Option in Environmental Health and Safety Engineering
The option in Environmental Health and Safety Engineering is one of the two options available in the Environmental Systems Engineering degree program. It combines instruction in environmental systems engineering with a focus on occupational health and safety. The most precious resource in any organization is its people. People are a company's major investment, and their welfare is essential to good business. The safest workplace is the most productive workplace. Industrial accidents disrupt production and affect people's lives. In today's competitive marketplace, companies cannot afford the losses that are incurred. And, increasingly, employees are sensitive to their environment and are demanding safe and healthful working conditions.
Many industries are heavily regulated by federal and state government agencies to maintain specific health and safety standards and are monitored to assure compliance with these standards. While substantial progress has been made in industrial health and safety, deaths, disabilities, and industrial accidents and disasters continue to occur. The need for well-trained health and safety engineering professionals has never been greater.
The option in Environmental Health and Safety Engineering is designed to provide students with the technical and managerial skills necessary to address the occupational health and safety concerns associated with the energy production, manufacturing, construction, and government sectors. Employers in the United States are mandated by federal and state laws to provide workplaces that are free of recognized hazards to personnel. These students are trained to design the protection systems that will ensure compliance as well as protect workers from these recognized hazards. Agencies, such as OSHA and MSHA, have placed increased emphasis on employer responsibilities for the health and safety of their employees. Annually, work-related accidents affect not only workers' compensation but also reduce productivity.
Requirements for the Option
The complete listing of course requirements for a bachelor's degree in Environmental Systems Engineering (ENVSE) can be found on the Degree Requirements page. Within the 131 credits needed to acheive a B.S. degree in ENVSE, a total of 21 credits are required for completion of the EHSE option. They are as follows:
- Prescribed Courses (21 credits):
- BIOL 141 GN(3), PSYCH 100 GS(3) (Sem: 1-4)
- I H S 495W(2), ME 405(3) (Sem: 5-6)
- I H S 400(3), I H S 447(4), I H S 470(3) (Sem: 7-8)
ABET Accreditation
The Environmental Systems Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012, telephone: (410) 347-7700.