Undergraduate Academic Programs

Degree Programs

Bachelor of Science in Applied Health Science (BSAHS), Safety Major

Description of Program

The safety of communities, workplaces, and schools is a high priority in today’s society.  The undergraduate major in safety prepares graduates for employment in the industrial, business, public, and non-profit sectors.  Students gain skills in safety education and training, safety management, and risk assessment.  Courses range from those addressing safety, environmental and health protection regulations to those focusing on safety behavior and emergency management.

Admission

Apply online for undergraduate admission to Indiana University at http://admit.indiana.edu/.

A newly admitted freshman pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Applied Health Science degree with a major in safety will receive an offer of direct freshman admission to the safety program if he or she meets both of the following criteria:

  • The applicant must have earned one of the following minimum standardized test scores: A combined critical reading and math score of 1270 on the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) or a composite score of 29 on the ACT (American College Test).
  • The applicant must have either graduated in the top 12 percent of his or her high school graduating class or earned a minimum high school GPA of 3.5.

Before entering the School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation as a safety major, all other students must meet both of the following criteria:

  • The student must successfully complete at least 26 credit hours.
  • The student must have a minimum 2.3 cumulative grade point average (GPA) at Indiana University.

Students in the University Division must also declare their intention to major in safety to the University Division Records Office. Undergraduate students who complete the semester before certification of admission to the school with less than a 2.0 GPA for the semester will be admitted on a probationary status.

International transfer applicants to the School of HPER, whose primary language is not English must submit scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). A minimum TOEFL score of 550 on the paper- based test, or 213 on the computer-based test, or a 79 on the Internet-based test, is required for direct admission to the School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation. For students from countries where the TOEFL is not available, other evidence of English proficiency may be considered. All entering international students whose primary language is not English will be required to take the Indiana University English language examination before registering for course work. Appropriate remedial English courses may be prescribed on the basis of test results.

All entering international students whose primary language is not English will be required to take a special examination in English with IU prior to registering.  Prepared by IU and designed to test a student’s ability to use English in an academic setting, the exam consists of three parts: an essay on a general topic, a listening comprehension exercise, and a grammar, vocabulary, and reading comprehension section.  There is little that one can do to prepare for this exam other than to continue using written and spoken English at every opportunity.  

International students whose primary language is not English must agree to take any English language courses prescribed from the results of this examination. Fees for special part-time English courses are the same as for other courses; however, credits earned do not meet degree requirements.  If the results of the proficiency examination indicate that full-time work in English is required, the student will be assigned to the Intensive English Program (IEP).  

Students enrolled in IEP do not take academic courses until they achieve adequate English proficiency.  If a student has serious doubts about English ability and is not financially prepared to undertake the additional time and expense of an intensive English program here, the student should consider completing English study in the student’s home country.  In addition, the student may consider delaying admission to a future session.

Degree Requirements

This is a four-year program leading to a Bachelor of Science in Applied Health Science degree with a major in safety.  A minimum of 26 successfully completed credit hours and a minimum 2.3 cumulative grade point average (GPA) are required for admission to this program.  Graduation requirements include:

  • completion of general education requirements.
  • completion of safety major requirements.
  • a minimum of 124 successfully completed credit hours which count toward the degree program.
  • a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA.
  • a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA in courses with the following department code-prefixes: HPER-C, HPER-F, HPER-H, HPER-N, and HPER-S. 
  • No Pass/Fail except for free electives.
General Education (20 – 39 credits)

All undergraduate students who matriculate as degree-seeking students at IU Bloomington in or after the summer term of 2011 must complete the IU Bloomington campus-wide general education common ground requirements. Such students must visit the 2011-2012 General Education Bulletin to view these requirements.

Undergraduate students who matriculate as degree-seeking students on the IU Bloomington campus in the summer or fall terms of 2010, or the spring term of 2011, must complete the School of HPER general education requirements which are described below. Unlike the 2011-2112 Bloomington campus-wide general education requirements, the 2010 School of HPER general education requirements do not include a residency requirement, nor do they restrict the use of extended-term, independent study or correspondence courses.

2010 School of HPER General Education Requirements

English Composition (0 to 3 credits required, C- minimum required in the course used to satisfy this requirement)
Complete one of the following options:

  • CMCL-C 110 Writing the World (3 cr.)
  • ENG-W 131 Elementary Composition 1 (3 cr.)
  • ENG-W 170 Introduction to Argumentative Writing: Projects in Reading and Writing (3 cr. - this topic only)
  • ENG-W 131 EX  Elementary Composition by Examination (0 cr.)

Mathematical Modeling (3 to 4 credits required)
Complete one of the following options:

  • MATH-A 118 Finite Mathematics for the Social and Biological Sciences (3 cr.)
  • MATH-D 116 AND MATH-D 117 Introduction to Finite Mathematics I-II (4 cr.)
  • MATH-M 118 Finite Mathematics (3 cr.)
  • MATH-S 118 Honors Finite Mathematics (3 cr.)
  • MATH-V 118 Finite Mathematics with Applications: Finite Mathematics for the Social and Biological Sciences (3 cr.)
  • MATH-V 118 Finite Mathematics with Applications: Finite and Consumer Mathematics (3 cr.)
  • MATH-J 113 Introduction to Calculus with Applications (3 cr.)
  • MATH-M 119 Brief Survey of Calculus 1 (3 cr.)
  • MATH-M 211 Calculus I (4 cr.)
  • MATH-M 213 Accelerated Calculus (4 cr.)

