M.S. Risk Control & Safety Management

Master Risk Assessment & Safety Strategies

Similar to alumni Shamilia Fisher and Brady Deal (pictured above), you can also become an essential member of an organization’s management team with UW-Stout's Master of Science (M.S.) in Risk Control & Safety Management degree. This graduate program will enhance your ability to serve as a risk-reduction consultant and thus promote the protection of employee, property, public, and environmental assets. The program’s live evening class sessions utilize both in-person and virtual delivery options that are designed to accommodate the student’s work obligations and personal lifestyles.

The M.S. Risk Control & Safety Management program is recognized as a Qualified Academic Program (QAP) by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP). The QAP recognition permits the program’s graduates to earn the Graduate Safety Practitioner (GSP) certification and eventually achieve the Certified Safety Professional (CSP) designation.

100% of Graduates Are Employed or Continuing Education.

Discover the Advantages of Our Program

The M.S. Risk Control & Safety Management program will allow you to enter a dynamic profession quickly and effectively with the following benefits:

A 30-credit program that can be completed in as little as nine months.
Program outcomes that align with national educational standards.
Industry-savvy faculty who provide personalized guidance and mentoring.
Courses that heavily focus on identifying and mitigating process risks in various business / industrial settings.
Coursework which requires the students to perform real-world hands-on projects.
Routine guest speakers who share insightful tips and experiences.
Close interface with professional-based associations which enhances the students’ public speaking skills and networking opportunities.
Learned technical and management skills are reinforced through guided internships.
Students are routinely appraised of open internships and full-time positions.
An applied learning capstone thesis that emphasizes the use of learned technical and managerial concepts.
Graduates can automatically earn the BCSP’s Graduate Safety Practitioner certificate.

Program Overview

View program plans, credit requirements and course descriptions.

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Specific Areas of Emphasis

The program cultivates critical thinking skills for rapid advancement in the dynamic risk control and safety management profession in the following two areas:

A broad technical base of risk assessment techniques which focus on employee protection, workplace design, risk finance and regulatory compliance with external agencies/entities.
A strong management emphasis which promotes the development of effective communication and collaboration skills to prompt the need to manage an organization’s moderate to high-risk situations.

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Total Asset Protection Focus

In the past 35-40 years, the nature of the profession has significantly changed in that the "risk manager" is now responsible for identifying, analyzing and guiding management’s control of risks that are a threat to all of an organization's assets. This total asset protection focus is reinforced through information and experiences that students receive through our program’s courses and parallels the Associate in Risk Management (ARM) certification through the American Institute for Charted Property Casualty Underwriters (AICPCU). Below is the risk control model that is heavily reinforced throughout the M.S. Risk Control & Safety Management program:

Diagram of the risk control model

The above risk control model emphasizes:

The various assets that risk control/safety support personnel typically strive to protect.
How all of an organization's assets have money as the common denominator.
Management's needs to consider how any given decision might impact (positively or negatively) all of their organization's assets.
The various assets can be downgraded as a result of workplace accidents.
The need for management to consider all of the organization’s assets when cost-justifying needed process changes.

In a nutshell, an organization’s risk control/safety personnel serve as agents of change who help identify moderate to high-risk situations that place various assets at risk. Such personnel then work closely with the applicable management to identify as well as implement the necessary equipment and procedures to bring unacceptable risks down to a reasonable level. This type of organizational service is what UW-Stout’s M.S. Risk Control & Safety Management program strives to convey in all of the course objectives and associated classroom experiences.

Admission Requirements

General UW-Stout Graduate School Application

All prospective graduate students at UW-Stout must follow a standard application process through our Graduate Studies. Beyond that, each graduate program has specific requirements that must be met to be successfully admitted to the program.

Program-Specific Application Requirements

Please submit the following to apply to the M.S. Risk Control & Safety Management program:

Transcripts of all prior associate, undergraduate and graduate-level academic studies.
A professionally-written statement of intent within the UW System application which describes the candidate's academic as well as employment history, professional goals and personal development needs.

The M.S. Risk Control and Safety Management Program Selection Committee will favor applicants who possess a minimum overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 as well as academic and workplace experience that aligns with the broad demands of the risk control and safety management profession.

Curriculum

To earn an M.S. Risk Control & Safety Management degree, a student must complete a minimum of 30 graduate credits with an overall GPA of at least 3.0. A minimum of 15 credits must be completed in 700-level courses that are only available to graduate students. Students with limited risk control/safety work experience are highly advised to participate in an industry-based summer co-op position in conjunction with the structured Risk Control & Safety Management Co-Op course in order to graduate with a greater degree of professional competence.

