HELP 2019-2020 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG] Safety, Health, and Industrial Hygiene Print-Friendly Page (opens a new window)

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Mission

The mission of the Montana Tech Safety, Health and Industrial Hygiene Department is to serve students by supplying knowledge and research opportunities that provide high quality, accessible, science and technology curricula with program educational objectives focused on preparing students for successful safety and health careers.

Degrees

The Safety, Health, & Industrial Hygiene Department offers four degree programs.  *Three are accredited by the Applied Science Accreditation Commission of ABET (http://www.abet.org) and receive funding from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

• Bachelor of Science in Occupational Safety and Health*
• Bachelor of Science in Applied Health and Safety Sciences
• Master of Science in Industrial Hygiene*
• Master of Science in Industrial Hygiene Distance Learning/Professional Track*

Information related to the two undergraduate degrees is provided below.  *For information regarding the two master’s programs, please see the Graduate School  .

Occupational Safety and Health Degree (OSH)

Montana Tech’s program in Occupational Safety and Health-known as OSH-leads to a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree. Nearly all graduates have rewarding careers as OSH professionals working in positions aimed at helping employees perform their work safely in a workplace free from recognized hazards. Core functions for OSH professionals include developing, implementing, and evaluating health and safety programs.

Many employers visit the campus to recruit students for internships and career positions. More than half of the graduates start their career in one of three industrial sectors–construction, mining, or oil & gas. Nearly all large industrial companies and governmental agencies have OSH programs with career ladders that provide opportunities for promotions and increased salary.

The curriculum provides students a sound technical foundation with courses in mathematics, biology, chemistry, and physics. Communication skills are strengthened through courses in writing and oral presentation. Of the 128 total required credit hours, 46 are in OSH. Most of these include experiences working in small groups, writing assignments, presentations, and problem solving. Students and their faculty advisor track progress using curriculum worksheet that provides a suggested course sequence for completing a B.S. in OSH degree in four years.

Program Educational Objectives

Program Educational Objectives (PEOs) are broad statements that describe what graduates are expected to attain within a few years after graduation. The B.S. in Occupational safety and Health degree program has adopted the following three PEOs.

PEO 1. Graduates of the program will develop their OSH-related careers throughout the first four years after graduating.

PEO 2. Graduates will use their education to competently provide OSH services appropriate to their employment.

PEO 3. Graduates will act professionally by engaging in career development, recognizing ethical responsibilities, supporting the profession, and being an informed and involved member of their community.

Student Outcomes

Student outcomes are statements of what each graduate of the program is expected to achieve at the time of graduation. The curriculum and the OSH course are structured so each student will have built the knowledge, understanding and skills in all 21 Student Outcomes.

At the time of graduation, graduates must:

1. Have an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and applied sciences.
2. Have an ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data.
3. Have an ability to formulate or design a system, process, or program to meet desired needs.
4. Have an ability to function on multidisciplinary teams.
5. Have an ability to identify and solve applied science problems.
6. Have an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility.
7. Have an ability to communicate effectively.
8. Have the broad education necessary to understand the impact of occupational diseases and injuries in a global and societal context.
9. Recognize the need for and have an ability to engage in life-long learning.
10. Have knowledge of contemporary issues in occupational safety and health.
11. Have an ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern scientific and technical tools necessary for professional practice.
12. Be able to anticipate, recognize, evaluate, and control hazardous conditions and work practices.
13. Be able apply business and risk management concepts.
14. Be able to demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental aspects of industrial hygiene, environmental science, and hazardous materials management.
15. Be able to demonstrate an understanding of industrial safety, fire science, and emergency management.
16. Be able to demonstrate an understanding ergonomics.
17. Be able to evaluate programs applicable to industrial safety, health, and/or environment.
18. Be able to develop employee training programs using adult learning theory and understanding of training methodology.
19. Be able to identify and apply applicable standards, regulations, and codes.
20. Be able to conduct investigations of harmful incidents, analyze causation, and identify appropriate system improvements.
21. Be able to apply principles of safety and health in a non-academic setting through an intern, cooperative, or supervised experience.

Applied Health & Safety Sciences

The AHSS degree program is designed for the science-oriented student who wishes to work with people, and who is concerned about their health and physical well being. The AHSS student will be trained to appraise an individual’s life-style, health habits, and fitness level. The student will learn how to complete a personal fitness assessment and utilize the information gathered to recommend a personalized fitness program that will help the participant improve or maintain their overall health and their physical working capacity. The AHSS degree is able to take full advantage of many of the other college departments and provides the student, through the Career Services office, with actual on-the-job training.

Upon graduation the AHSS student major is qualified to accept a job in a private health club, corporation, hospital, YMCA, or educational institution where he or she will perform health related fitness testing, and prescribe an individualized exercise program that will help individuals maintain or improve their fitness level. The graduate is able to help the participant maintain an active lifestyle well into his or her senior years, thereby improving the overall quality of life. Furthermore, since the AHSS program is a degree under the Safety Health and Industrial Hydiene department, the AHSS graduate will be able to assist a corporate employer with worker safety and health programs. The AHSS graduate will also be qualified for immediate enrollment in a variety of graduate programs dealing with industrial hygiene or other applied health fields.

The majority of our graduates attend graduate school, pursuing a variety of master’s degrees. They have pursued and graduated from physical therapy, physicians’ assistant, cardiac rehabilitation, industrial hygiene, and other health science programs.

Program Educational Objectives

1. Graduates will establish a health, safety or medical related career during the first four years of after graduating.
2. Graduates will follow a career path in their chosen field to competently provide AHSS/medical related services appropriate for their field of employment.
3. Graduates will act professionally by engaging in career development, recognizing ethical responsibilities, supporting the profession and being an informed and involved member of the community.

Student Outcomes

Student outcomes are statements of what each graduate of the program is expected to achieve at the time of graduation. The curriculum and the AHSS courses are structured so each student will have built the knowledge, understanding and skills in all four Student Outcomes.  These SOs are aligned with the Performance Domains & Associated Job Tasks established by the American College of Sports Medicine for their Certified Group Exercise Instructor.  Graduates of the AHSS program will have the following abilities.

1. Have a general working knowledge of the field of Applied Health and Safety Sciences.
2. Be proficient in using basic laboratory equipment found in a Human Performance Laboratory setting.
3. Have effective oral and written communication skills.
4. Be able to study and research problems in their field.

Programs

• Occupational Safety and Health, B.S.

• Occupational Safety and Health Minor

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