Ergonomics & Safety (E&S)

The Department of Mechanical Engineering, in collaboration with the Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health (RMCOEH), offers M.S. (thesis and non-thesis options) and Ph.D. degrees with a focus in Ergonomics and Safety. While the degrees are through the Department of Mechanical Engineering, the interdisciplinary program involves faculty, courses, and research projects from both Mechanical Engineering and the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine.

Most full-time students are supported by NIOSH Traineeships including a monthly stipend and 100% tuition benefit. Incoming students are required to have competency in the basic engineering sciences.

This competency may be demonstrated through:

  1.  Graduation from an engineering curriculum
  2.  Completion of the Fundamentals of Engineering exam
  3.  Record of appropriate course work, or
  4.  Successful completion of appropriate course work while in residence.
M.S. in Mechanical Engineering: Ergonomics & Safety

This degree requires a minimum of 27 semester hours and includes 9 semester hours of thesis research.  It is appropriate for those students who may wish to continue toward a Ph.D. or who have an interest in research as well as the application of ergonomics and safety methodologies.

ME EN 6100           Ergonomics                                                        3
ME EN 6110          Introduction to Industrial Safety                                  3
ME EN 6150           Introduction to Product Safety                                     3
ME EN 6035        Design of Experiments                                              3 or
ME EN 6960        Independent Study                                                  (1 to 3)
ME EN 6130           Design Implications for Human-Machine Systems    3
*ME EN 6140          Occupational Safety and Health Solutions                   3
ME EN 6960           Work Physiology and Occupational Heat Stress        2
OEHS 6750            Fundamentals of Industrial Hygiene                           3
OEHS 6000            Introduction to Biostatistics                                      3
OEHS 6754              Noise and Other Physical Agents                              3 or
OEHS 6753              Industrial Ventilation                                       3
Subtotal Course Hours                 29
ME EN 6975            Thesis                                                            9
Total Semester Hours                  38

Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering: Ergonomics & Safety

This degree requires a minimum of 28 semester hours of course work beyond the Masters, and the completion of a scholarly dissertation relating to safety and ergonomics.

Occupational Injury Prevention (OIP)

The Department of Mechanical Engineering, in collaboration with the Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health (RMCOEH), also offers a Ph.D. degree in Occupational Injury Prevention. When earned through the Department of Mechanical Engineering, this degree focuses on Occupational Safety Engineering (OSE). When earned through the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, this degree meets the requirement for a Ph.D. in Public Health. One student in each focus area is supported by a NIOSH Traineeship including a monthly stipend and 100% tuition benefit.

Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering: Occupational Injury Prevention Research (OIPRT), Occupational Safety & Engineering Emphasis

This degree requires a minimum of 29 semester hours beyond the Masters, and the completion of a scholarly dissertation relating to Occupational Safety Engineering.

Ph.D. in Occupational and Environment Health: Occupational Injury Prevention Research (OIPRT), Occupational Injury Epidemiology Emphasis

This degree requires a minimum of 36 semester hours beyond the Masters, and the completion of a scholarly dissertation relating to Occupational Injury Epidemiology

Courses Available

For further information, contact Professor Andrew Merryweather.