Environmental, Health and Safety Management Master of science degree
Environmental, Health and Safety Management
Master of science degree
Overview
Acquire a foundation in the managerial aspects of developing and implementing environmental health and safety management systems to help companies meet their sustainability and safety standards.
Management of environmental, health and safety issues has changed significantly in recent years. The emergence of voluntary standards and codes of conduct, including international standards, coupled with the need to manage costs and limited resources, has resulted in a trend to move beyond regulatory compliance. Now, companies work toward sustainability through the use of integrated environmental and management systems, which are woven into key business processes. The environmental management masters provides students with a solid foundation in the managerial aspects of developing and implementing environmental, health and safety management systems that can move organizations toward a more sustainable and socially responsible future.
Although they are distinct disciplines, environmental management, occupational health, and workplace safety share many technical, regulatory, and organizational characteristics. Today's professionals need to be educated in all three areas. Graduates are employed by Fortune 100 companies, environmental, health and safety consultancies, universities, and government agencies such as the EPA, OSHA, and NYSDEC.
The MS degree in environmental, health and safety management provides students with a solid foundation in the managerial aspects of developing and implementing environmental, health and safety management systems that can move organizations toward a more sustainable and socially responsible future. In addition, students gain a solid technical foundation in air emissions, wastewater, solid and hazardous waste, occupational safety and occupational health (industrial hygiene). Elements of sustainability are integrated into most core courses and some electives.
The program consists of 30 credit hours and may be completed entirely through online learning, or via a combination of online and traditional on-campus courses. The curriculum includes core courses, professional electives, and a choice of a thesis, capstone project, or comprehensive exam.
Cooperative education
Full-time students are eligible to participate in RIT’s cooperative education program. After completing two semesters (a minimum of 18 credit hours), students may request approval to complete up to one year of cooperative education employment related to their field of study.
Professional electives
Professional electives are subject to availability and include Fire Protection, Occupational Health, Solid and Hazardous Waste Management, Industrial Wastewater Management, Air Emissions Management, Occupational Safety, Mechanical and Electrical Controls and Standards, EHS Law, EHS Accounting and Finance, EHS Project Management, and Organizational Behavior and Leadership. Additional professional electives are available in topics such as business management, quality, sustainability, and other areas.
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Curriculum
Environmental, Health and Safety Management (thesis option), MS degree, typical course sequence
| Course | Sem. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| ESHS-720 |
Environmental, Health and Safety Management
This is the initial course in the curriculum core of RIT's MS degree program in Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Management. It defines and profiles EHS management within the organization; explores EHS management history, motivations, and strategies; introduces current and developing systems for managing an organization's EHS aspects; and investigates the elements and implications of developing an organizational EHS vision and policy statement. The course's unique delivery style combines elements of distance-learning and an onsite executive-leader format.
|
3 |
| ESHS-740 |
EHS Management System Design
This course examines the design and development of environmental, health and safety management systems in order to implement an organization's policies and offers strategies for measurement of results in order to assess performance and ensure continual improvement. Significant team project work as well as individual work is required.
|
3 |
| ESHS-755 |
Corporate Social Responsibility
This course will introduce social responsibility concepts and approaches presented in key documents like the ISO 26000 Social Responsibility Standard, and will explore strategies for assisting an organization to identify and implement socially responsible initiatives appropriate to the nature and scope of its activities, products, and services.
|
3 |
| ESHS-760 |
Integrating EHS Management
This course examines strategies for integrating EHS systems and processes. Using case studies, the course explores interrelationships between EHS and total quality management, business value, reporting, and approaches for sustainable business development. Students will be prepared to select appropriate quality tools to improve EHS processes; identify opportunities, strategies, and tools for integrating EHS into business management; and identify best practices in EHS/business integration.
|
3 |
| ESHS-780 |
EHS Internal Auditing
This course provides an overview of the fundamentals of EHS internal auditing, including EHS internal audit program design and management principles, management system performance evaluation and corrective action techniques, and system improvements. Exercises provide opportunities to apply knowledge.
|
3 |
| ESHS-790 |
Thesis
The graduate thesis is a formal research document that empirically relates theory with practice. A formal written thesis and oral defense are required.
