Master of Science in
Safety Science

The Master of Science in Safety Science program at Embry-Riddle’s Prescott Campus provides students with technical skills and practical experience, equipping them to address industry compliance standards or provide expertise in aircraft accident investigations. ERAU’s highly regarded graduate program in Safety Science is the only one of its type to offer both Aviation Safety and Occupational Health & Safety in one program.

Positions within the safety science career are expected to grow 14 percent through 2019, which is faster than the average for all occupations. And the Bureau of Labor Statistics states that prospects are especially strong for graduates whose broad knowledge lies in more than one health and safety specialty.

The federal government also continues to be a leading employer of safety science professionals.

At the Prescott Campus, students learn with experts in the Robertson Aircraft Accident Investigation Lab, the most complete facility of its kind in the nation, and the only one at any university. This “crash lab” enables students to get hands-on experience of select aircraft accident scenarios.

Students will have opportunities for full immersion in the program through diverse internships and a variety of clubs and professional organizations, like the American Society of Safety Engineers, Flight Safety Foundation, and International Society of Air Safety Investigators.

DEGREE DETAILS

About Safety Science at the Prescott, AZ Campus

The Master of Science in Safety Science degree program qualifies students for specialized positions in a rapidly growing, highly paid and exciting field, and provides job placement assistance upon graduation. Safety is a critical part of aviation, manufacturing and industrial design. This program provides the knowledge and skills necessary to practice occupational health and safety programs in any workplace.

Our flexible Executive Master of Science hybrid program allows students to study from the comfort of their home, at their own pace. Travel to attend hands-on training experiences at the ERAU Prescott, Arizona campus is required only three weekends per semester.

The Master of Science in Safety Science degree is housed in the College of Aviation .

Students can concentrate on safety in an aviation environment or a more general occupational safety.

The degree program produces safety professionals who are skilled in providing safety management expertise in aviation/aerospace, military, and numerous other industries.

Graduates will be able to provide leadership, training, and guidance in safety implementation and compliance issues involving EPA, OSHA, DOD, FAA, DOE, NTSB and state health, and workplace standards.

Assistantships are available for well-qualified applicants.

Learn more about this degree's course requirements

Explore Safety Science at Embry-Riddle

Learn more about the Prescott, AZ Campus

M.S. in Safety Science

The Master of Science in Safety Science (MS-SFS) degree program is designed to provide students with a practical course of study in aviation safety as well as occupational health and safety. The degree program produces safety professionals who are skilled in providing safety management expertise in a variety of industries. Graduates will be able to provide leadership, training, and guidance in safety implementation and compliance issues involving EPA, OSHA, DOD, FAA, DOE, NTSB, and state health and workplace standards, and will be prepared for service in aviation/aerospace, military, and numerous other industries.

The MS-SFS degree prepares graduates for professional safety positions in a variety of organizational settings, including aviation. Students will qualify for jobs such as aircraft accident investigator, aviation or general safety manager, operations safety coordinator, and safety designer. The degree offers the opportunity for students to explore both the theoretical and pragmatic discipline that occupational health and safety has become. Particularly in light of extensive interest by the private sector and by government entities, this degree offers occupational health and safety professionals, as well as aviation safety professionals, the advanced education and credentials necessary to succeed in the practice of safety.

The MS-SFS is a 36 credit hour program of study. Elective coursework must be selected from the elective list below. All elective courses may not be offered every year. Check with an advisor for a schedule of course offerings.

Preference will be given to applicants with an undergraduate background that includes college-level mathematics, social, behavioral and physical sciences, aviation, engineering or other related disciplines.

