BSc Human Factors in Safety

Bachelor's Degree Programme
(Part-time)

Recognised by the Singapore Ministry of Manpower for WSH Officer registration and accredited by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), UK.

Applications Open: 01 October 2024

Applications Close: 31 March 2025

Next Available Intake: July 2025

Programme Type: Part-time Undergraduate

Fees: View More Details on Fees

Area of Interest: Science and Technology

School/Department: School of Science and Technology

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Human Factors (also known as ergonomics) is concerned with how people interact with technology, and how their physical and operational environments affect them. It is the study of the capabilities and limitations of people applied to the design of systems, products and work environments to ensure that people are safe and healthy at work and are also able to perform effectively and efficiently.

The BSc Human Factors in Safety (BHFSY) programme covers key knowledge and skills in both the Human Factors discipline and Workplace Safety and Health (WSH). You will be equipped with knowledge on the variability of human characteristics (age, size, strength, sensory and cognitive ability, prior experience, expectations and goals, etc.) and the complexities of technologies and work processes, and organisational contexts. You will learn how to analyse and control Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) hazards, understand various safety and risk management systems, perform and report on WSH audit and investigate workplace accidents. You will also be armed with knowledge on how to evaluate and design or redesign equipment, workplaces, environments and systems to improve safety, health, performance and satisfaction using human factors principles and methodology.

Unique Features of the Programme

Distinctive Workplace Safety and Health programme with strong focus on Human Factors.
Unique programme that combines both Human Factors and Safety courses.
Rigorous curriculum governed by strong internal and external quality assurance.
Earn SDU points for WSH Officers and CPD points for FSMs.
Prepares you for an exciting and rewarding career in Human Factors and WSH.
Flexible curriculum designed for working adults.

Accreditation & Recognition

Recognised by the Singapore Ministry of Manpower for WSH Officer registration.
Accredited by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), UK.

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Refer to general admission criteria for undergraduate programmes.

In addition to the standard admission criteria for all Singapore University of Social Sciences undergraduate programmes, applicants need to meet ONE of the following specific qualifications:

Diploma in cognate areas of technology, science or engineering from a local polytechnic; OR
at least a Grade C6 in CGE ‘O’ Level Physics and Mathematics; OR
Specialist Diploma in Workplace Safety and Health.

There are also various types of financial aid available to students who need financial assistance. Please click here for more details.

To graduate with a basic degree, students are required to complete 130 credit units (cu), which include:

20 cu of SUSS Core courses
60 cu of Major Compulsory courses
20 cu of Major Elective courses
30 cu of Free Electives (or 30 cu of Minor in Military Studies for SAF students)

The curriculum is structured such that:

Level 1 courses consist of foundational courses such as Human Factors & Systems Design, and Cognition and Information Processing.
Level 2 courses train students to apply what is learnt at level 1 to the design and evaluation of tools, workplaces, environment and system. Some safety courses such as Behavioural Based Safety and Emergency & Response Planning are also introduced at this level. Human Factors specialists must also be equipped with knowledge on how to collect and analyse data, and these are covered in the courses such as Human Factors Methods.
Level 3 courses cover advanced topics such as Cognitive Systems Engineering and Safety, Risk & Resilience Engineering. Students are also trained, not just in the how but also the whys of safety and risk management as well as accident and incident investigations.

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Module Types
SUSS CORE COMPULSORY	NCO101 Living with Community NCO201 Learn to Learn, Learn for Life	10 cu
SUSS CORE ELECTIVES (ENGAGEMENT)	SST101 Principles of Project Management SST388 STEM Interdisciplinary Project	5 cu
SUSS CORE ELECTIVES (PEOPLE)	NCO111 Work and Learning in a Changing World NCO112 Peak Performance NCO113 Teamwork in the Modern Workplace NCO205 User-Centred Design: Human Factors and Design Thinking	5 cu
COMPULSORY	HFS103 Psychology for Human Factors HFS105 Cognition and Information Processing HFS201 Workplace Evaluation and Design HFS203 Environmental Hazards and Toxicology HFS351 Safety Management and Audit HFS353 Incident and Accident Investigation HFS371 Risk Assessment and Management HFSY215 Behavioural Based Safety HFSY217 Emergency Preparedness and Response Planning HFSY355 Safety Standards, Legislations and Best Practices HFSY357 Environmental Management and Sustainable Development SST102 Human Factors and Systems Design	60 cu
ELECTIVE	BME107 Anatomy and Physiology HFS206 Occupational Biomechanics HFS219 Human Factors Methods HFS301 Cognitive Systems Engineering HFS303 Safety, Risk and Resilience Engineering HFS306 User Centred Design for Interactive Systems HFS307 Innovative Safety Coaching and Leadership HFS309 Universal Design HFS376 Human Factors in Defence and Security HFSY359 Fatigue Management	20 cu
FREE ELECTIVE	GSP100 General/Free Electives	30 cu (SAF students can use 30 cu to take the Minor in Military Studies.)

Created for individuals looking to join the WSH workforce to play a role in raising the work safety standards in Singapore, as well as WSH professionals wanting to further upgrade their knowledge and skills in WSH and in Human Factors (HF).
Suitable for safety professionals currently working in industries that require them to be involved in ensuring TOTAL WSH - Workers' Safety and Health - but have little or no human factors engineering or ergonomics knowledge.
Catered to those who want to know how to apply HF principles to design products, systems and services to improve usability and user experience.
Will be of great interest to those who are simply keen to learn more about people – e.g., how we process information and make decisions, why we make mistakes or what motivates us, etc. - and are looking for practical applications for such knowledge.

Singapore aims to reduce workplace fatality rate to less than 1.0 per 100,000 workers by 2028. In order to achieve this target, it is important that all stakeholders in the workplace play a role in keeping the workplace safe and healthy for all workers and build a strong safety culture. It is important that companies adopt a strong professional stance in the management of the health and safety of their workers through knowledge development, upgrading and training of their safety professionals. Graduates may look forward a fulfilling career as a safety professional in many sectors including manufacturing, construction, healthcare, built environment, logistics and so on.

This programme prepares graduates to join the safety workforce with a unique perspective that is grounded on a strong appreciation of human factors and equips them with the essential skills to better manage safety and health challenges that help Singapore realise Vision Zero – every workplace accident and injury is preventable.

BSc Human Factors in Safety