December 13, 2018
Oakland University’s Environmental Health and Safety online degree program has been ranked as one of the top 25 Best Value Occupational Safety and Health degree programs in the nation for 2019 by Value Colleges (VC), an online ranking system that compares the most affordable colleges with the best return on investment.
“Oakland University’s place in the VC Best Value ranking tells students that they can trust OU’s program to provide not only an education, but an entry to a rewarding career,” Rhonda Corey, media manager for Value Colleges, said in an email.
Oakland University ranked No. 13 on the list, between the University of Central Missouri and Purdue University at West Lafayette. The top 10 included: University of Houston-Clear Lake, University of North Alabama, Grand Valley State University, Utah State University, John Hopkins, the University of Texas at Tyler, Ohio University, Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania, Eastern Kentucky University, and the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater.
The ranking is based on several factors, including reputation (based on U.S. News & World Report), return on investment (based on Payscale data), and cost (based on online tuition as reported to the National Center for Education Statistics).
“I appreciate this recognition,” said Kevin Ball, Ph.D., dean of the School of Health Sciences. “The universities and programs described ahead of us are of good quality, and the EHS field serves an increasingly important role in public and environmental wellness, so we are complimented by appearing in this good company.”
Environmental Safety and Health (EHS) is a relatively new, and still emerging, career field compared to other professional studies at universities across America. None of today’s safety-related baccalaureate degree programs existed before the U.S. Congress passed the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. This act represents the first national legislation directed at ensuring the safety and health of America’s working men and women.
The Oakland University Occupational Safety and Health baccalaureate degree, established in 1978, was one of the first such programs to respond to this national demand for increased safety and health in the workplace.
“Formal occupational safety and health codes have been one of the most important developments in the modern workplace,” Corey said. “Quality of life for the day-to-day desk jockey or food-service worker is important, but in fields like mining, construction, or laboratory science, occupational health and safety may literally be a matter of life or death.”
Oakland University’s Bachelor of Science in Environmental Health and Safety degree program produces graduates who can function effectively as safety professionals on multidisciplinary teams that include occupational health physicians, occupational nurses, industrial engineers, environmental engineers, union representatives, hourly workers and corporate managers.
This degree provides a strong health sciences core curriculum and general education component coupled with technical and professional knowledge required by individuals pursuing professional careers in accident prevention, loss-control management and supervision, inspection and control of industrial hazards, and industrial hygiene.
“Oakland University has an environmental health and safety degree online program that meets the needs of busy professionals and adult learners who require flexibility,” according to the VC report. “The online format does not require students ever to step foot on campus, and most of the learning is delivered asynchronously, except for some classes that will be scheduled far in advance and therefore, will be easy to put on the schedule ahead of time.”
To learn more about the EHS program at Oakland University, visit www.oakland.edu/shs.