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1. Will the Occupational and Environmental Safety Management (OESM) program prepare you for a career?

Yes, you can apply for positions such as Safety Administrator, Safety Officer, Safety Specialist,
Environmental Technician, Safety Technician, and Safety Director.

Workplace safety regulations cover all industries, however small “mom & pop” businesses do not hire safety professionals. In Hawai?i , safety professionals work for governmental agencies, healthcare, hotels/services, construction, maritime, transportation, environmental firms, colleges & universities. Etc.

Besides academic background, employers look at various qualifications including work ethics, communication and interpersonal skills, etc. Your ability to network and make independent decisions is also important.

2. In the OESM field, what are the specifics of industry recognized certifications?

The EHS profession recognizes the following board- certified certifications from nationally recognized boards. In all instances, you need to pass exams:

• Certified Safety Professional (CSP)
• Associate Safety Professional (ASP)
• Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH)
• Construction Safety and Health Technician (CHST)
• Occupational Health and Safety Technologist (OHST)
• Safety Trained Supervisor (STS)
• Honolulu Community College does not certify students with these national certifications.

3. Are you able to get industry recognized certificates of completion of training for specific OESM courses?

Yes, for certain OESM classes offered by certain instructors. You will receive OSHA certificates upon completion of OESM classes with a “C” or higher grade. Check with OESM program liaison or counselor for specifics.

4. When are the OESM classes offered?

OESM classes are offered year round in the fall and spring semesters at the main campus. OESM classes meet once per week in the evenings from 5pm to 7:50pm or on Saturdays. The following required courses are offered:

• Fall semesters: 101, 105, 106, 160, 210 193V
• Spring semesters: 102, 104, 208, 193V

Additionally, future course offerings in OESM are posted on the OESM website. This is a tentative schedule of when OESM classes will be offered. You can also view class offerings per semester at Honolulu Community College’s website at Class Availability.

5. Is there anything unique about the OESM program and the OESM courses?

In addition to the features on the OESM homepage, the OESM program has a strong network of support within the safety and environmental professional community. Employers, many of which are OESM alumni hire interns and full time employees from the OESM program.

6. What are the requirements for the OESM 193 cooperative education course?

OESM 193V is the internship course where you would be using your work experience in the OSEM field as an integral part of the course. OSEM 193V for one credit is required for the associates degree. Internship may lead to employment opportunities. For more information, go to links on OESM website.

7. What course should you take in your first semester in the program if you meet the program prerequisites of placement in ENG 100 and MATH 100, 103, 115?

OESM 101 and OESM 106 if you begin in the fall. OESM 104 if you begin in the spring.

8. What courses can you take in your first semester in the program if you do not meet the program prerequisites?

English courses leading up to ENG 100
Math courses leading up to MATH 115

9. Should you purchase textbooks before the semester begins?

Yes, it is a good idea to purchase your textbooks prior to the beginning of the semester. If you wait until your first day in class, all the textbooks may have sold out. You would also avoid the chaos of the first week of the semester.

10. As a student with a full time day job, is it possible to complete the OESM program with evening or weekend or distance education (DE) courses?

OESM courses are offered in the evening and weekends in hybrid or in-person classes. General education courses are offered in the evening or distance education.

11. What course waiver/ substitutions are typically accepted?

CHEM 105 may be substituted with CHEM 151 and 151L provided you earned a “C” or higher grade. Certain other CHEM courses above 151 have also been accepted as substitutions.
BIOL 100 may be substituted with BIOL 171 or higher.
See an academic counselor to complete the course waiver substitution forms. If you are receiving veteran’s benefits, the form must be approved before your courses can be certified for veteran’s benefits. If you are currently enrolled in the course, see the counselor to complete the form. Substitution will be posted to your record once all approvals are received and grade is posted.

12. Will you be able to transfer college courses, Advanced Placement (AP) scores or CLEP scores for the OESM degree?

Yes, college courses, AP scores and CLEP scores that are applicable or count toward the OESM degree can be accepted in transfer however grade, grade points and grade point averages cannot be transferred. Your GPA at Honolulu CC will be based on your grades at Honolulu CC.

Courses completed at a University of Hawai?i (UH) institution are generally accepted in transfer with a ¡°D¡± or higher grade. Courses from regionally accredited U.S. institutions with grades of ¡°D¡± or higher are generally accepted in transfer provided that the cumulative GPA of all applicable transfer courses from that institution is a 2.0 or higher. 

You can find out whether your college course or AP scores or CLEP scores will be accepted in transfer by going to the UH System Course Transfer Database. Go to the  and follow the directions. If your course is not listed, provide the Records Office with the course descriptions. Descriptions will be attached to the official transcript received from the non-UH system institution you attended.

To have a transcript evaluated, please have your official transcripts sent directly from all institutions you previously attended, outside of the UH System, to Honolulu Community College’s Records Office. The courses that you’ve taken at any UH campus will be pulled from your STAR account. Transcripts will be sent to the student’s academic counselor and/or academic department for review. 

13. Will you be able to use safety /environmental work experience training for the OESM degree?

Honolulu Community College does not grant college credits for work experience, however does give college credits for certain OESM training. Documentation of training must be provided. Contact the OESM academic counselor for more information.

14. If you take a break from college, can you follow the old program requirements or do you have to follow the current requirements?

If your break from Honolulu community college has been less than one year, you can follow the old requirements. If your break has been one year or more, see an academic counselor.

15. After earning the associate degree in OESM, can you continue for a bachelor’s degree at a university?

University of Hawai?i at West O?ahu accepts OESM courses toward their Bachelor of Public Administration degree. View the Articulation Agreement

16. Is there an OESM student club?

There is an ASSP (American Society of Safety Professionals) Student Section which you can join as an OESM student. The Student Section works closely with the Hawai?i Chapter of the ASSP. Contact the OESM Program Liaison or Academic Counselor for more information.

Past activities of the Student Section include the Matson-Honolulu CC Clean-up Project (raising $1000 for the Section), Kalihi Sunset in the Park, membership meeting on potential job opportunities, mock interviews, and the Pacific Rim Health and Safety Conference.