The program is offered at the Ellensburg, WA location and is also available as a 100% online program that provides all required courses through an online format.

CWU is working hard to forge new partnerships with states throughout the U.S. Please visit online learning to see the most current list of states where CWU is authorized to offer fully online programs.

If your state is not listed yet, we may not be able to accept you for admission into a fully online degree program offered at CWU. Acceptance will depend on CWU gaining authorization to offer the online program in your state. The authorization process could take some time to complete. Please send us an email to Michael Andler to start the authorization process.

Admissions

Applications are accepted throughout the academic year. Students are required to consult with an advisor before submitting their application. During the application process, the submission of a resume and personal statement (goals & career plan) is required for professional admission to the program. In addition, the following requirements should be met for admission into the degree:

• Completion of an associate of applied or technical degree in occupational safety & health or closely related area from an accredited community or technical college
• CWU/Transfer Combined cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 2.25 or above at the time of application
• A world language is not required
• A minimum grade of C in ENG 101, and ENG 102 or equivalent

Apply and be accepted to CWU. To begin the application process for CWU, visit admissions. 

Once you have been accepted to the university and they have received your final transcripts showing your completed applied or technical degree, you can apply for the Bachelor of Applied Science major by contacting Michael Hammes or Michael Andler.

Graduation

To discuss meeting general education requirements and other degree questions, please contact Michael Hammes

• A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.25
• Completion of CWU general education requirements for a BAS degree (except world language), and all CWU requirements for the degree that are in place at the time the student is admitted into the BAS-RISM program
• A minimum grade of “C” is required in each of the courses (major course only) used to satisfy the BAS-RISM degree program

Will International students be accepted to the major?

Yes and No.

International students able to live in Ellensburg and take classes may be accepted to the major if they meet the Admission Requirements. But our program does not have enough face-to-face classes to satisfy the F1 Visa requirements at any other location.

How do I check to see if any of my community college courses are equivalent to the CWU general education classes?

CWU's transfer equivalency site can help you better understand how your courses will transfer to CWU. If you cannot find your school or course, it means there is not yet an existing equivalency. Please contact our office at Transfer.Credit@cwu.edu or (509) 963-3523 for further information.

Note: If you have a Direct Transfer Agreement AA degree (DTA) as well as your applied or technical degree, you automatically meet the CWU general education requirements.

How many credits can I transfer toward my CWU degree?

Students may transfer no more than 135 credits to CWU, including a maximum of 105 credits of community college (100-200 level) coursework. The CWU Office of the Registrar evaluates all transfer credits based upon official transcripts. To be eligible for graduation you must complete 75 credits (at least 45 from CWU) at a baccalaureate-granting institution. Extension credit including correspondence courses earned at other schools or the military may not exceed 45 credits. At least 60 credits of upper division (300-400 level) coursework is required for graduation.

I have taken more than 105 credits from a two-year college (or more than 135 credits including those from a four-year college). What will happen to my other credits?

The CWU credit transfer limits relate to our graduation requirements. You need at least 180 credits to graduate from CWU. This means that a community college transfer student must take at least 75 credits at CWU to graduate. Transfer students from four-year schools must take at least 45 credits at CWU to graduate. Regardless of how many excess transfer credits you may have, you will not have to retake any CWU courses if you have already completed the equivalent courses at other institutions. However, you will still have to complete the minimum number of credits at CWU required for graduation.

When you begin the program, Michael Hammes will be your professional advisor. Academic advising will be available to you as you plan your program of study and select your classes.

The BAS and BS in RISM degrees also meets the BCSP Qualified Academic Program (QAP) requirements, and hence our graduates are eligible to apply and secure the nationally recognized Graduate Safety Practitioner® (GSP®) designation upon graduation.

The RISM curriculum will prepare and allow you to sit for the nationally recognized Associate in Risk Management (ARM™) and part of Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU®) designation exams immediately after completing the RISM courses. In addition, the SHM program has applied and received approval for three CWU courses SHM 450, SHM 451, and SHM 455 to be approved equivalent for the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU®) designation courses CPCU 551, CPCU 552, and a CPCU elective.

If the graduates decide to pursue CPCU designation our students will already be ahead having completed three of the eight courses.

The ARM/CPCU designations will be a vital, value-added component to your CWU degree. It will make you more attractive to employers and enhance your potential for career advancement.

The Risk, Insurance, and Safety Management Program's mission is to provide an outstanding educational opportunity to its students and prepare them to be excellent, industry-ready risk, insurance, and safety management professionals who have the skills, competencies, and leadership capabilities to succeed in contemporary hazard risk, insurance, and safety management field.

1. Graduates will be employed in the risk, insurance, and safety management discipline, or a career of their choice upon graduation.
2. Graduates will be prepared to develop, implement, and manage risk, insurance, and safety management programs in a global and diverse economy.
3. Graduates will continue their life-long learning through contribution to professional societies and organizations, completion of technical training and certification, and individual professional development.
4. Graduates will act in an inclusive, professional and ethical manner.
5. Graduates will have good communication skills and are able to effectively work in interdisciplinary and cross-cultural teams.

General Skill Areas

1. Understand professional and ethical responsibilities.
2. Function effectively on multidisciplinary teams.
3. Communicate effectively in both oral and written forms.
4. Recognize the need to engage in life-long learning in a chosen professional career.

Technical Skill Areas

1. Describe the fundamental aspects of risk, insurance, and safety management.
2. Identify and apply standards, regulations, codes, and guidelines associated with the risk, insurance, and safety management disciplines.
3. Explain the purpose and operation of insurance.
4. Identify and describe key commercial and property liability risk exposures and control, and name the type of insurance policies and their limitations that address each of these loss exposures.
5. Examine, interpret, and apply data to manage hazards and risks.
6. Identify and describe various hazard and risk management techniques.
7. Define, describe, and apply broad business administration concepts associated with economics, accounting, marketing, organizational management, and human resource management.
8. Use the techniques, skills, and modern scientific and technical tools necessary for professional practice as it pertains to risk, insurance, and safety management.
9. Design and evaluate an organization’s risk and safety management system using ISO 45001.
10. Complete risk or safety management training by applying adult learning theories.
11. Conduct an incident investigation and analysis.
12. Use applied science knowledge and solve problems as it pertains to the practice of risk, insurance, and safety management disciplines.
13. Identify contemporary risk, insurance, and safety issues and the impacts of their solutions within a global and societal context.
14. Apply the principles of risk and safety management in a non-academic setting through an internship, cooperative, or supervised experience.