School of Safety, Security, and Emergency Management

20241023_LYRL_32

Dr. Tom Schneid, Chair and Interim Graduate Program Coordinator
Stratton Building, Room 264
(859) 622-1051

Faculty

A. Al Helu, L. Barnes, J. Dodd, R. Dotson, S. Dunlap, B. Dyer, C. Foster, Z. Miller, T. Rawlins, T. Schneid, R. Shaw, B. Simpkins, D. Stumbo, and W. Taylor.

General Information

The School of Safety, Security, and Emergency Management offers the Master of Science degree in Safety, Security, and Emergency Management. The M.S. degree program is designed to provide students with a broad background in safety, security, and emergency management, in addition to the option for more in-depth knowledge of at least one area of Occupational Safety, Homeland Security and Emergency Management, and Safety Leadership and Management. The program is directed at preparing students for responsible careers in safety, security, and emergency management. Students are prepared to draw logically sound conclusions, to think creatively, communicate effectively, and appreciate the role and responsibilities of the safety, security, and emergency management administration/professionals.

The objectives of the graduate Safety, Security, and Emergency Management program are: 

1.  To provide a broad-based program that affords the depth of education, the specialized skills, and the sense of creativity that will allow the graduate to practice in and contribute to the field of safety, security, and emergency management.

2.  To provide an avenue for a highly mobile and marketable career to individuals wishing to pursue graduate education in the Safety, Security, and Emergency Management discipline.

3.  To add to the body of knowledge through scholarly activity, research, and advanced professional training.

4.  To provide safety, security, and emergency management practitioners with leadership skills needed for the planning and delivery of loss prevention and safety services at the state and national levels.

The Master of Science in Safety, Security, and Emergency Management prepares graduates for advanced careers in safety, security, and emergency management through applied study in risk management, disaster resilience, leadership, and policy. The program develops professional competencies for leadership and administrative roles in public and private sector organizations and prepares graduates for doctoral and professional study in related fields. Students may also complete University Certificates in Emergency Management and Disaster Resilience, Occupational Safety, and Safety Leadership and Management as part of the program or as stand-alone credentials, providing focused preparation in specialized areas.
 
Additional graduate study opportunities are available through the College of Business, which offers MBA concentrations in Construction Management and Occupational Safety.

Admission Requirements

Students seeking clear admission should hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher learning with a 2.5-grade point average overall.  Students with an undergraduate grade point below 2.5 may be considered for Probationary Admission but are required to sit for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and acquire a target score in three categories:  Verbal; 149, Quantitative 141, and Analytical Writing 3.0.  Students who have previously earned advanced degrees including but not limited to M.S., M.A., M.B.A., J.D., or other recognized graduate degrees from an accredited university will be exempt from the GRE requirement.  Applicants without an academic and/or experiential background in a related discipline or field of study including, but not limited to occupational safety, security, fire, homeland security, emergency management, emergency medical, insurance, and risk management may be accepted into the program with departmental approval.  When deficiencies are deemed to exist, applicants may be required to satisfy all designated deficiencies prior to admission to candidacy.  Students must also meet the general requirements of the EKU Graduate School.

Online Learning Option

The Master of Science degree in Safety, Security, and Emergency Management is offered online.  The M.S. degree program also offers classes each semester online including options in Occupational Safety, Homeland Security & Emergency Management, and Safety Leadership and Management.

Program Requirements

CIP Code: 43.9999

Code Title Hours
Core Courses18
SSE 815
SSE Administration
SSE 826
Emergency Prep/Response
SSE 827
Issues in Security Management
SSE 833
Legislation & Regulatory Comp
SSE 865
SSE Auditing
SSE 880
SSE Research/Planning
ELECTIVES
Students choose from the approved University Certificate Programs or Advisor Approved Electives12
Exit Requirements
Choose from one of the following:6
1. Comprehensive Examination - Prerequisites: Candidate must have completed all core classes before scheduling to sit for the comprehensive examination. Candidate shall perform satisfactorily on the written comprehensive examination on their program of study and primarily focused on the core program requirements.
2. Capstone Applied Research Project - Prerequisites: Completion of 30 hours in MSSEM and SSE 880 SSE Research/Planning or department approval. Students must earn a grade of "A" or "B" in order to satisfactorily pass the Capstone. A lower grade will result in the student being given only one additional opportunity to pass the Capstone within one year following an unsatisfactory grade.
Total Hours36

Certificate

Courses

Homeland Security

HLS 800.  HLS and Emergency Management.  (3 Credits)  
A. Organization, missions and critical issues in US homeland security and emergency management. Focuses on developing professional skills in critical thinking, policy analysis and ethics.