Degree Requirements

Occupational Safety Core

MSF 580	Ind Hygiene & Envrnmntl Prtctn	3
MSF 600	Quantitative Methods	3
MSF 601	Ergonomics	3
MSF 602	Human Factors	3
Total Credits		12

Aviation Safety Core

MSF 613	Aviation Safety	3
MSF 695G	Aviation Human Factors	3
MSF 695H	Research in Aviation Safety	3
Total Credits		9

Safety Science Research Core (Required for Both Areas of Concentration)

MSF 603	Occupational Safety	3
MSF 616	Safety Training & Leadership	3
Select one of the following options:
Option I
MSF 700	Thesis ^{** 6 credits}
Option II
MSF 691	Graduate Capstone Course ^{** 3 credits}
Total Credits		9-12

Electives

Select four to six of the following:		12-18
MSF 530	Arcrft Accident Investigation
MSF 607	Epidemiology ^{† *}
MSF 609	System Safety ^{† *}
MSF 611	Case Studies in Safety ^{‡ *}
MSF 630	Aircraft Accident Analysis ^‡
MSF 635	Adv Aircraft Survivability ^{‡ ****}
MSF 655	Airline & Ops Safety Mgmnt ^‡
MSF 675	Aviation Maintenance Safety ^‡
MSF 685	Aviation Security ^‡
MSF 686	Emergency Preparedness
MSF 696	Internship in Safety Science
MSF 699	Spec Topics in Safety Science
Total Credits		12-18

Opportunities for Graduate Students

Graduate Assistantships

Graduate assistantships are academic appointments that are reserved for qualified graduate students. Graduate assistants are involved in research activities under the direction of a faculty member. To be eligible for a graduate assistantship, a student must have full graduate status in a degree program, must have maintained a CGPA of 3.00 out of a possible 4.00 or above through the end of the semester (graduate or undergraduate) preceding the appointment, and must demonstrate adequate communication and technical skills.

Each department has the responsibility to post the availability of its graduate assistantships. Current students submit an application form, resume, and a 500-word essay directly to the Department of Safety Sciences. Newly admitted students submit their application materials via the Graduate Admissions Office. Please note that any student who is eligible to receive VA benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill® Yellow Ribbon Program is not eligible to apply for a graduate assistantship.

Graduate assistantships carry a stipend set by the University and a partial tuition waiver; in addition, limited hourly graduate employment opportunities within a department may be available. Graduate assistants with such appointments are expected to devote up to 20 hours each week to effectively carry out their assignments. Under some circumstances, partial assistantships providing either tuition or a stipend may be granted. Expected time to be devoted is set by the assigning department. Graduate assistants are permitted to accept other University employment; however, University policies limit all students to a total of 25 hours of work per week, including the graduate assistantship. All graduate research assistantships, both full and partial, require that the recipient be registered for at least three graduate credits at Embry-Riddle for any semester of their appointment.

Graduate Internships

Graduate internships are temporary professional or industrial work opportunities available to graduate students. There are two types of internships: resident and nonresident. Resident internships are professional work activities supported by a partnership between the University and industry and conducted on campus under the supervision of a faculty/staff sponsor. Nonresident internships are professional work activities conducted off campus at the supporting organization facility. Full-time employees of the offering organization are not eligible for an internship appointment and cannot receive elective credit for their professional work service.

Graduate students who have full graduate status, are in good standing, with a minimum of six completed graduate credit hours, and who earn a cumulative GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 basis, are eligible to apply for graduate internships. Students must demonstrate adequate communication and technical skills.

Students selected for an internship must register for the approved number of credit hours in the departmental internship course and pay all fees. Graduate academic credit is awarded at a rate of one credit hour for every 200 clock hours of work completed, up to a maximum of three credit hours in one semester. Three internship credit hours may be applied as an elective toward degree requirements. Students are advised to consult with the Safety Science internship coordinator for approval to use internship credits toward their degree program.

Guidelines for Graduate Capstone Projects and Theses

The graduate program in the Department of Safety Sciences offers the degree of Master of Science in Safety Science (MS-SFS), which is a 36 credit-hour program. In addition to course work, this degree requires the completion of a research project, either a 3 hour Graduate Capstone, with 33 hours of course work, or a 6 hour Master’s Thesis (with 30 hours of course work). Those students who are planning to do a Capstone should have registered for a total of three hours of MSF 691 before graduation. Those planning to do a thesis should register for six hours of MSF 700 before graduation. The detailed information in this section is intended to assist graduate students in the completion of this research requirement.

