* Tuition:
$17,880 | 36 Credit Hours | Finish in as little as 12-24 months
×
* Estimated program cost for 2025-2026 academic year. These figures are calculated
based on 2025-2026 tuition rates and specific program requirements for a student taking
less than 9 credit hours. The costs for the program may vary depending on the number
of credit hours a student enrolled in each semester. These calculations do not include
cost of housing, cost of living, or other fees a student may incur as a result of
being enrolled at UCM. These figures are not guaranteed and are subject to change
based on program requirements or tuition changes. For more information regarding the
cost of the program please contact the Office of Student Financial Services.
Do you want to further position yourself to keep people and companies safe in today’s
complicated world? Safety jobs are available in every industry, including construction,
manufacturing, oil and gas, insurance, healthcare, government agencies and more. Whatever
your undergraduate degree or how much work experience you have, you can find opportunities
in the occupational safety field by pursuing a Master of Science in Occupational Safety
Management (OSM) from the University of Central Missouri.
UCM offers one of very few ABET-accredited MS programs in occupational safety management
in the country, so your master’s degree will get employers to take notice. Our focus
on hands-on experience means you’ll be ready to move into a leadership role in the
workforce after graduation, and use the most current knowledge and technology.
Our small classroom sizes range from just 10 to 25 graduate students, so you get the
personal attention you deserve as you hone your skills and advance toward your individual
goals.
You will be eligible for the Graduate Safety Practicioner (GSP®) designation from
the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) upon graduation with the OSM MS
degree at UCM.
Get ahead in occupational safety and health jobs — on the job
At the University of Central Missouri, you can work toward your graduate Occupational
Safety Management degree at your own pace to meet your own goals. Typically, full-time
students complete their Master of Occupational Safety Management within one to two
years. Part-time students who take two courses each semester can complete the degree
within five to six semesters.
Whether you pursue your MS degree in Occupational Safety Management 100% online, in
Warrensburg, in a hybrid format or even over the summer, you can advance your career
while in your current job thanks to UCM’s flexible program options. Our customizable
master’s program works with your schedule.
Program Guide Explore admissions requirements, learning outcomes, degree requirements, course options
and more.
Contact
Miaozong Wu, PhD, CSP, ARM Associate Professor Coordinator of MS in Occupational Safety Management Warrensburg, MO Tel: 660-543-4411 miawu@ucmo.edu
In the Occupational Safety Management program you will take advanced courses in occupational
hazard management, safety program management, risk management and financing, sustainability,
industrial hygiene, and gain your practical and research skills necessary for your
career success in the environmental health and safety (EHS) management and leadership
roles
Our ABET-accredited M.S. in Occupational Safety Management also allows you to customize
your study plan and choose from over 20 electives based on your career focus, interests
and goals. For example, our graduate safety and health lab course provides a thorough
introduction to a variety of instruments used by professionals in occupational safety
and health jobs.You can also advance your knowledge and practical skills by taking
our advanced elective courses.
Based upon your education and work experience at the time of application, you will
be admitted into one of our three OSM areas:
Professional Certification concentration: Applicants have possession of GSP, ASP, or CSP certification. Students complete 30
graduate credit hours for M.S. Occupational Safety Management degree.
Work Experience concentration: Applicants have certificates (such as SMS, OHST, CHST, or STS), or ASP exam eligibility letter approved
by BCSP (you can apply ASP exam eligibility https://www.bcsp.org/associate-safety-professional-asp/).
Students complete 33 graduate credit hours for M.S. Occupational Safety Management
degree.
Foundation concentration: Applicants need to have possession of a bachelor’s degree from any discipline with GPA 2.5 or above,
and four background course requirements (one semester each of chemistry, physics,
college level mathematics, and statistics). Students complete 36 graduate credit hours
for M.S. Occupational Safety Management degree, including an internship to gain their
occupational safety management field and practical experience.
Excellence in Occupational Safety Management
#2 Best Occupational Safety & Health Technology Master's Degree School (College Factual, 2023)
#1 Best Occupational Safety & Health Technology Bachelor's Degree College for Veterans (College Factual, 2023)
Ranked a Best Master's in Occupational Health and Safety Online Program (Online Master's Colleges, 2025)
Unique learning opportunities in occupational safety management
No matter how you pursue your advanced occupational safety degree from the University
of Central Missouri, take advantage of everything our one-of-a-kind graduate program
offers:
State-of-the-art facilities: Learn best practices and occupational safety and health jobs skills using the latest
safety and industrial hygiene equipment.
Industry connections: Network with other industry professionals in Kansas City’s active chapters of the
American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) and American Industrial Hygiene Association
(AIHA). Both chapters work closely with our program.
Applied projects: Our Occupational Safety Management degree program provides hands-on experience you
need to advance your career in the industry. Gain exposure to new occupational safety
and health jobs through applied projects, as well as internship opportunities.
Earn your GSP designation
All Occupational Safety Management graduates are eligible for the Graduate Safety
Practitioner (GSP) designation awarded by the BCSP. GSP is an alternate path toward the professional certification of Certified Safety Professional (CSP). Only students who graduate from a Qualified Academic Program (QAP) meeting the BCSP
standards are eligible for the GSP designation, making it highly respected. Our Occupational
Safety Management M.S. degree are both ABET-accredited and BCSP QAP.