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HLS 810.  Infrastructure Protection and Risk Management.  (3 Credits)  
A. Foundations for providing security and resilience to the nation's critical infrastructure with an emphasis on risk management.

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HLS 820.  Security Intelligence.  (3 Credits)  
A. Principles of security intelligence and applications to private sector security, risk, and resilience efforts as well as operational models in an effort to safeguard physical, cyber, and human assets and to enable informed decision-making.

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HLS 830.  Long-Term Disaster Resilience.  (3 Credits)  
A. Explores disaster trends and problems, as well as community wide mitigation and preparedness strategies aimed at reducing the impacts of natural hazards and achieving long-term disaster resilience.

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HLS 835.  Intergovernmental Relations in Disaster Management.  (3 Credits)  
A. Analysis of intergovernmental relations and disaster policies across all phases of emergency management with a focus on disaster response and recovery. Systems are investigated through critical thinking, case studies, and comparative analysis methodologies.

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HLS 850.  Foundations of Cybersecurity Management.  (3 Credits)  
A. Identification and application of private sector cybersecurity management principles as well as the analysis and application of national cybersecurity policies and frameworks. Concentration on cyber intrusion prevention, response and recovery from a management perspective.

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Safety, Security, and Emergency Management

SSE 815.  SSE Administration.  (3 Credits)  
A. Prerequisite: departmental approval. Examination of administrative concepts and principles regarding organizing and managing the functional areas of fire, safety, and security. Development of organizational and administrative structure to include policy formulation, goals and objectives, managerial tasks, and impact evaluations within an encompassing safety, security, and emergency framework.

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SSE 822.  Workers Compensation/Labor Law.  (3 Credits)  
A. Prerequisite: departmental approval. Comprehensive study of workers compensation and regulations; National Labor Relations Act; Title VII; A.D.E.A.; and other relevant laws applicable to the functional areas of safety, security, and emergency services.

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SSE 826.  Emergency Prep/Response.  (3 Credits)  
A. Prerequisite: departmental approval. In-depth study of the planning process, program development, training methods, etc., for response to man-made and natural emergencies/disasters for both private and public entities.

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SSE 827.  Issues in Security Management.  (3 Credits)  
A. Examination of principles and security measures addressing the management and implementation of programs, personnel, policies, procedures, risk/threat assessments, and other key activities associated with the protection of persons and key assets within the workplace.

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SSE 828.  Industrial Safety Management.  (3 Credits)  
A. Prerequisite: departmental approval. Investigation and analysis of hazard control principles relating to the management of personnel, facilities, and equipment, including control procedures, work-task analysis, risk identification and countermeasures, safety training, and pertinent safety management techniques.

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SSE 830.  Organizational Continuity.  (3 Credits)  
Organizational continuity will be discussed using the phases of emergency response, crisis management, and recovery. This course addresses value added activity of planning for catastrophic events and critical factors in restoring operational activity.

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SSE 832.  Construction Safety.  (3 Credits)  
A. Prerequisite: departmental approval. Introduction/ analysis of general construction safety utilizing the key components of 29 CFR 196. Included in this study will be general safety & health provisions of OSH Act and a review of the various subparts of 29 CFR 1926.

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SSE 833.  Legislation & Regulatory Comp.  (3 Credits)  
A. Prerequisite: departmental approval. Comprehensive study and analysis of federal/state regulations and legislation such as OSHA, EPA, etc., which mandate compliance with certain safety, health, and environmental conditions and practices relating to work performed in occupational, industrial, and comparable settings.

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SSE 834.  Corporate Compliance.  (3 Credits)  
A. Prerequisite: departmental approval. The assessment, analysis and development of safety, emergency management, security and environmental compliance programs. This course will address the regulatory requirements and best business practices for each of the compliance areas.

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SSE 835.  Advanced Construction Safety.  (3 Credits)  
A. A more detailed examination of 29 CFR 1926 including: PPE; Electrical; Scaffolding; Fall Protection; Cranes; Excavation; Steel Erection; Confined Spaces; and Residential Construction.

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SSE 839.  Appl Lrn: Safe.Sec.Emer.Mngmt.  (0.5-6 Credits)  
A. Prerequisite: departmental approval. Work under faculty and field supervisor in a cooperative placement related to student¿s academic studies. May be retaken to a maximum of six hours, but only three hours may count toward master¿s degree. A minimum of 80 hours required for each hour of academic credit.