Professional Foundation Courses

The credit distribution includes 12 credits of coursework that provide both a managerial and research orientation to the risk control and safety management field. These courses include:

Environmental Protection and Sustainability Management
Risk Management Applications
Risk Control Systems
Risk Control Pre-Capstone
Risk Control Capstone

Required Technical Courses

A minimum of 18 technical course credits are required and the program director may tailor such for each student, based his/her level of academic preparation, work experience and career goals. These courses include:

Occupational Safety and Health Standards
Human Factors Engineering / Ergonomics
Emergency Preparedness and Response
Process Hazard Management
Industrial Hygiene Instrumentation
Industrial Hygiene

Program Objectives

Collect and evaluate relevant data to reduce the risk profile of an organization.
Analyze internal and external performance measurements for effectiveness and continuous process improvement.
Develop and deliver effective employee and/or management training programs.
Articulate the business importance of implementing responsible practices to interested parties.
Apply appropriate administrative and engineering-based risk control techniques.
Integrate the concepts of risk analysis and responsible business practices.
Integrate financial justifications into the development of policies, procedures and systems which align with the organization’s strategic plans.
Apply credible research or evidence-based information and technology to communicate, manage knowledge, support decision-making activities and mitigate risk.
Evaluate and demonstrate the role of management and leadership in a risk control context.
Evaluate the legal, moral and sustainability principles which are relevant to the risk control / occupational safety and health (OSH) profession.

Program Advisory Committee

Advisory Committee Members

Albert	Ang
Victorio	Angulo-Escudero	Safety Engineer	3M
David	Bartko	Senior Consultant, Casualty Risk	Aon Risk Solutions, Aon Global Risk Consulting, Casualty Risk Control
Mary	Bauer	Compliance Officer	U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety & Health Administration
Ken	Christenson	Senior Safety Engineer	3M
David	Ding	Associate Dean, CSTEMM	UW-Stout
Brian	Finder	Professor; Program Director	UW-Stout
Daniel	Freedman	Dean, CSTEMM	UW-Stout
Antonio	Freeman	Graduate Admissions & Recruitment Counselor/Coordinator	UW-Stout
Steve	Gauger	Senior EHS Specialist	Abbott
Justin	Gillette
Cory	Goldschmidt		BGIS
Rene	Hilgemann	Director	Aon Risk Solutions, Aon Global Risk Consulting, Casualty Risk Control
Craig	Jameson	Retired	ANCI & Associates
Matt	Jones ('21, '23)	EHS Technician	Ammentum
Dale A.	Krageschmidt	Lecturer, Operations & Management	Viterbo University
Slick (Glenn - Garry)	Kroft	Lecturer, Operations & Management	UW-Stout
James	Ramsay	Assistant Provost	UW-Stout
Steve	Senor	Lecturer	UW-Stout
Chad	Stuart	Risk & Safety Specialist	Cobb-Strecker
Jim	Uhlir	Executive Director, Health & Safety	UW-Stout
Ben	Wood ('06)	Occupation Health & Safety Manager	Minnesota Safety Council, Inc.

Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) QAP Webinar on Benefits of Safety Careers

The Value of Professional Certification Webinar: Part 1

Explore a safety career, certification benefits, and its rewarding aspects in this webinar.

Watch Webinar

The Value of Professional Certification Webinar: Part 2

Explore a safety career, certification benefits, and its rewarding aspects in this webinar.

Watch Webinar

Graduate Testimonials

Ashely Neby, Environmental, Health, Safety & Security Manager, Rockwell Automation

"Upon graduation from the Risk Control program, I accepted a position at the Rockwell Automation Ladysmith, Wisconsin facility. I am currently the Environmental, Health, Safety and Security Manager for the plant and in addition, recently took on a new role as the Rockwell Production System and Productivity Manager. I absolutely love problem-solving, working in manufacturing, and seeing the cultural impact of our work throughout the years. When I was in high school, I was employed by the UW-Stout Dining Service. After graduation, I continued my work while pursuing a Bachelor's in Hospitality Management and enlisted in the Wisconsin Army National Guard. To this day, working for the dining service was my favorite job and UW-Stout inspired a long-lasting passion for my career. In 2009, my unit deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and I returned with a new sense of appreciation for occupational safety. Once again, UW-Stout was there to excel my knowledge and experiences in the field. Obtaining my Master's Degree in Risk Control is one of my proudest moments. From dish-washer to safety professional, UW-Stout truly changed my life."

