
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
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.
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 |
% | 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 Campusa |
|
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) |
Get Started Now:
Degree Summary
36 Credits
Estimate your tuition by using the Tuition Calculator
View Financial Aid Information
Learn about our General Education
Find out about transferring credits to this degree
Learn more about our Veterans & Military benefits
View our Academic Calendar
- Wings Out West Airshow Wins Award for Best in the Country
- ‘White Hat’ Hacking Challenge in Spain Illustrates Aviation Cybersecurity Threats
- Embry-Riddle Safety Science Program Receives Donated Aircraft from Honeywell
- Student-Run Project VALHALLA Aims to Launch Rockets at the Edge of Space
- The Blue Origin of Aerospace Engineer Matt Boban
- Student Duo Shines at International Safety Conference
- Are You Cyber-Safe at Hotel Business Centers?
- Military Times Names Embry-Riddle One of the Nation's Best for Veterans