Advanced Certificate in Occupational Safety and Health

The Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Advanced Certificate focuses on strengthening the pool of qualified OSH professionals in New York State. The program aims to meet industry needs by providing multidisciplinary training that includes coursework, projects, and research in safety, ergonomics, industrial hygiene, and epidemiology.

Lora Cavuoto and students.

This program offers individuals within our region the opportunity to pursue a graduate certificate that offers formal education and training concentrated in OSH without having to leave Western New York. 

Who Should Apply

The training program offers a multi-disciplinary training experience to students who want to gain the required depth and breadth of knowledge across key OSH disciplines, including safety, ergonomics, industrial hygiene, and epidemiology to be successful as OSH practitioners.

Program Requirements

The Occupational Safety and Health Advanced Certificate is a total of 13 credit hours. This in-person program can be taken full-time or part-time and typically takes only 1 year to complete. 

Required Courses

  • Fall 1: IE 536: Work Phsiology- 3 credits
  • Spring 1: MT 600: Industial Hygiene- 4 credits
  • Fall 2: IE 541: Human Factors in Safety- 3 credits
  • Spring 2: EEH 500: Principles of Epidemiology-3 credits

Admission Requirements

All students who are currently enrolled in a master's or PhD program in ISE or MAE, and are in good standing, can apply for admission to this certificate program. 

All other applicants (e.g., applicants who wish to earn the advanced certificate without enrolling one of the related graduate degree programs or applicants from other departments) must meet the following admission requirements: 

  • A baccalaureate degree in engineering or a related technical field.
  • A minimum grade point average of 3.0 (on a scale of 4.0) for all undergraduate work undertaken during the last two years of the applicant's studies.

How to Apply

Prospective students who want to pursue this certificate (e.g., are not currently enrolled in or applying to another SEAS graduate program at UB) should provide transcripts from all prior institutions, along with a personal statement, resume, and one letter of recommendation. GRE scores are not required.

Current ISE and MAE students should attach a current transcript but do not need to submit letters of recommendation, personal statements, or GRE scores.

Other current SEAS graduate students should provide a personal statement relevant to this certificate program and copies of their current transcript and transcripts from previous institutions including their bachelor’s institution. Recommendation letters and GRE scores are not required.

Prospective graduate students applying to other UB graduate programs may also apply to this certificate program. Students should complete a separate application in addition to the primary degree application, and provide a personal statement relevant to this certificate program and indicate the primary degree program in the statement. No additional documents (letters, GRE scores, transcripts) are required to apply.

Application Materials

Required application materials vary depending on what type of applicant you are. See above for specific requirements. In general, the following materials may be needed:

For questions about your application or admissions requirements, contact gradeng@buffalo.edu.