|
3 |
| GRCS-701 |
Research Methods
This is an introductory graduate-level survey course on research design/methods and analysis. The course provides a broad overview of the process and practices of research in applied contexts. Content includes principles and techniques of research design, sampling, data collection, and analysis including the nature of evidence, types of research, defining research questions, sampling techniques, data collection, data analysis, issues concerning human subjects and research ethics, and challenges associated with conducting research in real-world contexts. The analysis component of the course provides an understanding of statistical methodology used to collect and interpret data found in research as well as how to read and interpret data collection instruments.
|
3 |
| GRCS-702 |
Principles of Research Communications
Conducting research requires language skills to express the research concept, explain methodology and summarize the results. This course will focus on written communication skills including critical thinking, scholarly writing skills and the ability to synthesize research results to draw conclusions. Key to this course is the establishment of a defensible argument through which the student explains, convinces and establishes boundaries for the research subject. The focus of this course is to have students learn the mechanics of research writing and at the conclusion of the course to have generated elements of their final research thesis or capstone which can be used as a basis for further work with their home department or thesis/capstone faculty advisor.
|
3 |
Professional Electives |
6 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 30 |
|
Environmental, Health and Safety Management (capstone project option), MS degree, typical course sequence
| Course | Sem. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| ESHS-720 |
Environmental, Health Safety Management
This is the initial course in the curriculum core of RIT's MS degree program in Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Management. It defines and profiles EHS management within the organization; explores EHS management history, motivations, and strategies; introduces current and developing systems for managing an organization's EHS aspects; and investigates the elements and implications of developing an organizational EHS vision and policy statement. The course's unique delivery style combines elements of distance-learning and an onsite executive-leader format.
|
3 |
| ESHS-740 |
EHS Management System Design
This course examines the design and development of environmental, health and safety management systems in order to implement an organization's policies and offers strategies for measurement of results in order to assess performance and ensure continual improvement. Significant team project work as well as individual work is required.
|
3 |
| ESHS-755 |
Corporate Social Responsibility
This course will introduce social responsibility concepts and approaches presented in key documents like the ISO 26000 Social Responsibility Standard, and will explore strategies for assisting an organization to identify and implement socially responsible initiatives appropriate to the nature and scope of its activities, products, and services.
|
3 |
| ESHS-760 |
Integrating EHS Management
This course examines strategies for integrating EHS systems and processes. Using case studies, the course explores interrelationships between EHS and total quality management, business value, reporting, and approaches for sustainable business development. Students will be prepared to select appropriate quality tools to improve EHS processes; identify opportunities, strategies, and tools for integrating EHS into business management; and identify best practices in EHS/business integration.
|
3 |
| ESHS-780 |
EHS Internal Auditing
This course provides an overview of the fundamentals of EHS internal auditing, including EHS internal audit program design and management principles, management system performance evaluation and corrective action techniques, and system improvements. Exercises provide opportunities to apply knowledge.
|
3 |
| ESHS-797 |
Graduate Project
This course provides an opportunity for students to demonstrate their capabilities developed through their course of study to design, develop, and/or evaluate an EHS management related project culminating in a written report or manuscript and presentation.
|
3 |
| GRCS-701 |
Research Methods
This is an introductory graduate-level survey course on research design/methods and analysis. The course provides a broad overview of the process and practices of research in applied contexts. Content includes principles and techniques of research design, sampling, data collection, and analysis including the nature of evidence, types of research, defining research questions, sampling techniques, data collection, data analysis, issues concerning human subjects and research ethics, and challenges associated with conducting research in real-world contexts. The analysis component of the course provides an understanding of statistical methodology used to collect and interpret data found in research as well as how to read and interpret data collection instruments.
|
3 |
Professional Electives |
9 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 30 |
|
Environmental, Health and Safety Management (comprehensive exam option), MS degree, typical course sequence
| Course | Sem. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| ESHS-720 |
Environmental, Health and Safety Management
This is the initial course in the curriculum core of RIT's MS degree program in Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Management. It defines and profiles EHS management within the organization; explores EHS management history, motivations, and strategies; introduces current and developing systems for managing an organization's EHS aspects; and investigates the elements and implications of developing an organizational EHS vision and policy statement. The course's unique delivery style combines elements of distance-learning and an onsite executive-leader format.
