Oakland University launches first-in-the-nation MSSM/MBA dual degree program

Oakland University has launched the nation’s first Master of Science in Safety Management and Master of Business Administration (MSSM/MBA) dual degree, bringing together graduate programs from the School of Health Sciences and School of Business Administration.

The new program is designed for environmental health and safety (EHS) professionals seeking the business skills needed to advance into higher-level roles, as well as students who have completed a bachelor’s degree in EHS and are pursuing graduate education.

“This partnership is a great example of what’s possible when we bring together expertise from across Oakland University,” said Dr. Chuck Pierce, dean of the School of Business Administration. “By combining the strengths of the School of Business Administration and School of Health Sciences, we’re giving safety professionals the broader business knowledge they need to move beyond technical expertise, contribute to strategic decision-making and grow into senior leadership roles.”

The MSSM/MBA builds on a long-standing collaboration between the two schools. Students can complete both degrees in three years because of overlapping coursework, compared with four years or more if the degrees are completed separately.

The curriculum combines advanced safety management coursework with business disciplines that can help prepare students for management and executive responsibilities. Safety management topics include safety administration and analysis, research, risk management and loss control, while business coursework includes areas such as accounting, human resources and legal aspects of business.

“This new dual degree builds upon an important interdisciplinary collaboration that ensures our safety management graduates are equipped with a foundation of business knowledge necessary for their field,” said Dr. John Krauss, interim dean of the School of Health Sciences. “Now, with the new MSSM/MBA dual degree, we are able to help our students by equipping them with the global understanding and advanced business knowledge necessary to hold executive management positions.”

The Master of Science in Safety Management prepares students to address occupational safety, health and environmental issues in industry and business. The dual degree gives students a pathway to pair specialized EHS expertise with advanced business education, preparing them to contribute to organizational decision-making and pursue leadership opportunities in the field.

For more information about Oakland University’s MSSM/MBA dual degree, including curriculum and admission requirements, visit www.oakland.edu/shs/public-and-environmental-wellness/mssm-mba.