Safety Sciences Mission Statement
The mission of the Safety Sciences Department at Indiana University of Pennsylvania is to prepare individuals for careers in the safety sciences, which encompass occupational safety, occupational health, environmental safety, fire protection, ergonomics, systems safety, emergency planning and response, and safety management. The following actions guide the department in its endeavor to meet this mission:
- Assist the university and the College of Health and Human Services in achieving their missions.
- Use the teacher-scholar model and the learning-centered environment to enhance the education of all students.
- Target graduate education to meet the needs of current and future practitioners.
- Create a learning community that is diverse in its composition and committed to tolerance, compassion and service.
- Acquire and utilize technology that facilitates active participation in the creation and use of information on a global scale.
- Develop and maintain high quality curricula in undergraduate and graduate programs and offer continuing education coursework within the primary knowledge area of safety sciences.
- Conduct research whenever these opportunities are found in the safety sciences.
- Cooperate with employers to provide internship and cooperative education experiences for students.
- Consult and maintain relationships through professional associations and advisory committees to expand the knowledge to protect life, property, and the environment.
Program Educational Objectives - Bachelor of Science
- During their first five years after graduation, graduates working as safety, health and environmental professionals will demonstrate abilities to
- anticipate, identify, and evaluate hazardous conditions and practices
- develop hazard control methods, procedures, and programs
- implement, administer, and advise others on hazard controls and hazard control programs
- measure, audit, and evaluate the effectiveness of hazard controls and hazard control programs
- Graduates will continue their professional growth after graduation and the integration of new knowledge into their profession.
- Graduates will act in a professional and ethical manner.
Program Outcomes - Bachelor of Science
1. Students will have demonstrated their ability to anticipate, identify, and evaluate hazards and develop hazard control methods, procedures and programs. Students will demonstrate this outcome in the following safety sciences cognate areas: occupational safety and health, industrial hygiene, systems safety, legal aspects of safety, health and environmental regulations, fire safety, safety management, ergonomics, construction safety, environmental safety, emergency preparedness, and hazardous materials.
1.1 Students will demonstrate an ability to apply knowledge for solving applied science problems in algebra, statistics, human physiology and anatomy, physics, and chemistry, including the ability to conduct experiments in prerequisite courses and safety sciences courses.
1.2 Students will demonstrate an ability to recognize, evaluate and control hazards while on their internship.
2. Students will have developed an ability to analyze and improve the management system with the goal of preventing hazardous acts and conditions that lead to loss events.
2.1 Students will complete a loss incident investigation and analysis.
2.2 Students will develop and evaluate a comprehensive SHE Program.
2.3 Students will apply business and risk management concepts as they relate to the prevention of hazardous acts and conditions, i.e. cost benefit analysis, behavioral strategies, modified work programs, etc.
2.4 Students will apply adult learning theories in the completion of the SHE Training.
3. Students will have developed an understanding of their professional and ethical responsibilities within the Safety, Health and Environmental field.
3.1 Students will act in a professional and ethical manner while completing their internship.
3.2 Students will develop an understanding of professional growth by becoming members of Professional Safety, Health and Environmental organizations.
4. Students will have demonstrated their ability to communicate effectively and to work in multidisciplinary teams.
4.1 Students will demonstrate competency in written communications.
4.2 Students will demonstrate competency in oral communications.
4.3 Students will demonstrate competency in working in multidisciplinary teams while completing coursework and while on internship.
5. Students will have developed a knowledge of contemporary safety, health, and environmental issues within a global and social context.