Note: The course(s) used to satisfy the mathematical modeling requirement may NOT also be applied to the natural and mathematical sciences requirement.

Natural and Mathematical Sciences (5 to 6 cr.)

Complete either six credits of acceptable natural and mathematical sciences (N&M) courses, or a single, approved, five-credit N&M course with a substantial laboratory component. The course used to satisfy the mathematical modeling requirement may NOT also be used to fulfill this requirement. Visit the list of acceptable natural and mathematical sciences (N&M) courses for choices and more information.

Arts and Humanities (6 credits required)     
Complete six credits of acceptable arts and humanities (A&H) courses.

Social and Historical Studies (6 credits required.)
Complete six credits of acceptable social and historical studies (S&H) courses.

World Languages and Cultures (0 to 14 cr., most commonly 6 credits)
There are three options for completion of the world languages and cultures requirement.

Major (94 cr.)

Safety and Health Courses (48 cr.)
A minimum grade of C– is required in each professional core course.
Complete each of the following courses:

  • HPER-H 174 Prevention of Violence in American Society (3 cr.) +S&H or HPER-S 255 Threats, Violence, and Workplace Safety (3 cr.)
  • HPER-S 101 Introduction to Safety (3 cr.)
  • HPER-S 151 Legal Aspects of Safety (3 cr.)
  • HPER-S 201 Introduction to Industrial Hygiene (3 cr.)
  • HPER-S 202 Fundamentals of Fire Protection (3 cr.)
  • HPER-S 210 OSHA General Industry Standards (3 cr.)
  • HPER-S 214 OSHA Construction Standards (3 cr.)
  • HPER-S 251 Incident Investigation and Analysis (3 cr.)
  • HPER-S 332 Ergonomics and Human Factors (3 cr.)
  • HPER-S 345 Safety Program Management (3 cr.)
  • HPER-S 410 Advanced Industrial Hygiene (3 cr.)
  • HPER-S 411 Industrial Hygiene Sampling and Analysis (3 cr.)
  • HPER-S 415 Safety Education and Training (3 cr.)
  • HPER-S 444 Field Experience in Occupational Safety (6 cr.)
  • SPEA-H 316 Environmental Science and Health (3 cr.)

Additional Major Courses (28 cr.)
Complete each of the following courses:

  • CHEM-C 101 Elementary Chemistry I (3 cr.) +N&M
  • CHEM-C 121 Elementary Chemistry Laboratory I (2 cr.) +N&M
  • CHEM-C 102 Elementary Chemistry II (3 cr.) +N&M
  • CHEM-C 122 Elementary Chemistry Laboratory II (2 cr.) +N&M
  • ENG-W 231 Professional Writing Skills (3 cr.) or BUS-X 204 Business Communications (3 cr.)
  • HPER-H 391 Health Statistics (3 cr.) or MATH-K 300 or PSY-K 300 Statistical Techniques (3 cr.)
  • HPER-P 205 Structural Kinesiology (3 cr.) or ANAT-A 215 Basic Human Anatomy (5 cr.) +N&M
  • PSY-P 101 Introductory Psychology I (3 cr.) +N&M
  • PSY-P 102 Introductory Psychology II (P: P 101 or P 151) (3 cr.) +S&H
  • SOC-S 100 Introduction to Sociology (3 cr.) +S&H or SWK-S 100 Topics in Social Work – Understanding Diversity in a Pluralistic Society (3 cr.)

Professional Electives (18 cr.)
Complete 18 credits from the list of safety professional electives.  A minimum of 12 of the 28 selected credits must be at the 300/400 level. A minimum grade of C- is required in each professional elective course.

+ Courses followed by a N&M notation apply toward completion of both the major requirement and the general education, natural and mathematic sciences requirement.

+ Courses followed by a S&H notation apply toward completion of both the major requirment and the general education, social and historical studies requirement.


Suggested Courses for the First-Year Safety Student
Fall Semester
ENG-W 131 Elementary Composition 1 (3 cr.) or equivalent
HPER-S 101 Introduction to Safety (3 cr.)
Arts and Humanities /World Languages and Cultures Elective (3 cr.)
Mathematical Modeling Course (3 cr.)
PSY-P 101 Introduction to Psychology I (3 cr.)

Spring Semester
HPER-S 151 Legal Aspects of Safety (3 cr.)
HPER-H 174 Prevention of Violence in American Society (3 cr.)
 Arts and Humanities Elective  (3 cr.)
World Languages and Cultures Elective (3 cr.)
PSY-P 102 Introduction to Psychology II (3 cr.) 

Special Opportunities

Students have the opportunity to participate in professional safety and health protection organizations including student chapters of Eta Sigma Gamma and the American Society of Safety Engineers.  Safety management or emergency management public or private sector internships may be pursued by students as part of their educational experience.

Careers

Safety professionals pursue careers to enhance the protection of communities and reduce injuries/fatalities.  Graduates serve as safety specialists, safety trainers, management consultants, safety inspectors, safety managers, safety educators, emergency planners, safety and HR directors and administrators. Other fields associated with health protection include industrial hygiene, ergonomics, fire protection, security, environmental science and engineering.

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