Bachelor's Degrees in Occupational Safety and Health

<table border="1"><tr><td><b>Degree Option</b></td><td> BS in occupational safety and health with specialization options</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Online Learning</b></td><td> Complete coursework at your own pace, programs cover same material as on-campus programs, communicate with instructors using the internet</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Study Areas</b></td><td> Fire safety, hazardous materials handling, safety training, building codes</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Job Duties</b></td><td> Documenting accidents, identifying safety hazards, ensuring compliance with OSHA regulations, reducing occupational safety risks, writing safety policies</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Career Options</b></td><td> Occupational safety consultant or manager; continuing education opportunities available</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Median Salary (2020)</b></td><td> $76,340 (<i>for all occupational health and safety specialists</i>)*</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Job Outlook (2019-2029)</b></td><td> 4% growth (<i>for all occupational health and safety specialists</i>)*</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i> </p><h3 id="section---HowAreOnlineProgramsDifferent">How are Online Programs Different?</h3><p>Online programs cover the same subject areas as traditional programs. You'll still be in contact with instructors on a regular basis through the Internet, but online programs allow you to complete coursework at your own pace. </p><h3 id="section---WhatCanILearnAbout">What Can I Learn About?</h3><p>Occupational safety programs, regardless of the specialty you choose, will touch on every area of workplace safety. While you earn a bachelor's degree, you can work with the school to locate internship opportunities that provide you with hands-on experience. </p><p>Aside from basic academic requirements, you can expect to complete coursework that deals with the legal and regulatory aspects of workplace safety. This includes an overview of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards. </p><p>Specific areas of instruction cover hazardous materials handling, fire safety, building codes and safety training. You'll also learn how to integrate this knowledge, which is necessary to document accidents and design measures to prevent their occurrence. If you pursue a specialization in fire science, coursework will cover building codes, fire prevention, incendiary analysis and fire suppression systems. </p><h3 id="section---HowCanIUseMyDegree">How Can I Use My Degree?</h3><p>In the workforce, you can apply your degree for a career as an occupational safety consultant or manager. In this type of role, you'll be responsible for writing safety policies, ensuring compliance with OSHA regulations and documenting accidents. </p><p>You'll also be responsible for identifying safety hazards and developing an approach to eliminate these hazards or reduce their occupational safety risks. The types of risks you'll deal with include those tied to physical injury, electrocution, hazardous materials and biological hazards. </p><p>Depending on your career goals, you can also apply the study you've completed in a bachelor's degree program as a graduate student. If you plan on continuing or entering a career in occupational safety, you can earn your Master of Science in Occupational Safety and Health or a Master of Public Health in Occupational Health and Safety Management.</p>