History

Occupational safety and health is a relatively new, and still emerging, career field compared to other professional studies at universities across America. None of today’s safety-related baccalaureate degree programs existed before the U.S. Congress passed the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. This act represents the first national legislation directed at ensuring the safety and health of America’s working men and women. The Oakland University Occupational Safety and Health baccalaureate degree, established in 1978, was one of the first such programs to respond to this national demand for increased safety and health in the workplace.

Since its beginning, OU's Occupational Safety and Health degree program has met the needs of southeast Michigan’s industrial community in responding to the increased national regulatory focus on workplace safety and health. A strong working relationship has developed between this program and the Big Three automobile manufacturers, many auto parts and equipment suppliers, and a wide variety of other key employers throughout Michigan and beyond. The demand for program graduates is strong and growing, as is the interest in expanding Oakland University’s safety-related educational offerings to the Master of Science degree level in Safety Management.