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Occupational Safety, BS - Safety Management Option
Occupational Safety - Safety Management Degree
Why Choose UCM for Your Bachelor of Science in Occupational Safety - Safety Management?
The Bachelor of Science in Occupational Safety with an option in Safety Management at the University of Central Missouri teaches you to protect people and property by building safer workplace environments. Accredited by the Applied and Natural Science Accreditation Commission of ABET, this program is recognized as a Qualified Academic Program (QAP) by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP). You will learn to identify work environment hazards, evaluate risk in high-hazard industries and implement effective safety solutions. Taught on campus in Warrensburg with flexible hybrid and online course options, UCM pairs hands-on laboratory training with an integrated pathway to earn your Graduate Safety Practitioner (GSP) designation as you complete your degree.
UCM's Occupational Safety - Safety Management BS at a Glance
Degree Type: Bachelor of Science | Credit Hours: 120 Hours
Degree Can be Taken: Warrensburg
- Home to the only ABET-accredited Safety program of its kind in the state of Missouri as of 2026
- Designated as a Qualified Academic Program (QAP) by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals
- Award-winning, CSP-certified faculty who are leaders in the field of occupational safety
- Features an accelerated BS-to-MS pathway toward an MS in Occupational Safety Management
ContactMs. Monica Nevels |
What will you learn in UCM's Occupational Safety - Safety Management BS program?
The curriculum builds technical expertise in industrial hazard control, occupational risk management and environmental compliance. You will gain practical skills to analyze qualitative and quantitative data, conduct safety experiments and design safety, health and environmental (SH&E) training programs.
Core Academic & Laboratory Courses:
- Principles of Accident Causation and Prevention: Trace the history of the safety movement and build practical techniques to solve safety issues across industrial, educational, transportation, emergency and civil defense programs.
- Safety Leadership: Apply principles of psychology, philosophy and ethics to understand human behavior, identify accident root causes and manage safe behavior on and off the job.
- Industrial Hazard Control: Master practical techniques to evaluate and control mechanical, electrical and chemical hazards in the workplace.
Customizable Learning Tracks:
- Select electives or minor coursework tailored to your specific safety management career goals
- Option to pursue an accelerated BS to MS pathway to complete your Master of Science in Occupational Safety Management faster
Unique learning opportunities in UCM's Occupational Safety - Safety Management BS
- Integrated GSP Designation: Graduate qualified for the Graduate Safety Practitioner (GSP) designation through BCSP, saving time and tuition while securing a recognized industry credential.
- Hands-on Safety Laboratories: Practice in top-tier safety facilities featuring innovative simulators, modern testing equipment and a dedicated virtual reality (VR) library.
- Instruction from Certified Safety Professionals (CSP): Learn directly from industry-leading faculty who hold the CSP credential, present at national conferences and stay active in professional organizations.
- Career-Building Internships: Earn academic credit and gain direct workplace experience through faculty networks, alumni connections and corporate safety partnerships.
- Professional Networking in Kansas City: Connect with active regional chapters of the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) and the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA).
Fast facts about UCM's Occupational Safety - Safety Management BS
- ABET Accreditation: Home to the only ABET-accredited Safety program of its kind in the state of Missouri as of 2026
- QAP Recognition: Designated as a Qualified Academic Program (QAP) by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals
- Expert Faculty: Classes and labs taught by award-winning faculty holding the Certified Safety Professional (CSP) designation
- Flexible Course Formats: Offered full-time or part-time on campus in Warrensburg, with select hybrid, online and online summer course options
- Accelerated Degree Path: Features an accelerated BS-to-MS pathway toward an MS in Occupational Safety Management
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Financial Aid and Scholarships for UCM's Occupational Safety - Safety Management BS Students
The University of Central Missouri combines competitive tuition rates with dedicated financial support to make your degree an affordable investment. Students work with a financial aid advisor to access merit- and need-based funding options.
Scholarship Opportunities for Safety Management Majors:
- Missouri Employers Mutual Full Tuition Scholarship
- Board of Certified Safety Professionals Scholarships
- Construction Safety Group of Kansas City Scholarship
- International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) Daniel K. Shipp Scholarship
- Don B. Daily Safety Steel Intern Scholarship
- UCM Foundation Scholarships for Safety Management majors
- Missouri Asphalt Paving Association Scholarships
Explore eligibility requirements through the UCM Scholarship Finder and meet with your financial aid advisor to build your financing plan.
The next steps to your Occupational Safety - Safety Management BS at UCM:
① Request information about Occupational Safety - Safety Management at UCM.
② Schedule a visit or Connect virtually with a UCM admissions rep.
Career opportunities and outcomes for UCM's Occupational Safety - Safety Management BS grads
Earning your BS in Occupational Safety - Safety Management along with the Graduate Safety Practitioner (GSP) designation prepares you for high-demand safety management jobs. Graduates lead workplace health, environmental compliance and safety operations across public and private sectors or advance into graduate degree programs.
High-Demand Career Sectors:
- Construction and Manufacturing
- Oil, Gas and Chemical Processing
- Utilities and Power Generation
- Transportation and Logistics
- Government Agencies and Public Sector
- Insurance and Risk Management Consultation
Apply to UCM's Occupational Safety - Safety Management program
The UCM Career and Life Design Center
The UCM Career and Life Design Center is here for undergraduate students, graduate students and alumni from all majors, identities and interests. We are a hub for career exploration and career readiness. We offer resources and support for:
- exploring career options
- life design (explore and build career and life journeys, designing next steps)
- job and internship searching
- document reviews (resumes, cover letters, personal statements, etc.)
- interviews (coaching and mock interviewing)
- Professional Clothing Studio
- preparation for graduate school (application materials, exploring programs)
- and more!
Frequently Asked Questions
You will learn to identify, evaluate and eliminate workplace hazards. Core subjects include industrial hazard control, accident causation principles, safety leadership, ethics, occupational risk management and safety training design.
The GSP is a professional credential awarded by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP). Because UCM’s program is a Qualified Academic Program (QAP), you qualify for the GSP designation upon graduation, giving you an advantage when applying for safety management jobs.
Graduates work in construction, manufacturing, oil and gas, utilities, government, insurance, transportation and consulting, or continue their studies in graduate safety management programs.
The following Student Outcomes align with the required General Criteria of the Applied and Natural Science Accreditation Commission of ABET and provide a foundation that prepares graduates to attain the BS Occupational Safety Program Educational Objectives:
- 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 discipline.
- 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 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 solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
- An ability to function effectively on teams that establish goals, plan tasks, meet deadlines, and analyze risk and uncertainty.
Graduates with a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Safety will be prepared to attain the following objectives:
- Anticipate, recognize, and evaluate hazards, exposures, and risk through development and management of control strategies for hazardous conditions and work practices.
- Uphold the responsibilities of the profession to protect people, property and the environment in a global or societal market with personal integrity and honesty through adherence to professional ethical codes.
- Acquire and evaluate evolving SH&E-related information through research, and the application and continuing development of abilities, skills, and knowledge gained in the program to identify practical solutions for safety issues.
- Continually enhance discipline-specific technical competencies, skills, and knowledge by seeking certification, and through active participation in professional societies, conferences, workshops, networking, continuing education, and/or other professional development activities.
- Develop, implement, and provide ongoing leadership for organizational SH&E programs.
- A minimum 2.2 cumulative GPA.
- The grade of C or better must be attained in all designated safety, math, and science courses.
- An assessment examination must be completed during the last semester of course work
Enrollment and graduation data
The UCM Campus Data Hub allows you to access enrollment and graduation data for the
University and individual programs at: https://www.ucmo.edu/
