Master of Occupational Health & Safety Program | SafetyNet

The Master of Occupational Health and Safety (MOHS) is an interdisciplinary program providing advanced-level study of multiple aspects of occupational health and safety. The program is the first in the Atlantic region and the fourth in Canada and it is built on the expertise that has been developing at Memorial University over the past decade. The program is a response to clear demand from both within the province and throughout Canada.

The MOHS program is designed to provide students, safety officers, loss prevention specialists and human relations managers with the analytic frameworks and up-to-date knowledge that can serve as a basis for future advanced academic study or for higher level professional careers in regulatory agencies, industry, government and stakeholder organizations.

If you are a current graduate student, the School of Graduate Studies may be the best place to start to find answers to your questions.

If you are a prospective student, the following FAQ may answer some of your questions. If you still have questions, contact us mohs@mun.ca

Admissions

What are the admission requirements?

Applicants to the MOHS program are required to have at least a Bachelor's degree with a minimum B average, or second class standing, from a recognized university. For universities that use the four-point grade point average, this is a minimum requirement of 2.75.

Consideration is also given to applicants without a post-secondary degree who have more than 10 years of work experience in occupational health and safety.

For applicants whose prior university instruction was not in English, demonstration of English language proficiency. Minimum TOEFL scores are: 580 for the paper-based test; 237 on the computer-based test; or 92 on the Internet-based test. The minimum IELTS score is an overall band score of 7.0.

Does my undergraduate degree need to focus in a specific area?

The MOHS program is inter-disciplinary. We accept students with a broad range of undergraduate degrees. Our students have degrees in arts, business, engineering, science, education, nursing, music and more.

Do I need a supervisor for my application?

Applicants do not need to identify a supervisor or supervisors in order to apply; successful applicants will be assigned supervisors once they have begun their studies.

What do I need for References?

Two letters of reference are required with your application. References can be academic or professional.

Am I guaranteed admission if I meet the minimum requirements?

Admission to the program is limited and competitive. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission into the program.

When are applications due?

Applications for the Fall semester are due by January 15th each year. MOHS students are accepted for Fall intake only. No applications are accepted to begin in the Winter or Spring semesters.

Applications and all supporting admission documents must be received by the application deadline.

How do I apply?

Click here or visit the School of Graduate Studies.

International Students

Are there language requirements for international students?

Yes. Applicants who did not complete a degree at a recognized university at which English is the primary language of instruction must complete the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and achieve scores of 580 or higher on the paper-based test; 237 or higher on the computer-based test; or 92-93 (or higher) on the Internet-based test.

Applicants who have completed the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test must achieve an overall band score of 7.0 or higher.

Those applicants who also submit results of the Test of Written English (TWE), with a score of four or better, will receive preference in the evaluation of English proficiency.

Information regarding TOEFL, IELTS and TWE is available from the Educational Testing Service. Other equivalent tests, including the MUN Test of English Language may also be considered by the School of Graduate Studies.

Am I eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit?

As with other program of studies at Memorial University, international graduate students who complete their programs may be eligible to apply for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP). See Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) PGWPP website for more information.

See also Memorial's "Immigration information for international students" for information during COVID-19 restrictions.

Tuition

What is the cost of the program?

The MOHS program follows the following tuition fees (as of the 2023-2024 academic year):

Tuition (NL students): $635-$1,313/semester
Tuition (Other Canadian students): $826-$1,707/semester
Tuition (International students): $1,074-$2,218/semester

In addition to the regular tuition fee, a $10,000 special fee is applicable for the MOHS program. For information regarding special fees, please view the Minimum Expense form.

See Minimum Expenses (2022-2023) for more detail.

What is the purpose of the special fee for the MOHS?

The purpose of the $10,000 special fee is to cover MOHS program costs. As with all new graduate programs introduced at Memorial, the MOHS program is developed to ensure full cost recovery for offering the program.

Is student funding available?

MOHS students are not eligible for baseline funding. See Memorial's Searchable Awards & Scholarships for other sources of student funding.

Program Structure

Can I take the MOHS program by full- or part-time studies?

We accept both full- and part-time students. The application deadline is Jan. 15 for acceptance in the following Fall semester.

Can I complete the MOHS online?

No. While some required and elective courses can be completed online, the full degree cannot be completed through online studies.

What is the length of the program?

On a full-time basis, the program can be completed in 12 months (three academic semesters) if you so choose. Part-time students normally take two to three years to complete their degrees.

Is the MOHS course or research based?

MOHS is a course-based program.

To complete the program a student must complete 24 credit-hours of coursework, including the completion of a capstone research paper in OHS 6001.

Students are to take 9 credit-hours from the list of Required Courses, 9 credit-hours from the list of Elective A courses and 6 credit-hours from the list of Elective B courses. Elective A courses may be substituted for any Elective B courses.

What is the capstone project?

The required OHS Capstone Project (OHS 6001) is meant to develop student capacity to design and produce a research paper on a selected issue in OHS from an interdisciplinary perspective.

The Capstone Project topic will be chosen in consultation with, and approved by, the student’s Supervisor. The completed Capstone Project will be evaluated by the supervisor and at least one other faculty member, who will comprise a supervisory committee for the capstone project.

Students must register for the course OHS 6001 in every semester during which they are completing the Capstone Project. A grade of NC (No Credit) will be awarded in all semesters prior to the final semester.

Will I receive certification accreditation with the MOHS?

The MOHS is an academic program and does not provide professional certification or accreditation.

Contact

Who do I contact for more information?

For more information about admissions or registering for the Master of Occupational Health and Safety program at Memorial, contact Krista Shea, School of Graduate Studies, at kshea@mun.ca

For more information on the MOHS Program in general, contact the Program Director, Dr. Kim Cullen at mohs@mun.ca