The Difference between a Capstone and a Thesis

If the student has any aspirations to later pursue a doctorate, a thesis is strongly recommended, since this is good preparation for writing a dissertation. A thesis is a project that requires the collection and analysis of data in an original fashion. This work should be suitable for submission to a peer-reviewed journal for publication, and takes multiple semesters to complete successfully.

In contrast, a capstone project may consist of a selection from a number of possible options: for example, documenting results of an internship in which the student designed a safety program or conducted hazard analyses, or replicating previously-published research to validate findings. The capstone project is completed over the course of one semester and provides students an opportunity to create and document significant evidence of mastery of the safety science core body of knowledge, and provides the student evidence of experience to show to current and prospective employers.

†

Elective Available only to Occupational Safety

‡

Elective Available only to Aviation Safety

Prerequisite MSF 600

Prerequisite MSF 600 and MSF 612

***

Prerequisite MSF 580

****

Prerequisite MSF 530

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

Student Achievement Information

AABInternational

	EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY
	Prescott, Arizona
	M.S. in Safety Science
SEPTEMBER 30, 2018	COMPLIANCE WITH AABI POLICY 3.4.2

*Excerpt from AABI Form 225 Policies & Procedures Manual:

3.4.2 For each AABI-accredited aviation program, institutions MUST accurately publish on the program’s public website, a report of student achievement data including the following information, updated annually:

The objectives of each accredited program
Program assessment measures employed
Graduation rates
Rates and types of employment of graduates

Objectives of Accredited Program

Program Mission

The Master of Science in Safety Science degree is designed for students interested in obtaining a strong safety foundation at the graduate level. The program delivers an effective basis in safety that prepares the student for any industrial setting and allows each student to select an Aviation Safety or Occupational Safety and Health area of concentration. The goal of the degree is to prepare graduates who are skilled in providing safety expertise in a variety of aviation, aerospace, and other occupational settings. This degree is designed to give the student the following expertise: (1) familiarity with the fundamentals of the associated disciplines that are essential to the practice of safety: aviation safety, occupational safety, industrial hygiene, ergonomics/human factors, and quantitative methods; (2) ability to understand research processes, techniques and procedures and to draw appropriate conclusions from the analysis of both quantitative and qualitative data; (3) knowledge of the basic approaches to accident investigation; (4) understanding of the breadth of application of the discipline of safety science, including ground and occupational safety as well as product safety, aviation safety, flight safety, and air crash investigation; (5) use of appropriate tools for the analysis of safety data to draw inferences about cause, effect, and prevention. This program will produce safety professionals who are skilled providing safety management expertise and training as well as technical guidance in compliance issues involving FAA, OSHA, EPA, DOT and state health and workplace standards.

AABI General Criteria (a-k)

a. apply mathematics, science, and applied sciences to aviation-related disciplines;

b. analyze and interpret data;

c. work effectively on multi-disciplinary and diverse teams;

d. make professional and ethical decisions;

e. communicate effectively, using both written and oral communication skills;

f. engage in and recognize the need for life-long learning;

g. assess contemporary issues;

h. use the techniques, skills, and modern technology necessary for professional practice;

i. assess the national and international aviation environment;

j. apply pertinent knowledge in identifying and solving problems;

k. apply knowledge of business sustainability to aviation issues.

AABI Aviation Core Criteria

Describe the professional attributes, requirements or certifications, and planning applicable to aviation careers.
Describe the principles of aircraft design, performance and operating characteristics; and the regulations related to the maintenance of aircraft and associated systems.
Evaluate aviation safety and the impact of human factors on safety.
Discuss the impact on aviation operations of international aviation law, including applicable International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) or other international standards and practices; and applicable national aviation law, regulations and labor issues.
Explain the integration of airports, airspace, and air traffic control in managing the National Airspace System.
Discuss the impact of meteorology and environmental issues on aviation operations.

Program-Specific Student Learning Outcomes

Aviation Safety:
The graduate will demonstrate the knowledge and understanding of aviation safety as it relates to the elements of the worldwide aviation system.

