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+--- Thread: Seeking Advice on School/Program (/Thread-Seeking-Advice-on-School-Program)
Seeking Advice on School/Program - Regards - 10-04-2019
So I currently hold a BSBA degree from Trine University in Northern Indiana, however I am thinking about pursing my Masters degree in Occupational Safety. I stumbled across a school in Alabama that is strictly online that is called Columbia Southern University, i'm wondering if anyone has experience with them as i seen they are a strictly only online school with no brick and mortar building at all. I saw they have a MS in Occupational Safety & Health that actually looks pretty good and is approved by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals which issues the highest recognized safety certifications in the US. I want to get out of the business job i'm in currently and seek safety as a new route for my future career. Thoughts?
RE: Seeking Advice on School/Program - Ideas - 10-04-2019
They are nationally accredited instead of regionally accredited, but that might be enough for you / your employer. In many cases, it is better to do an RA degree since it is usually not much more expensive, but if you want that particular major, it may be good.
RE: Seeking Advice on School/Program - Regards - 10-04-2019
(10-04-2019, 01:56 PM)Ideas Wrote: They are nationally accredited instead of regionally accredited, but that might be enough for you / your employer. In many cases, it is better to do an RA degree since it is usually not much more expensive, but if you want that particular major, it may be good.
Do you know of any RA ones that are recommended for Occupational Safety? Graduate programs.
RE: Seeking Advice on School/Program - midnighttoil - 10-04-2019
(10-04-2019, 02:07 PM)Regards Wrote:(10-04-2019, 01:56 PM)Ideas Wrote: They are nationally accredited instead of regionally accredited, but that might be enough for you / your employer. In many cases, it is better to do an RA degree since it is usually not much more expensive, but if you want that particular major, it may be good.
Do you know of any RA ones that are recommended for Occupational Safety? Graduate programs.
Georgia Tech offers an online masters in occupational safety for a little over 10k: https://pe.gatech.edu/degrees/pmosh
I know absolutely nothing about this program, but Georgia Tech's online engineering masters have a fantastic reputation as both rigorous and inexpensive.
RE: Seeking Advice on School/Program - Regards - 10-04-2019
Will it matter to employers if my undergrad is not in Occupational Safety? My undergrad would be is in Business (unrelated field) however my Masters would be in Occupational safety. Then I would get certs after that. Nearly every where asks for a Bachelors in Occupational Safety.
RE: Seeking Advice on School/Program - midnighttoil - 10-04-2019
(10-04-2019, 02:20 PM)Regards Wrote: Will it matter to employers if my undergrad is not in Occupational Safety? My undergrad would be is in Business (unrelated field) however my Masters would be in Occupational safety. Then I would get certs after that. Nearly every where asks for a Bachelors in Occupational Safety.
EDIT: Misread this originally. I don't know your field, but in almost every business a masters in a subject satisfies a requirement for a bachelors in that subject.
RE: Seeking Advice on School/Program - sanantone - 10-04-2019
In case you aren't aware, there are some programmatic accreditations that apply to this field: ABET, EHAC, and CEPH. University of Central Missouri (ABET) and University of Illinois - Springfield (EHAC) are regionally accredited and reasonably-priced.
RE: Seeking Advice on School/Program - dfrecore - 10-04-2019
(10-04-2019, 02:20 PM)Regards Wrote: Will it matter to employers if my undergrad is not in Occupational Safety? My undergrad would be is in Business (unrelated field) however my Masters would be in Occupational safety. Then I would get certs after that. Nearly every where asks for a Bachelors in Occupational Safety.
If you have a MA/MS in Occupational Safety, that trumps a BA/BS in it, so that shouldn't be a problem.
RE: Seeking Advice on School/Program - cookderosa - 10-05-2019
You got good advice about the school you were looking at- RA vs NA debate tends to matter a lot in some fields, and I wasn't sure about yours, so I went to the source. Is this the right occupation? If so, I think you need to step back and reassess before choosing to add ANY education to your resume, you might be making a big mistake.
US Department of Labor has info about this career and the education required: https://www.bls.gov/OOH/healthcare/occupational-health-and-safety-specialists-and-technicians.htm
How to Become an Occupational Health and Safety Specialist or Technician
Occupational health and safety specialists
Specialists and technicians carry out and evaluate programs on workplace safety and health.
Occupational health and safety specialists typically need a bachelor’s degree in occupational health and safety or in a related scientific or technical field. Occupational health and safety technicians typically enter the occupation through one of two paths: on-the-job training or postsecondary education, such as an associate’s degree or certificate.
Education
Occupational health and safety specialists typically need a bachelor’s degree in occupational health and safety or a related scientific or technical field, such as engineering, biology, or chemistry. For some positions, a master’s degree in industrial hygiene, health physics, or a related subject is required. In addition to science courses, typical courses include ergonomics, writing and communications, occupational safety management, and accident prevention.
Employers typically require technicians to have at least a high school diploma. High school students interested in this occupation should complete courses in English, mathematics, chemistry, biology, and physics.
Some employers prefer to hire technicians who have earned an associate’s degree or certificate from a community college or vocational school. These programs typically take 2 years or less. They include courses in respiratory protection, hazard communication, and material-handling and storage procedures.