Ben Wood, Environmental, Workplace Safety Consultation Division, Minnesota OSHA

"I opted to pursue my graduate degree within the Risk Control program from the University of Wisconsin-Stout as it was one of the few graduate degree programs within the Midwestern region of the United States, and its distinguished and long-standing reputation within the fields of risk management, occupational safety and health, and industrial hygiene. While active as a student within the Risk Control program, I found course scheduling to be flexible for a student who was both working full time and raising a family."

Brady Deal, EHSS Technical Services Leader, Andersen Corporation

"While nearing the completion of my undergraduate business degree at UW-Stout, I was still uncertain of my future path and career direction. I had completed several risk control-related courses as part of my concentration as an undergraduate. The more I learned about the risk control profession and interacted with the corresponding professors, the more interested I became in the field. I eventually enrolled in the M.S. in Risk Control & Safety Management program and found clarity and excitement around my career path as well as multiple employment opportunities. This program has lead to a rewarding, diverse, and successful career which focuses on the identification, evaluation and control of workplace hazards in order to protect our most valued people assets."

Jason Miller, Environmental, Maintenance, Facilities & EHS Manager, Bridge Manufacturer

"Having run the Bridge Manufacturer maintenance department prior to taking on the additional responsibilities of "Safety" allowed me to gain our employee's trust and respect, so that when I applied my graduate degree within the organization "they" knew I am a person of my word and action thus, our OSHA recordable incidents have decreased to a historic low. Without the knowledge gained at UW Stout, my success would have been limited to the achievements within the maintenance department, now the entire organization benefits from my passion. The professors, instructors and faculty in the Loss Control program, at UW Stout, inspired me through their passion and dedication. It was the program director that made me realize that the path I was on would be a fantastic building block to a much more rich and rewarding career by continuing my education and earning a Graduate degree in Loss Control. The degree afforded me the opportunity to reach a new level of responsibility and respect in my organization, along with significant salary and merit-based financial gains. The University of Wisconsin-Stout professors, to this day, still remain close as mentors, friends and colleagues in some cases. For anyone dedicated in growing their career through reducing unfavorable behaviors and/or conditions and truly protecting an organization's assets, you will find this field extremely rewarding and the University of Wisconsin-Stout a highly recognized academic setting to realize your goals."

Matthew Surdick, Environmental, CHS Inc. (Inver Grove Heights, MN)

"I provide direct support to our human and animal food processing facilities with Environmental Health and Safety as well as food safety/quality compliance. I currently serve as our Enterprise Food Safety Risk Governance Committee Chair with the responsibility of enterprise collaboration and system integration. I also serve as a committee member for the National Grain and Feed Association on their Feed Manufacturing and Technology Committee, which provides food safety support and resources for the animal food industry. The reason I chose to attend the Risk Control Master’s Program at the University of Wisconsin-Stout was based on the methods they used to develop and prepare students for post-graduate careers. The instructors provided real-world examples and materials for students to learn and utilize when they complete the program. The program not only prepared students for entry-level positions in the area of Environmental Health and Safety but as well as management positions by integrating systems and leadership components into the coursework."

Jeremy Ralston, U.S. Compliance Corporation

"The UW Stout Risk Control program utilizes an appropriate mix of technical information which prepares the student to find, read, and interpret regulations as well as several management philosophies so a new professional is prepared to approach safety from a regulatory, best practice, and business perspective. The ability for safety professionals to "bridge the gap" and to be able to speak the language of the front line employees and upper management is invaluable. Those skills are a big part of the Risk Control program."

Jonathan Morgan, Safety Director, Construction Civil Group, MA Mortenson

"In my current role, I provide safety leadership, oversight, and direction in all aspects of our group operations. These operations include the construction of large-scale energy, heavy highway, and marine projects. The UW-Stout Risk Control program provided me with an excellent foundation of knowledge and skills to direct and manage Safety in a wide variety of industries. The breadth of the program, along with the expertise of the instructors gave me a significant competitive advantage as I entered my career. The culture of the program facilitated a high level of camaraderie and fostered both personal and professional friendships that have proven invaluable to my career."

Savannah Runstrom, Safety Engineer, Hutchinson Technology, a TDK Company (Eau Claire, WI)

"Within my current Hutchinson Technology position, I oversee the safety, health, and emergency services for a company of roughly 1,000 employees. Outside of work I own and operate a safety consulting company called Integrated Safety, LLC. Integrated Safety provides a wide variety of tailored safety services to both general industry and construction-based companies. The Risk Control masters program was truly the best decision I have made for my career and life. Not only do I have the opportunity to do what I love each and every day but; the UW-Stout Risk Control program provided me the education and resources to be a competent safety advocate."