Occupational Safety

Bachelor of Science in Occupational Safety

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120 Credit Hours

to Graduate
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Up To 90 Hours

Transfer Credit
Cost per Hour

$421

Per Credit Hour
EKU Online > Online Safety Degrees & Certificates > Bachelor of Science in Occupational Safety

What do safety and success have in common? Preparation.

The professional demands of occupational safety specialists are changing rapidly in the modern workforce. Success depends on the ability to adapt to diverse workplace settings, constantly changing codes and regulations, and unforeseen hazards and threats.

EKU’s online bachelor of science in occupational safety degree can help you grow with the industry and cement a career as a safety leader. Expand your knowledge by diving into topics ranging from employee safety education to regulatory compliance to policy and enforcement. You can immediately apply your newfound knowledge in your current position or pursue new career opportunities and increased responsibility.   

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Benefits
Internship Agreements
Career Services

Benefits of EKU Online

EKU is a Qualified Academic Program (QAP) of the Board of Certified Safety Professionals. Graduates of our bachelor’s program are eligible to apply for the Graduate Safety Practitioner (GSP) credential, which is a necessary requirement for earning a Certified Safety Professional (CSP) certification. With EKU Online, you can learn leadership skills, preventive strategies and response tactics, and do more than just meet industry standards — you can set them.

Program benefits include:

  • Accelerated 8-week terms
  • Courses begin 6 times per year
  • Free textbooks through EKU BookSmart
  • No application fee
  • No campus visits required
  • Gain a competitive advantage from EKU’s internship agreements, industry affiliations and Career Development and Placement Office
  • Graduate in as few as 2.5 years
  • Learn from expert public and private sector safety professionals
  • Earn credit toward your degree for prior training with OSHA and other organizations
  • Reduced tuition for active duty service members and their spouses
  • Advance your education while remaining active as a safety professional
  • Personalized graduation plan
  • Free online tutoring and career services assistance
  • Ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the best universities offering online degrees

Internship Agreements

An internship can be your gateway to new and exciting professional opportunities. Through our partnerships we’ve been able to place our students with some of the world’s largest companies, including:

  • Marathon Petroleum
  • Georgia-Pacific
  • Owens Corning
  • Aera Energy
  • Turner Construction
  • Siemens
  • ConAgra
  • General Electric (Consumer and Industrial)
  • Toyota Motor Manufacturing
  • Bechtel
  • BMW

In addition, EKU’s Career Development and Placement Office can assist you in identifying and pursuing job opportunities in the safety industry.

Career Services

Career planning is tough, but with EKU you don’t have to tackle the process alone.

The EKU Office of Academic and Career Services is a one-stop shop for all of your career and professional development needs. We offer a variety of services to current online EKU students and alumni to help you with your career development, decision-making and job search.

Services include:

  • Creating/Updating Your Resume and Cover Letter
  • Interviewing Tips and Coaching
  • Career Documents Review
  • Job Search
Find your career

Curriculum

EKU’s online occupational safety degree is a comprehensive look at occupational safety concepts and how to implement them. Through the guidance of nationally recognized safety experts from nearly every corner of the industry, you can build the foundation you need to lead. Study the role of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and its rules, regulations and enforcement policy. Learn to identify and analyze potential workplace hazards, infractions and risks. Discover new ways to keep workers safe, and design and implement corrective safety measures.

Degree Requirements

A total of 120 credits are required to graduate.

View the occupational safety program degree requirements:

Please review the admissions requirements before applying for this or any program. If you have questions about the program or are planning to register for classes, please speak to the program advisor.

Transfer Credits

Students may transfer up to 90 hours of credit from accredited institutions. Please note that a minimum of 30 credit hours in this degree program must be completed at Eastern Kentucky University.

Previously earned credits must be reviewed upon admittance to EKU for appropriate articulation. Learn more about transferring to EKU.

Sample Courses

For a full list of course descriptions please see section 7 of the University undergraduate catalog.

Principles in Occupational Safety and Health Legislation – OSH 262
Review of OSHA standards with emphasis on compliance and liability reduction. Discussion of OSHA regulations including citations, penalties, inspections, and record keeping.

Safety Training Strategies – OSH 300
Students will learn how to apply adult learning and technical training strategies to occupational training programs for management and workforce safety related topics.

Hazard Identification and Control – OSH 366
Hands-on approach toward identification and control. Areas of study include noise levels, chemical land electrical hazards, air contaminants, and heat/cold stress. Control measures include administrative, engineering, and safeguarding methods.

Safety and Health Program Management – OSH 412 
Effective management and leadership principles applied to safety. Emphasis on developing organizational culture, key roles of safety professionals and preventing serious injuries. Strategies include identifying business concepts for safety, gaining meaningful employee engagement, and program development.

Enrollment

Annie Noltemeyer

Annie Noltemeyer

Enrollment Advisor

Call or email Enrollment Advisor Annie Noltemeyer for information about the EKU Online occupational safety programs.

Contact Info:
859-622-2717
Annie.Noltemeyer@eku.edu

Application Deadlines

 

Term Application Deadline Classes Begin
Fall A July 5 August
Fall B August 31 October
Spring A November 30 January
Spring B January 31 March
Summer A April 5 May
Summer B  May 31 June

 

Additional Contact Information

Admissions: 859-622-2106
Academic Testing: 859-622-1281
Big E Central (Financial Aid & Student Account Services): 859-622-2361
Military & Veterans Affairs Office: 859-622-2345

Student Success

Graduates of EKU come straight out of school and are landing some great jobs, and the best part is that the companies are coming to EKU to recruit students directly.

Chad ClarkEKU graduate and Safety Associate for Georgia-Pacific

Online Military Students

EKU Online offers veterans and active duty military students an unparalleled online learning experience that provides accessibility, convenience and flexibility.

Special Tuition for Active Duty* Military
Eastern Kentucky University offers reduced tuition expenses to $250 per credit hour for undergraduate and $325 per credit hour for graduate courses to all service members currently serving on active duty.

*Active duty is defined as on federal orders for 180 days or more.

“I’d like to thank the EKU College of Justice & Safety for the opportunity to complete my degree online. It’s very user-friendly, and everyone has bent over backwards to make this happen.”

– 1LT Heath Bergmann, EKU Online Graduate

Heath Bergmann
 
  • “I can confidently say that — as someone who doesn’t even live in the United States — EKU’s online program has been extremely accommodating and flexible. I can discuss advising appointments over email, and I can have my textbooks shipped to my address overseas.” – Sydney Garner Lewis
  • “The EKU faculty were great and were able to answer all my questions.” – EKU Online Homeland Security student Dane Haukedahl
  • “I chose EKU because I am a unique student with unique needs, and EKU provides an avenue for students like me to succeed.” – EKU Online Psychology student Jason Tate
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