Human safety performance
Certificate, undergraduate
Prevent errors before they happen
This certificate program is designed to provide you with a foundational understanding of how human behavior, performance factors and organizational systems influence safety outcomes. The curriculum emphasizes behavior-based safety, exploring how individual actions and decisions impact workplace safety.
Courses also delve into the psychological, physical and environmental factors that affect human performance, and how organizations can structure their processes to reduce errors and promote a culture of safety. This certificate equips you with the knowledge and tools to lead safety initiatives and implement effective error prevention strategies in a variety of professional settings.
Overview
Related Topics
Think safe, act smart
Degree fit
This certificate is particularly well-suited for:
- Individuals working in or aspiring to enter fields where safety is a critical concern
- Occupational safety professionals for enhancing their understanding of human behavior in the workplace
- Engineering and technical students interested in human factors surrounding safety
- Supervisors and managers in high-risk industries such as manufacturing, energy or healthcare interested in improving team safety performance
- Military personnel, government employees and human resources or organizational development specialists focused on building safer workplace cultures
Career outcomes
Current job openings
514 in ID, WA, OR, MT and HIPotential careers and mid-career salaries
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
$90,263 - Industrial Engineering Technicians • Nanotechnology Engineering Technicians
$75,736
* Career data provided by Lightcast.
Financial aid and scholarship opportunities
Financial aid
U of I’s certificate programs are not eligible for financial aid or scholarships on their own. However, students enrolled in a bachelor's or associate degree program may apply their financial aid and scholarships toward a certificate if they are pursuing both simultaneously.
For more information or to explore funding options, contact the Financial Aid Office at finaid@uidaho.edu or call 208-885-6312.
Idaho LAUNCH
This degree is approved for Idaho LAUNCH, a grant that supports Idaho students pursuing high-demand careers. Students enrolling under the 2026–27 Academic Catalog may be eligible for up to $4,000 per year / $8,000 total in scholarship funding through the Idaho LAUNCH program.
Learn about eligibility and application deadlines at nextsteps.idaho.gov/launch, or see our full list of approved U of I programs on the in-state scholarships page.
Recognized STEM Program
This program is recognized as a STEM program by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and may be eligible for the 24-month STEM optional practical training extension for international students.
Clubs and involvement opportunities
Clubs and organizations
- Humanitarian Engineering Corps (HEC)
- National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)
- Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE)
- Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
- Tau Beta Pi - Engineering Honor Society (TBP)
Application information
Admission criteria for undergraduate certificates are the same as those for U of I undergraduate degree programs. View our admission requirements at our Admissions website to learn more.
Undergraduate certificate application process
Students interested in adding a certificate to their bachelor’s or associate degree program should speak with their academic advisor.
Students interested in earning an undergraduate certificate as a standalone program should contact the Admissions Office at 208-885-6326 for information on how to apply.