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SSE 840.  Tech Construction Safety Mgmt.  (3 Credits)  
A. Students will be presented with case studies and will be expected to prepare investigation reports, countermeasure plans, and strategic plans in order to counter and prevent future occurrences.

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SSE 841.  Applied Study Project.  (3 Credits)  
A. Prerequisite: Completion of 30 hours in MS SSEM or department approval. Supervised applied project in Safety, Security or Emergency Mgt setting. Students will collect, analyze, interpret and assemble data and conclusions related to issues in SSEM. Minimum grade of “B”.

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SSE 842.  Safety Ethics.  (3 Credits)  
A. Addressed are fundamental concepts of ethics and ethical practice for safety professionals. Issues/topics include the central role of ethics, reaching agreement, cheating/free riding, and dilemmas faced by the safety professional.

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SSE 843.  HR & Change Mgmt for Sfty Pros.  (3 Credits)  
A. An analysis of human resource laws and employment issues impacting the safety function including ADA, Title VII and Pregnancy Discrimination Act. Assessment of new/pending legislation and regulations impacting the safety and employment functions.

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SSE 845.  Personal/Environmental Hazards.  (3 Credits)  
A. Prerequisite: departmental approval. Analysis and investigation of hazard and threat control principles relating to personal and environmental risks within the workplace. Investigation techniques, inspection methodologies, management techniques, and prevention programs essential to the manager within the safety, fire, and security functions are emphasized.

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SSE 850.  Ergonomics & Human Factors.  (3 Credits)  
A. The assessment and analysis of ergonomic risk factors, identification of known musculoskeletal disorders, and development of effective ergonomic management techniques and compliance programs.

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SSE 856.  Global Supply Chain Operations.  (3 Credits)  
A. Supply chains are increasing in size, scope, and complexity. This course considers the fundamentals of Global Supply Chain Management through the lenses of safety and security.

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SSE 857.  Global Supply Chain Risk & Res.  (3 Credits)  
A. Understanding and evaluating risk and resiliency are essential to ensuring a secure, dependable global supply chain. This course explores risk assessment strategies, modeling, and mitigation approaches used in reducing global supply chain vulnerability.

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SSE 860.  Injury Managment.  (3 Credits)  
(3) Injury Management will review practical activities employers should engage to effectively manage injury/illness claims. Transitional return to work and OSHA recordkeeping associated with managing work related injuries.

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SSE 865.  SSE Auditing.  (3 Credits)  
A. Prerequisite: departmental approval. Theory and application of auditing in safety, fire, and security. Comprehensive study of risk/threat exposure and assessment.

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SSE 866.  Spcl Topics Healthcare Safety.  (3 Credits)  
A. This course, utilizing case studies and readings, will focus on current events, risks and threats to the healthcare delivery system, special safety issues, and emergency management related to the safety of healthcare facilities.

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SSE 867.  Safety/Security Across Health.  (3 Credits)  
A. This course introduces the healthcare continuum, focusing on the hospital/medical center environment. Ancillary and specialty services, including the 17 healthcare service types addressed in the CMS Final Rule for Emergency Preparedness, will be addressed.

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SSE 870.  Principles of School Safety.  (3 Credits)  
A. Examines a range of school and community crime prevention and safety strategies and assesses their effectiveness. In addition, students will be required to develop a school and community prevention and safety plan.

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SSE 880.  SSE Research/Planning.  (3 Credits)  
A. Models and applications of research design and planning in safety, security, emergency services and assets protection. Identification and evaluation of problems, information and data interpretation, and research/planning methodologies for contemporary approaches to proactive safety, security, and emergency services

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SSE 890.  Topical Seminar.  (3 Credits)  
A. Prerequisite: advisor/departmental approval. Designed to explore specific, contemporary aspects of safety, security, and emergency services. May beretaken to a maximum of six hours provided topic is different each time.

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SSE 896.  Safety, Security, and Emergency Management Capstone.  (3 Credits)  
I, II and A. Prerequisite: Completion of 30 hours in MSSSEM or department approval. Creation of original research project that could be submitted for publication; Students will collect, analyze, interpret and assemble data and conclusions related to issues in SSEM. Minimum grade of “B”.

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SSE 897.  Independent Study.  (3 Credits)  
A. Prerequisite: departmental approval. Designed for graduate students who have demonstrated the ability to conduct individual research relating to loss prevention and safety. Student must have the independent study proposal form approved by faculty supervisor and department chair prior to enrollment. May be retaken to a maximum of six hours.

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