
- Allows you to specialize in occupational health and safety subfields
Cons
- You may be over-educated for careers outside of academia and research
- Even with a PhD, students who do not have relevant work experience may have a challenging time finding a job upon graduation
- Several PhD programs have a residency requirement, requiring students to enroll full-time for two semesters
Common Courses and Requirements
In a typical occupational health and safety PhD program, candidates will need to complete academic courses and pass preliminary examinations in their field, as well as research, write and present a dissertation. Additionally, some PhD programs may require doctoral students to complete a residency. As a student, you may take courses in managing services, health and safety training, loss control and experiment design.
Online Course Options
Students who are interested in online and distance learning courses may be able to complete some prerequisites or professional development courses; however, fully online occupational health and safety PhD programs are not typically available. If you plan to enroll in an online PhD program, ensure that it is part of an accredited academic institution or professional organization.
Stand Out With This Degree
- Specialize in emerging research areas - design and conduct research on emerging areas effecting human health and the environment.
- Since most employers value work experience, you may want to consider completing teaching assistantships while in graduate school.
- Many tenured positions require you to demonstrate excellence in the field through research contributions. You may want to seek out additional research opportunities that can lead to publication in scholarly journals.
