Health, Safety, and Environmental Health Sciences

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GRADUATE DEGREES OFFERED:

Master of Arts—Health and Safety
Specializations in:
   Health and Safety (for teacher licensure)
   Community Health Promotion
   Occupational Safety Management

Master of Science—Health and Safety
Specializations in:
  Health and Safety (for teacher licensure)
  Community Health Promotion
  Occupational Safety Management
  Driver Education License

Department of Health, Safety, and Environmental Health Sciences
Health and Human Performance Building, room B-83
Phone: 812-237-3071
Fax: 812-237-4338
Web site: http://www.indstate.edu/hsehs/

Department Chairperson: Dr. Yasenka Peterson

GRADUATE FACULTY

Professors

Blyukher, Boris, Ph.D., National Institute of Standards, Moscow, USSR
Professor of Health, Safety, and Environmental Health Sciences
Specializations: Safety Management, Industrial Hygiene

Ferng-Kuo, Shiaw-Fen, Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles
Professor of Health, Safety, and Environmental Health Sciences
Specialization: Environmental Health

Associate Professors

Bermudez, Eliezer, Ph.D., University of California
Associate Professor of Health, Safety, and Environmental Health Sciences
Specialization: Environmental Health

Peterson, Yasenka, Ph.D., Texas Women’s University
Chairperson, Associate Professor of Health, Safety, and Environmental Health Sciences
Specializations: Community Health, AIDS, Health Promotions

Sheldon, Ernest, Ph.D., Purdue University
Associate Professor of Health, Safety, and Environmental Health Sciences
Specialization: Safety Management

Assistant Professors

Hutchens, Matthew, Ph.D., Southern Illinois University
Assistant Professor of Health, Safety, and Environmental Health Sciences
Specialization: Community Health

Johnson, Maureen, Ph.D., Southern Illinois University
Assistant Professor of Health, Safety, and Environmental Health Sciences
Specialization: Community Health

Melancon, Jimmy, Ph.D., Texas Woman’s University
Assistant Professor of Health, Safety, and Environmental Health Sciences
Specialization: Health Administration

Moayed, Farman A., Ph.D., University of Cincinnati
Assistant Professor of Health, Safety, and Environmental Health Sciences

INTRODUCTION

The department offers a flexible, quality program designed primarily for students seeking graduate study to develop master-level proficiency in their chosen vocation or profession. A master’s degree in health, safety, and environmental health sciences offers specializations in community health promotion, occupational safety management, and health and safety education.

MAIN OBJECTIVE

These programs are particularly rewarding as a means for students to advance their professional careers in the fields of health facility administration, school health education, health promotion, public health education, and occupational health and safety.

Beginning with summer 2006, all graduate courses are offered in a Web-based format. Some classes are totally asynchronous while others may require logging into one live session per week. Courses are delivered using Blackboard with Breeze software and require broadband Internet connection. Currently three or four courses are offered each semester. Contact instructors for hardware and software requirements for individual classes. Contact the Department of Health, Safety, and Environmental Health Science for more information (812-237-3071 or 800-654-6975).

All candidates for the master’s degree are required to complete a specifically planned program of study. The actual program for each student will be planned jointly by the student and the advisor. It is important therefore, that such plans be completed as early as possible.

Programs are available for those seeking to professionalize Indiana teaching licenses and for those interested in study unrelated to teacher licensure.

The department offers graduate assistantships to students whose undergraduate records are superior and to graduate students who complete 12 hours of graduate work with an index of 3.6 or better.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

For admission, applicants must meet the general admission requirements of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies, and satisfy standards established by the Department of Health, Safety, and Environmental Health Sciences: applicants must submit a letter of interest describing their academic and or employment experience as well as their reasons for pursuing the master’s degree; applicants must be available for an interview which may be conducted by telephone; applicants must submit scores for the General Tests of the Graduate Records Examination; and applicants shall meet the admission requirements outlined in their specialization:

A. Occupational Safety Management Specialization

1.  Applicants must have completed a baccalaureate degree including the following undergraduate courses:
      One year of college level chemistry, including inorganic and organic plus laboratory;
      One semester of college algebra, trigonometry, or calculus; and

2.  Applicants must meet one of the following professional requirements:
       Baccalaureate degree in safety management; or
       Two years of professional work experience within the field of occupational health and safety,
       as approved by the Department of Health, Safety, and Environmental Health Sciences; or
       Personal proficiency recognition via certification, including but not limited to: 

ASP—Associate Safety Professional
CSP—Certified Safety Professional
CIH—Certified Industrial Hygienist
or
CAIH—Certified Associate Industrial Hygienist
CHST-—Construction Health and Safety Technician
OHST—Occupational Health and Safety Technician

Applicants failing to meet the requirements as outlined in 1.b. may be granted admission upon successful completion of requirements as outlined in 1.c.

Applicants not meeting the above professional requirements as outlined in 1.b., may be conditionally admitted. These applicants must complete a minimum of six hours of graduate-level foundation courses as determined by the Department of Health, Safety, and Environmental Health Sciences. These hours will not count toward the minimum requirement of 32 hours for completion of the degree and must be taken prior to matriculating in the safety management core.

B. Community Health Promotion Specialization

1. Applicants must have completed a baccalaureate degree including the following undergraduate courses:
     One year college level life sciences, including physiology and microbiology;
     One semester of college level algebra, trigonometry, or calculus; a minimum of one semester
     general college level chemistry including laboratory; and

2. Meet one of the following professional requirements:
     Baccalaureate degree in allied health professions; or
     Two years of professional work experience within the field of health care, public health, or
     health education/promotion, as approved by the Department of Health, Safety, and
     Environmental Health Sciences; or

     Professional certification/licensure including but not limited to:

RN—Registered Nurse
RPS—Registered Professional Sanitarian
MD—Medical Doctor
OD—Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine

Applicants failing to meet the requirements as outlined in 2.b. may be granted admission upon successful completion of requirements as outlined in 2.c

d.   Applicants not meeting the above professional requirements as outlined in 2.b., may be conditionally admitted. These applicants must complete a minimum of six hours of graduate-level foundation courses, as determined by the Department of Health, Safety, and Environmental Health Sciences. These hours will not count toward the minimum requirement of 32 hours for completion of the degree.

C. Health and Safety Education (Teaching) Specialization

Applicants must possess a baccalaureate degree in health and safety education (teaching), or a baccalaureate education degree with a major or minor in health and safety education. (Note: School health nurses on the Indiana teacher merit pay system may be admitted to this program.)

D. Driver Education License

This licensure can be an additional licensure for all-grade or secondary content teacher’s license with the Indiana Professional Standard Board through Indiana Department of Education.

Additional Options for Graduate Credit

Applicants who have not received official notification of admission prior to registration may enroll in up to nine credit hours of graduate-level course work in health and safety at Indiana State University under tentative graduate admission. However, students should complete the admission process in accordance with the College of Graduate and Professional Studies’ policy in order to apply the first nine hours of Indiana State University graduate work toward a specific degree program. Recommendations for admission are made by the Department of Health, Safety, and Environmental Health Sciences to the College of Graduate and Professional Studies. Official notification of admission and requirements is sent to the student by the College of Graduate and Professional Studies.

Deadlines for Receipt of Application Papers

The deadlines for receipt of application, official transcripts, Graduate Record Examination scores, letter of intent, and documentation of certification (if applicable) for applicants contemplating full-time regular admission on campus are February 1 for fall, August 1 for spring, and January 1 for summer enrollment. Applicants for part-time regular admission must submit their materials at least three months in advance of anticipated matriculation.

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