Master of science in safety engineering and risk management
Program Mission
To produce skilled graduates in safety engineering and risk management who can analyze and design safety systems, manage risks, conduct research, and provide services to enhance community safety, environmental protection, and sustainable industrial development.
Program Goals
Goal 1: Develop graduates with advanced expertise in safety engineering and risk management, empowering them to protect people and assets.
Goal 2: Foster a research-driven approach to safety, enabling graduates to analyze problems, generate data-driven solutions, and contribute to new knowledge.
Goal 3: Prepare graduates to be safety leaders, capable of educating stakeholders, influencing workplace culture, and advocating for policies that enhance community well-being.
Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)
Knowledge and Understanding:
K1: Acquire and integrate advanced knowledge of mathematical, scientific, and technical principles with recent developments in safety engineering and risk management.
Skills:
S1: Apply advanced mathematical, scientific, and technical knowledge to solve complex problems in safety engineering and risk management.
S2: Design, evaluate and optimize safety systems, risk management processes, and safety programs to address specific needs specific to different contexts.
S3: Develop and demonstrate high-level communication skills to effectively convey complex safety concepts and research findings to diverse stakeholders, using appropriate digital and ICT tools.
S4: Utilize scientific reasoning, experiments, simulations, and data analysis to proactively identify hazards, assess risks, develop, and implement effective mitigation strategies to enhance safety in diverse engineering applications.
Values, Autonomy, and Responsibility:
V1: Exhibit a strong commitment to ethical practices and professional standards, recognizing the broader impacts of safety and risk management decisions on global, economic, environmental, and societal levels.
V2: Collaborate effectively as a team member or leader in diverse settings, demonstrating strong interpersonal, and conflict resolution skills to achieve common goals in safety engineering and risk management.
V3: Demonstrate autonomy and leadership in safety and risk management through continuous learning, industry engagement, and contributions to the field.
Career Opportunities:
Graduates of this program are qualified for a variety of professions, including:
Safety Engineer/Manager/Consultant/Specialist: Designing and implementing safety programs, conducting risk assessments, ensuring compliance with regulations in various industries sitting.
Emergency Management Consultant/Specialist: Planning and coordinating responses to disasters, developing preparedness plans, and working with government agencies or NGOs.
Process Safety Engineer: Analyzing and improving safety systems in chemical plants, refineries, and other facilities handling hazardous materials.
Quality Assurance/Control Specialist: Focusing on the safety and reliability of products, processes, and systems.
Environmental Safety Consultant/Specialist: Addressing environmental hazards, ensuring compliance with regulations, and developing sustainable safety practices.
Risk Analyst/Consultant/Specialist: Identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks for organizations, projects, or within specific sectors.
Occupational Health and Safety Engineer/Manager/Consultant/Specialist: Developing and enforcing workplace safety standards, conducting hazard analyses, and promoting health/wellbeing in industrial settings.
Researcher/Academic: Pursuing further studies (Ph.D.)
Relevant Sectors:
Graduates can find employment in various sectors, such as:
Manufacturing (heavy industries, automotive, etc.)
Construction (large-scale infrastructure projects, building sites)
Energy (oil and gas, power generation, renewable energy sectors)
Transportation (aviation, shipping, logistics)
Healthcare (hospitals, medical facilities, pharmaceutical industries)
Government Agencies (regulatory bodies, emergency response organizations)
Consulting Firms (providing risk management and safety expertise)
Insurance (assessing risks for underwriting, developing safety protocols)
Curriculum
Curriculum structure
Requirements | Number of Courses | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
Required Courses | 7 | 20 |
Elective Courses | 3 | 6 |
Research Thesis | 1 | 6 |
Total | 10 | 32 |
Program Courses:
Level | Course Code | Course Title | Type | Prerequisites | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | IE621 | Safety Engineering and Management | Required | None | 3 |
IE622 | Environmental and Occupational Health Management | Required | None | 3 | |
IE631 | Risk Analysis and Management | Required | None | 3 | |
2 | IE623 | Process Safety Engineering | Required | IE621, IE631 | 3 |
IE624 | Fire Safety Engineering | Required | IE621, IE631 | 3 | |
IE632 | Resilience and Crisis Management | Required | IE621, IE631 | 3 | |
3 | IE711 | Safety Regulations and Compliance | Required | IE621, IE631 | 2 |
Elective 1 | Elective Course 1 | Elective | IE621, IE631 | 3 | |
Elective 2 | Elective Course 2 | Elective | IE621, IE631 | 3 | |
4 | IE791 | Research Thesis | Required | Completion of 16 CH, one elective course, Departmental Approval | 6 |
Elective Courses (to select any two):
Level | Course Code | Course Title | Prerequisite Courses | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
3 | IE712 | Safety Technology and Innovation | IE621, IE631 | 3 |
3 | IE731 | Decision Support in Risk Management | IE621, IE631 | 3 |
3 | IE741 | Construction Safety Management | IE621, IE631 | 3 |
3 | IE742 | Cybersecurity Risk Management | IE621, IE631 | 3 |
3 | IE743 | Financial Risk Management | IE621, IE631 | 3 |
3 | IE744 | Healthcare Systems Safety | IE621, IE631 | 3 |
3 | IE745 | Supply Chain and Logistics Risk Management | IE621, IE631 | 3 |
3 | IE746 | Transportation Systems Safety | IE621, IE631 | 3 |
Thesis and Its Requirements
Registration Requirements:
Completion of at least 50% of coursework (16 credits) and one elective course.
Approval from the department.
Thesis Proposal:
Problem Statement and Significance: Clearly articulate the specific research problem or gap in knowledge the thesis aims to address. Explain why this problem is relevant and significant within the field of safety engineering and risk management.
Literature Review: Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of existing research on the chosen topic. Identify key studies, synthesize their findings, and highlight where the proposed thesis will build upon or fill gaps within the current knowledge base.
Research Objectives/Questions: State the specific goals or research questions that the thesis will seek to answer.
Methodology: Provide a detailed plan outlining research design, data collection methods, data analysis techniques, and how the chosen methods will effectively address the research objectives.
Timeline: Present a realistic timeline with achievable milestones, including target dates for proposal approval, data collection, analysis phases, thesis writing, and final submission.
Expected Outcomes/Contributions: Describe the potential new knowledge, insights, or solutions that the thesis research is expected to generate. Explain how the findings will contribute to the field of safety engineering and risk management.
Thesis Defense:
Public Presentation: The student delivers a formal presentation summarizing the research problem, methodology, key findings, results, conclusions, and contributions to the field.
Question & Answer Session: Committee members pose challenging questions to test the student's depth of knowledge, critical thinking skills, and ability to defend their research.
Private Deliberation: The committee convenes privately to thoroughly discuss the student's work and performance during the defense.
Outcome Announcement: The defense committee assesses the thesis and defense performance based on problem significance, knowledge of the field, research rigor, contributions, thesis quality, and defense performance.