|
3 |
| ESHS-740 |
EHS Management System Design
This course examines the design and development of environmental, health and safety management systems in order to implement an organization's policies and offers strategies for measurement of results in order to assess performance and ensure continual improvement. Significant team project work as well as individual work is required.
|
3 |
| ESHS-755 |
Corporate Social Responsibility
This course will introduce social responsibility concepts and approaches presented in key documents like the ISO 26000 Social Responsibility Standard, and will explore strategies for assisting an organization to identify and implement socially responsible initiatives appropriate to the nature and scope of its activities, products, and services.
|
3 |
| ESHS-760 |
Integrating EHS Management
This course examines strategies for integrating EHS systems and processes. Using case studies, the course explores interrelationships between EHS and total quality management, business value, reporting, and approaches for sustainable business development. Students will be prepared to select appropriate quality tools to improve EHS processes; identify opportunities, strategies, and tools for integrating EHS into business management; and identify best practices in EHS/business integration.
|
3 |
| ESHS-780 |
EHS Internal Auditing
This course provides an overview of the fundamentals of EHS internal auditing, including EHS internal audit program design and management principles, management system performance evaluation and corrective action techniques, and system improvements. Exercises provide opportunities to apply knowledge.
|
3 |
| ESHS-795 |
Comprehensive Exam
A written comprehensive exam is one of the non-thesis methodologies for completion of the MS degree. This course will provide a forum for independent review of the main concepts of the program core subject areas. The student will take a written examination at the conclusion of the course and must receive a passing grade of at least 80 percent to be successful. Students will have one additional opportunity to pass this examination if their initial attempt is unsuccessful.
|
0 |
| GRCS-701 |
Research Methods
This is an introductory graduate-level survey course on research design/methods and analysis. The course provides a broad overview of the process and practices of research in applied contexts. Content includes principles and techniques of research design, sampling, data collection, and analysis including the nature of evidence, types of research, defining research questions, sampling techniques, data collection, data analysis, issues concerning human subjects and research ethics, and challenges associated with conducting research in real-world contexts. The analysis component of the course provides an understanding of statistical methodology used to collect and interpret data found in research as well as how to read and interpret data collection instruments.
|
3 |
Professional Electives |
12 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 30 |
|
Admission Requirements
To be considered for admission to the MS program in environmental, health and safety management, candidates must fulfill the following requirements:
- Complete a graduate application.
- Hold a baccalaureate degree (or equivalent) from an accredited university or college.
- Submit official transcripts (in English) of all previously completed undergraduate and graduate course work.
- Have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (or equivalent) over the junior- and senior-level years.
- Have completed at least 9 semester hours of college-level course work in the sciences, with at least 3 semester credit hours in each of the following categories: chemistry, biology, and physics.
- Submit a one-page personal statement of educational objectives.
- Submit a current resume or curriculum vitae.
- Submit two professional letters of recommendations.
- Submit two writing samples to demonstrate written communication skills.
- International applicants whose native language is not English must submit scores from the TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE. A minimum TOEFL score of 88 (internet-based) is required. A minimum IELTS score of 6.5 is required. The English language test score requirement of waived for native speakers of English or for those submitting transcripts from degrees earned at American institutions.
- Applicants with acceptable professional certification(s) and/or work experience may have prerequisite science course work waived.
- Applicants without formal academic training or documented experience in air emissions, waste water, solid and hazardous waste, occupational health, or occupational safety may be required to take professional electives in these areas. Students may complete a graduate cooperative education placement during their program of study.
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are not required; however, applicants may submit test scores to support their candidacy.
Learn about admissions and financial aid
Additional Info
Transfer credit
With the permission of the department, relevant graduate course work may be transferred into the program, per the maximum number of credit hours allowed.
International students
International students enrolled in courses at the RIT campus are required to take at least two traditional classroom courses and one or two online courses per semester. In addition, international students are solely responsible for meeting the requirements of their government and other sponsors, as applicable.