GREENVILLE, Pa.—Thiel College, a leading liberal arts college in northwest Pennsylvania, is joining a handful of select western Pennsylvania institutions offering a new four-year bachelor’s degree program in environmental safety management.
New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania are all in the top five for employment opportunities for occupational health and safety specialists, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The new program was approved by the Thiel College board of trustees in May. Environmental safety graduates can work in a variety of fields and locations such as hospitals, mines, drilling rigs, educational facilities and manufacturing plants.
“Thiel College has always been unique as an institution that combines the liberal arts and professional preparation. We believe this degree embodies that spirit and is the start of moving Thiel towards its next 100 years,” President and CEO of Zelienople, Pa.-based Deep Well Services and a member of Thiel College’s Board of Trustees Mark Marmo ’93 said. “Western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio are experiencing an industrial transformation. This degree puts Thiel at the forefront of environmental safety management and will give our graduates high earning and career growth potential regardless of the industry they choose to work in.”
The major is part of the College’s Department of Environmental Science. The Thiel program will give graduates the opportunity to find fulfilling and financially rewarding positions while remaining in the region. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for occupational and environmental safety professionals ranges from $48,820 to $70,920.
“The combination of classic liberal arts training and an environmental safety management degree will equip Thiel College graduates with thoughtful problem-solving skills for the workplace,” Thiel College Vice President for Academic Affairs Liz Frombgen, Ph.D., said. “This degree combined with the growing employment opportunities in Pennsylvania and its neighbors sets our graduates up to find professionally fulfilling careers in the region.”
About Thiel College
Thiel College is an independent college founded in the Lutheran tradition. Located in Greenville, Pa., the College offers 60 majors and minors, 24 varsity sports, and an 11:1 student-faculty ratio. The College is also home to a new Master of Science in speech-language pathology and 2Master of Business Administration. Both master’s degree programs offer innovative and accelerated five-year paths which allow students to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years. The speech-language pathology program also has an accelerated 15-month graduate-level program. The M.B.A. program also has a 12-month post-graduate program.A dedicated faculty paired with dynamic research and internship opportunities produce numerous graduate school and job placements. Coeducational from its beginnings, the College remains committed to combining tradition with innovation as it celebrates 150 years.