What can you do with a master’s degree in Occupational Safety Management from UCM?
Our OSM graduates find occupational safety and health jobs in a variety of industries, including but
not limited to, construction, insurance, and manufacturing. Our graduates are also employed by government agencies and non-profit organizations.
Use our interactive tool below to learn more about how your Master of Occupational
Safety Management degree from the University of Central Missouri will help you achieve
your future career goals.
In addition, several scholarships specifically for safety science students are available,
including:
A $5,000 annual scholarship through the Board of Certified Safety Professionals will
be awarded to an OSM student
Missouri Employers Mutual full tuition scholarship offered through the UCM Foundation
A $1,000 to $1,500 scholarship from the Construction Safety Group of Kansas City
ASSP Foundation Scholarships
AIHA Foundation Scholarships
International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) Daniel K. Shipp Scholarship ($2,500)
Don B. Daily Safety Steel Intern Scholarship, which includes a paid summer internship
at a North American steel manufacturing facility or industry supplier
Fred Manuele, PE, SMS, CSP - President, Hazards Limited
“It is to the credit of all who have been involved with the Occupational Safety Management
and Industrial Hygiene programs at UCM that they are accredited by ABET. Only a few
such programs are accredited.”
What Safety Science Students Say
Find out from graduate students in our Occupational Safety Management MS program.
Dr. Miaozong Wu is the program coordinator of M.S. Occupational Safety Management
and will answer your questions regarding your application, study plan and career opportunity.
Dr. Wu holds CSP and ARM professional certifications, and his multiple research projects
in occupational safety and health have been funded by OSHA and NASA.
Award-winning, experienced and published professionals UCM’s Safety Science faculty boast a Certified Safety Professional certification holder,
Outstanding Safety Educator of the Year recipients from the American Society of Safety
Professionals and a fellow of the American Industrial Hygiene Association. Our faculty
are also published authors who are featured in prestigious journals and write industry-leading
textbooks.
Take your degree further.
Add a Ph.D. to your graduate Safety Science degree to sharpen your leadership skills
for careers in the public or private sector.
Adding a graduate certificate to your master’s degree gives you a competitive edge
in the industry. You’ll understand a company’s entire operations and deliver value
both from a safety and cost-savings perspective.
Explore programs related to occupational safety management.
You may also be interested in other master’s programs at UCM that offer specialized
training and experience as an alternative program or a dual degree.
Students are admitted into one of three concentrations based upon their education,
work experience and professional credentials at the time of application. Students
must specify which concentration they are seeking admission into. Once admitted into
a concentration, students may not change concentrations without applying for a change
of degree program through the Graduate School and being approved by our program.
All Applicants must meet the following admission requirement:
Possession of a bachelor’s degree of any discipline from a Regionally Accredited University
with a GPA of 2.5 or higher
Additional requirements by concentration are as follows (only need to meet the requirements
of the concentration applying for and admitted into):
Professional Certification Area – Admission into this Area requires current possession of any of the following designations
or certifications in good standing: Graduate Safety Practitioner (GSP), Associate
Safety Professional (ASP), or Certified Safety Professional (CSP). Other safety professional
credentials will be evaluated by OSM program coordinator on a case by case basis.
Work Experience Area – A minimum of 1 year of full-time work experience with at least 50% job duties related
to safety. Work experience must be documented from one of the following:
Eligibility to sit for the ASP exam; An ASP exam eligibility letter from BCSP must
be submitted with application to the program. OR
Possession of current certification in good standing of any of the following certifications
through the BCSP:
Safety Management Specialist (SMS)
Occupational Hygiene and Safety Technician (OHST)
Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST)
Safety Trained Supervisor (STS)
Safety Trained Supervisor Construction (STSC)
Foundation Area –
One semester each of chemistry, physics, college level mathematics (e.g., algebra,
geometry, mathematical analysis), and statistics at the undergraduate or postgraduate
level. Upon approval by the program coordinator, students can be conditionally admitted
into the OSM program if these courses have not been completed, but students are required
to take additional SAFE courses.
Complete your application and be sure to provide the Graduate and International Student Services with official transcripts.
Those transcripts can be sent to:
University of Central Missouri Graduate and International Student Services Ward Edwards Building, Room 1800 Warrensburg, MO 64093
If you have any questions about applying, contact the Graduate and International Student Services at
At the time of graduation, the student with a Master of Science degree in Occupational
Safety Management will have:
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.
An ability to develop a project or research activity resulting in a report that demonstrates
both the mastery of the subject matter and a high level of communication skills
Within a few years after graduation, the graduates with a Master of Science degree
in Occupational Safety Management are expected to:
Demonstrate the ability to communicate professionally, both verbally and in writing.
Demonstrate knowledge of professional integrity and ethical standards.
Recognize the importance of contemporary, global and societal issues as they relate
to the practice of occupational safety and health.
Develop, coordinate, and/or participate on multidisciplinary teams to protect people,
property, and the environment.
Recognize the importance of life-long learning for the purpose of enhancing technical
competencies in safety, health and environmental fields.
