Public Safety Administration, B.S.

The Bachelor of Science in Public Safety Administration with optional concentration tracks in either Criminal Justice Leadership, or Fire/EMS Leadership, is an accelerated, online undergraduate degree completion program for adults. The B.S. in Public Safety Administration provides a foundational knowledge of this unique administrative environment with specific emphasis on the skills needed to meet the challenges in public safety structures. Students will study a number of organizational configurations and how they work in coordination to provide timely and efficient emergency services. As part of this program, students will complete in-depth projects that rely on experiential learning elements applicable to a variety of public safety administration situations to foster an understanding of how challenges and opportunities develop in public safety administration settings, and what is needed to effectively address real-world issues in these environments.

Program Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the Public Safety Administration degree program, students will be able to:
• Demonstrate ability to think critically and creatively in public safety administration problem-solving;
• Demonstrate effective writing, presentational, and communication skills;
• Identify and describe key functions and competencies to be effective in today’s public safety administration environments;
• Describe public safety organizational dynamics through multiple perspectives; and
• Apply body of knowledge to real-world public safety issues through experiential learning projects.

Uniquely Personal

Because every learner is different, and brings varying amounts of prior learning credits and experience, each Program Plan will be unique to each learner’s own interests and needs.

Learners can begin at the start of any semester, and may apply up to 90 transfer credits into the 120 credit Bachelor of Science in Public Safety Administration program, consistent with current policy, via college or university credit, documented prior learning, military credit or other methods. For many students, the various ways to obtain credit enables further acceleration. Advisors help to identify “next steps” to determine how many courses are needed and a timely plan for graduation, based on individual needs.

Degree Requirements

In addition to the University’s general requirements for graduation, the following must be completed:

For the Bachelor of Science in Public Safety Administration:

A minimum of 120 credits in Public Safety Administration with a 2.00 minimum cumulative GPA.

Admission Criteria

Learners, 19 years of age or older, with 60 credits in transfer (college credit or documented prior learning), or completion of a state or municipal police academy, firefighter academy, or EMS program (EMT, Paramedic, etc.) may apply to the Accelerated Bachelor of Science degree program in Public Safety Administration. Application procedures are detailed in the Admissions area of the website.

Advisors can provide more details including which options may apply to your own personal experiences. To discover how close you might be to your degree, please contact us at 484-899-0862 or by email at [email protected], and we can facilitate an evaluation of your prior work experience and credentials by the Advisors on our Continuing Adult and Professional Studies team.