Developing Educational & Professional Training Synergies in Aviation-Related Academic Programs

While academic professional flight programs have successfully combined professional training and certifications (FAA flight ratings, e.g.) for decades, other academic disciplines have rarely followed this model. The authors posit that aviation-related disciplines such as Safety would also substantially benefit from greater incorporation of professional certification and training programs. Utilizing a content mapping technique, the authors evaluate the relationships between the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 30-hour General Industry Certification Program and the program outcomes for an undergraduate degree in a safety discipline. Results will include discussion of whether curriculum taught within OSHA 30-Hour Training correlates with the curriculum taught in safety-related majors; whether specific lesson topics are taught in safety related courses as well, in particular courses such as Safety Program Management, and Human Factors and Ergonomics. Finally, the authors will discuss whether students are more likely to grasp and understand theoretical and practical concepts in safety-related academic courses as a result of taking an OSHA 30-Hour General Industry Certification Training Program