Degree Offered
- Doctor of Philosophy, Occupational Safety and Health (Ph.D.)
Nature of the Program
The online Occupational Safety and Health Ph.D. program is designed for students and professionals who aspire to advance their knowledge, research potential and overall expertise to explore research and development opportunities in academia, consulting or high-level industry positions. The program equips students with the skills necessary to tackle complex occupational safety and health challenges by seamlessly integrating structured coursework with applied research. The flexible, self-paced online curriculum allows students to balance their professional commitments while pursuing their doctoral degrees. The program's industry-focused curriculum addresses the growing demand for doctoral-level expertise in high-risk sectors such as healthcare, fire safety, construction, and more.
Admissions for 2026-2027
Doctoral Admissions
To be eligible for admission into the doctoral program, a candidate must fulfill the following requirements:
- A bachelors and masters degree from engineering, physics, chemistry, computer sciences, mathematics, or a similar technical or science program. The applicant must have completed at least two years of calculus or equivalent mathematics in their degree program.
- Earned a GPA of 3.5 or better (out of a possible 4.0) in their undergraduate and graduate coursework. Applicants with a cumulative GPA of less than 3.5/4.0 may be considered for admission if they have relevant research experience and peer-reviewed scientific publications.
- A statement of purpose focusing on the research topic and its feasibility.
- Two letters of recommendation.
- Official transcripts of all previous college coursework.
- International applicants must meet the WVU requirement of English language proficiency.
Direct-Track BS-PhD Admissions
The Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering offers a direct track option from the bachelor of science (B.S.) to the doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) degree for prospective qualified students with exceptional academic record and/or research experience. The qualified students must hold a B.S. degree in engineering, physics, chemistry, computer sciences, mathematics, or a similar technical or science program. In general, a degree in one of the related science programs is required with at least two years of calculus or equivalent mathematics. This is an accelerated track that provides outstanding candidates the option of earning a Ph.D. degree in less than five years after graduating from an undergraduate program by engaging early in their Ph.D. dissertation research. To qualify for the direct- track degree option, all applicants must have:
- Applicants must have earned a GPA of 3.5 or better (out of a possible 4.0) in their undergraduate coursework.
- A statement of purpose focusing on the research topic and its feasibility.
- Two letters of recommendation.
- Official transcripts of all previous college coursework.
- International applicants must meet the WVU requirement of English language proficiency.
Major Code: 3073
Curriculum in Doctor of Philosophy – Occupational Safety and Health
A candidate for the Ph.D. degree with a major in occupational safety and health must comply with the rules and regulations as outlined in the WVU Graduate Catalog and the specific requirements of the Statler College and the Industrial and Management Systems Engineering Department.
Program Requirements
The doctor of philosophy degree with a major in occupational safety and health is administered through the college’s interdisciplinary Ph.D. program. The research work for the doctoral dissertation must show a high degree of originality on the part of the student and must constitute an original contribution to the art and science of occupational safety and health.
All Ph.D. degree candidates are required to perform research and follow a planned program of study. The student’s research advisor, academic advisor, and the student’s Advising and Examining Committee (AEC) will be responsible for determining the plan of study appropriate to the student’s needs. The underlying principle of the planned program is to provide the students with the necessary support to complete their degree and prepare them for their career.
Course requirements for the Ph.D. program are determined by the student’s area of concentration. The research work for the doctoral dissertation may entail a fundamental investigation or a broad and comprehensive investigation into an area of specialization.
Curriculum Requirements (BS-PhD Pathway)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required in all courses | ||
| Course Requirements | ||
| Foundation Courses | 9 | |
| Research Method | ||
| Systems Thinking | ||
| Applied Statistics for Occupational Safety and Health | ||
| Elective Courses (Select from the following based on degree path): | 21 | |
| Safety Management Integration | ||
| Controlling Environmental and Personnel Hazards | ||
| Safety Legislation and Compliance | ||
| Economic Aspects of Safety | ||
| Fire Safety Management | ||
| Loss Control and Recovery | ||
| Safety and Health Training | ||
| Instrumentation for Safety Managers | ||
Any BIOM, BMEG, CE, CHE, CHEM, CPE, CS, EE, EMGT, IENG, IH&S, MAE, MATH, MINE, PCOL, PNGE, PHYS, PUBH, SAFM, SENG, or STAT courses 500-795, as approved by the student's AEC | ||
| Research | 24 | |
| Research | ||
| Examinations | ||
Plan of Study | ||
Qualifying Exam | ||
Candidacy Exam | ||
Final Exam | ||
Dissertation | ||
| Total Hours | 54 | |
Curriculum Requirements (MS-PhD Pathway)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required in all courses | ||
| Course Requirements | ||
| Foundation Courses | 9 | |
| Research Method | ||
| Systems Thinking | ||
| Applied Statistics for Occupational Safety and Health | ||
| Elective Courses (Select from the following based on degree path): | 9 | |
| Safety Management Integration | ||
| Controlling Environmental and Personnel Hazards | ||
| Safety Legislation and Compliance | ||
| Economic Aspects of Safety | ||
| Fire Safety Management | ||
| Loss Control and Recovery | ||
| Safety and Health Training | ||
| Instrumentation for Safety Managers | ||
Any BIOM, BMEG, CE, CHE, CHEM, CPE, CS, EE, EMGT, IENG, IH&S, MAE, MATH, MINE, PCOL, PNGE, PHYS, PUBH, SAFM, SENG, or STAT courses 500-795, as approved by the student's AEC | ||
| Research | 24 | |
| Research | ||
| Examinations | ||
Plan of Study | ||
Qualifying Exam | ||
Candidacy Exam | ||
Final Exam | ||
Dissertation | ||
| Total Hours | 42 | |
Examinations
Qualifying Exam
All students must take and pass a qualifying examination. Normally, the qualifying examination is given no later than one semester after completion of eighteen credit hours toward the doctoral degree. This examination is designed to assess the basic competency of students in the occupational safety and health field to determine whether or not they have sufficient knowledge to undertake independent research.
Candidacy Examination
In order to be admitted to candidacy, the student must pass a candidacy exam, which is designed to evaluate the student’s overall ability to engage in high-level research.
A student who has successfully completed all coursework, passed the qualifying examination, and successfully defended the research proposal is defined as one who is a candidate for the Ph.D. degree.
Final Examination
At the completion of the dissertation research, candidates must prepare a dissertation and pass the final oral examination (defense) administered by their AEC.
In order to complete the Ph.D. requirements, a student must pass a final oral examination on the results embodied in the dissertation. This examination is open to the public and, in order to evaluate critically the student's competency, may include testing on material in related fields, as deemed necessary by the AEC. In addition, since the Ph.D. degree is primarily a research degree that embodies the results of an original research proposal and represents a significant contribution to scientific literature, the student must submit a manuscript on this research to the AEC.
Major Learning Outcomes
Occupational Safety and Health
- To construct, manage, and evaluate a comprehensive safety and health program for large industry or government agencies.
- To participate in the safety and health regulatory process as an individual or part of a corporation or university.
- To critically evaluate research conducted by other individuals or corporations in occupational safety and health.
- To provide excellent teaching at the University or corporate levels.
- To participate in activities such as conferences or seminars for continued professional improvement.
- To actively participate as a leader in the professional organizations that serve the occupational safety and health fields.
- To demonstrate the highest possible ethical standards in the field of occupational safety and health.