The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater College of Business and Economics is proud to announce that its Occupational Safety Bachelor of Science has been accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. ABET accreditation is highly regarded in technical disciplines where quality, precision and safety are of the utmost importance. The accreditation assures students and employers that the program meets rigorous quality standards.

This achievement is significant to both the state and region, as it heralds a premier degree program in a growing career field. UW-Whitewater’s program is currently the only Occupational Safety Bachelor of Science degree offered in Wisconsin and is one of a handful of ABET-accredited safety programs in the Midwest. The relatively small number of accredited programs is disproportionate to the growth of the occupational safety field, which performs well above average in terms of career opportunities, pay and job satisfaction.

UW-Whitewater’s Department of Occupational and Environmental Safety and Health has the faculty, resources and industry support to deliver hands-on learning based in real-world environments to ensure graduates are prepared to succeed in a global workforce. Emphases are offered in construction safety, ergonomics and environmental management to support specialization in a widely diverse field. Occupational safety courses and minor programs can also create unique opportunities for students pursuing general business, general management, and human resources management majors.

Professor and Department Chair Alvaro Taveira highlights the importance of this achievement, saying, “ABET accreditation is a prestigious mark of quality that substantiates the confidence we have in our program. My hope is that it also raises awareness with prospective students or individuals considering a career change, due to the growing demand for qualified professionals in the industry.”

More information on ABET accreditation can be found at abet.org. To learn more about the Occupational Safety Bachelor of Science program at the UW-Whitewater College of Business and Economics, visit: uww.edu/cobe/safety.

Internships at manufacturing, energy and insurance companies provided Megan Drewek ’16 serious real-world experience before graduating from the Occupational Safety Bachelor of Science program. (UW-Whitewater photo/Craig Schreiner)

During Drewek’s capstone internship with West Bend Insurance, she learned how the loss prevention department uses education, training and job site inspections to prevent or mitigate claims. (UW-Whitewater photo/Craig Schreiner)

Jacob Griffin ’16 enjoyed the blend of helping people and complex problem solving during his capstone internship with Case New Holland Industrial in Sturtevant, Wisconsin. (UW-Whitewater photo/Craig Schreiner)

Griffin’s mentor, Benjamin Brotz ’15 (right), also graduated from UW-Whitewater’s Occupational Safety Bachelor of Science program and is now an environmental, health, safety and energy manager at CNHI. (UW-Whitewater photo/Craig Schreiner)