Occupational Safety & Health

Announcing:
Master of Science Degree in Occupational Safety & Health

Note: The week-end lab required for the Master of Science courses Industrial Hygiene and HAZMAT will meet for one weekend only for each of the respective courses. It is NOT an every week requirement.

Primarily Online!

Southeastern Occupational Safety Department marks 1,000+ Graduates

A milestone was reached with the conclusion of the 2010 summer semester as the Department of Occupational Safety & Health at Southeastern exceeded 1,000 graduates. The program began as a traffic and general safety department in the 1960’s and 1970’s but was converted to its present focus of worker safety in the industrial, manufacturing, transportation, insurance and construction industries in 1989 with the addition of Dr. Robert Semonisck as department chair. Since that time the program has seen steady growth and now averages over 70 graduates each year at the bachelors and masters levels with over 500 students enrolling in at least one occupational safety course during the spring 2010 semester making the program one of the largest in the United States. In addition, the American Society of Safety Engineers student chapter consistently places among the nation’s best and accumulates thousands of dollars in scholarships each year for Southeastern occupational safety students.

In 2007 the program experienced two major milestones with the creation of the masters program and an OSH building renovation which doubled the academic spaces and added significant lab spaces. Additional grants by various companies, including the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, added much need lab equipment and training exercises bringing the program to a competitive level with any occupational safety program in the country. The Master of Science program is a primarily online program which allows students to participate from as far away as oil platforms off the coast of Africa, Middle Eastern countries, and from states all over the country. The program has grown to over 80 students. Over 25 students have graduated from the program.

The program is up-to-date with the latest technology, industrial hygiene, construction and noise and vibration labs, and confined space training. The program offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees in occupational safety & health, and satisfies the needs of the profession in numerous ways. Dozens of Fortune 500 companies recruit from the department every year and several companies come back year after year for Southeastern Occupational Safety graduates. Over a dozen program graduates are currently working on the gulf oil disaster on board ships at the well site as well as supervising the clean-up on shore. According to Dr. Wayne D. Jones, department chair, the department has graduates in almost every state and numerous countries overseas. "We have graduates working in all areas of industry, government, and education. The Southeastern name is everywhere in occupational safety." With more emphasis on occupational safety than ever before, and the lack of universities with occupational safety as a degree choice, the program is poised to grow larger with each passing year.

About OSH

The Department of Occupational Safety and Health at Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant, Oklahoma, is dedicated to educating and training individuals for supervisory, management, and training roles in business, industry, government, and education.

The Department strives to develop future safety professionals and leaders in Occupational Safety and Health needed for the 21st Century.