Students are instructed in the theoretical concepts of safety and ergonomic principles and are provided with opportunities to put the theory into practice. The goal is to produce qualified safety professionals with advanced degrees who will be able to more effectively direct occupational safety and health programs as well as contribute to the advanced education of safety and health professionals as faculty members in other occupational safety and health related institutions. Potential trainees are recruited through active participation in the Gulf Coast Chapter of the American Society of Safety Engineers and though national advertisement.
Many trainees have some formal engineering background.
However, those without undergraduate IE degrees, or those without undergraduate engineering degrees will be permitted to take leveling courses to prepare them for advanced safety engineering training. Students deficient in these areas must complete these courses during their first year in the program. These courses do not count towards satisfying the program hour requirements. In addition, individuals without Industrial Engineering undergraduate degrees and individuals without undergraduate engineering degrees will be required to take leveling courses to ensure that they have sufficient engineering training to be awarded advanced Industrial Engineering Degrees. Appendix D provides a a list of leveling courses for individuals without undergraduate degrees in industrial engineering and individuals without undergraduate degrees in any engineering discipline.