Programme Aims

Programme Characteristics

Programme Structure

Programme Curriculum

Career Prospects

Professional Recognition

Entrance Requirements

Timetable

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Contact Person

• Programme Leader : Dr. Aron K.Y. Kwok

  Tel: 852-27666060
  email: cekykwok@polyu.edu.hk

• Executive Officer I : Miss Alice Lau

Tel: 852-27666053
email: cealice@polyu.edu.hk

This programme is designed to respond to the effects of increasing local environment and occupational safety and health legislation on the working environments of organizations, and the demand for graduates who have the skills that are necessary to work in those focused professional areas. This application-oriented programme aims to provide additional part-time training opportunities for sub-degree/associate degree holders who are in full time employment to gain a full degree qualification, and equip graduates with skills that they can advance in careers as professionals in the environmental and occupational safety and health area.

The programme will be the first and only part-time undergraduate Honours programme offered in Hong Kong in this area. The programme content can be broadly divided into two areas: Environmental Protection and Occupational Safety and Health. These inter-related areas are given equal weighting so that graduates will be equipped with sufficient knowledge to tackle environmental and occupational safety and health problems, and to develop and implement appropriate systems, preventative measures and remedial strategies.The programme is hosted by the Department of Civil and Structural Engineering, with the support of the Industrial Centre and other units of the University. The PolyU has extensive experience in the teaching and research in the environmental and occupational safety and health areas.

Programme Structure

This is a four years part-time programme. In the first two years, besides the core subjects, students will be equipped with adequate mathematical knowledge, particularly in Applied Statistics, to support the learning in other subject areas. In the environmental protection area, students will be exposed to fundamental knowledge in Physics, Chemistry and Biology (including Ecology), which will form an essential foundation for later work (in the third and fourth years) in more advanced topics such as Wastewater Treatment, Waste Management and Air and Noise Pollution Studies and control. The integration and application of the above topics will be covered in the subject Environmental Impact Assessment. As far the Occupational Safety & Health area, the first two years will cover fundamental knowledge and skills in Safety Technology, Epidemiology & Toxicology, Construction Safety, Occupational Health and Hygiene, and the third and fourth years will cover more advanced, integrated studies in Accident Prevention & Analysis, Risk Management, and Safety Management & Audit. The final year project requires students to exercise their independent thinking and learning, and provides an opportunity for them to individually tackle an environmental and occupational safety and health problem.

Year 1 Curriculum:

Year 2 Curriculum:

Year 3 Curriculum:

* Elective subjects

Year 4 Curriculum:

* Elective subjects

Remarks:

1. Students are expected to complete 5 core subjects equivalent to 15 credits in each year. The normal study duration is 4 years. The total number of credit required for graduation is 66.
2. Final year students are required to complete an individual project equivalent to 6 credits.
3. + Electives subjects: students are required to select 2 out of the 4 offered subjects.
4. Level 3 subjects are weighted 40%, and Level 4 and 5 subjects are weighted 60% respectively.
   

A wide spectrum of career opportunities exists for graduates in this expanding field including safety, health and environmental advisers, environmental/safety officers and auditors in private companies, construction firms, public utility companies (e.g. the MTRC, the KCRC, CLP, HK Electric, the Airport Authority, etc.) and consulting firms. There are also good opportunities in government, public authorities and other environmental or public advisory organizations and agencies.

It is expected that graduates of this programme will be able to fulfil the academic requirements for registration as Registered Safety Officers of the Labour Department in Hong Kong, as Environmental Officer for government contracts and for membership of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (UK)..

A Higher Diploma or Higher Certificate or Associate Degree in Science or Engineering, or equivalent. Preferences will be given to applicants in relevant employment. Selection will be based on academic background, working experience (if any) and performance in an interview.