Research Analysis:
Graduates shall have the ability to analyze research findings in occupational health and safety and flight safety hazards

Occupational Safety:
Graduates shall have the ability to evaluate occupational health & safety and flight safety hazards.

Human Factors:
Graduates will demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of standard ergonomics and human factors models as applied to human physical, cognitive, and sensory characteristics, capabilities, and limitations and the effect on the design of safety systems (workplace, equipment, tools, and tasks).

Industrial Hygiene:
The graduate will demonstrate the knowledge and understanding of industrial hygiene and toxicology principles to be able to anticipate, recognize, evaluate, and develop workplace hazard controls.

Occupational Safety Regulations:
The graduate will demonstrate the knowledge and understanding of occupational safety regulations to recognize, control, and prevent workplace hazards.

Research method:
The graduate will demonstrate the knowledge and understanding of research methodology including, design, sampling, measurement, and literature review.

85% of MSSS graduates seeking employment within the field will be hired within 12 months of graduation.

Retention:
At least 80% of the students accepted into the MSSS program will graduate within 4 years of matriculation.

Program Assessment Measures Employed

Direct Assessment Measures

Student work in select course activities (exams, quizzes, homework sets, presentations, essays)
Student work in capstone courses
Rubric-scored portfolio assessment
External assessments (such as FAA exams, ETS Major Field Test, Peregrine Academic Services Exam)

Indirect Assessment Measures

End of course evaluations
Graduating student surveys
Alumni surveys

Graduation Rates

Five-Year Graduation Rate
Prescott Campus: MS Safety Science
		2008 cohort	2009 cohort	2010 cohort	2011 cohort	2012 cohort	TOTAL
Initial Headcount	#	10	21	15	15	11	72
Graduated	#	9	16	11	12	8	56
Graduated	%	90.0%	76.2%	73.3%	80.0%	72.7%	77.8%
Source: Institutional Research. Based on intended program at entry. Graduation could have been from any ERAU campus or program.

Rates and Types of Employment of Graduates

Employment Rates

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Alumni Placement Rates
One Year After Graduation
Prescott Campus - Undergraduate & Graduate Degrees
Year of Graduation	AY 11/12	AY 12/13	AY 13/14	AY 14/15	AY 15/16
Safety Science (M)	(4)	(10)	(6)	(4)	(9)
Effective Placement Rate	100.0%	90.0%	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%
Employment Rate	100.0%	90.0%	83.3%	100.0%	100.0%
Continuing Education Rate	0.0%	0.0%	16.7%	0.0%	0.0%

( ) Number of Respondents
* Too few respondents to report

NOTE:

1. The effective placement rate consists of the employment rate (working at this time) plus the continuing education rate (out of the work force due to continuing education).

2. Programs with too few respondents are not listed

SOURCE: Residential Alumni Survey: One Year After Graduation. Institutional Research

Types of Employment

Safety Specialist
Safety Engineer
Ergonomist
Industrial Hygienist
Environmental, Safety, & Health Specialist
Safety & Health Specialist
Air Safety Investigator
Aviation Safety Officer

Current Position Information Prescott Campus^a
Safety Science (M)
	Count
Air Safety Investigator	1
Aviation Security Inspector	1
Claims Adjuster	1
Digital Learning & Technologies Associate	1
Director of Environment Health and Safety	1
Health & Safety Specialist	1
HSE Executive	1
Instructor/Pilot	1
Pilot Captain	1
NOTE: 1. Includes only those indicating they are currently employed full-time. 2. Survey Item Wording: "Please specify your position information." SOURCE: 2017 Residential Alumni Survey: One Year After Graduation. Class of 2015-16. Institutional Research (2018).
a. Most advanced degree conferred for referenced reporting timeperiod = Safety Science (M)

Request DEGREE INFO Schedule a VISIT Apply Today

Degree Summary

36 Credits

Estimate your tuition by using the Tuition Calculator

View Financial Aid Information

Learn about our General Education