Public Safety Degrees
In recent years, public safety concerns have broadened to include threats from terrorism, cyber crime, pandemics and natural disasters, requiring that public safety officials have more comprehensive knowledge in all public safety areas. Degree programs in public safety provide integrated training across many disciplines and include leadership courses which enable public safety professionals to more effectively manage in a complex environment.
Public safety program graduates will be qualified to work in a wide array of public service and private company positions. Federal agencies are a major employer of public safety professionals with positions available in homeland security, emergency management, aviation security and cyber security to name a few. State and local governments as well as private firms also hire graduates of public safety programs.
Degree Options
- Associate's Degree – An associate's degree will ready graduates for some positions in law enforcement, corrections, fire fighting and private security.
- Bachelor's Degree – A bachelor's degree will prepare graduates for positions in a wide range of public safety fields.
- Master's Degree – Master's degree programs are usually designed to prepare current public safety professionals to take on leadership roles in a broad range of public safety arenas.
- Doctoral Degree – Graduates of a doctoral program will be prepared to take on executive leadership roles, be a consultant or teach at the university level.
Schools
Public safety programs are most commonly found at smaller colleges and universities and at a number of high-quality online schools. Some traditional schools offer programs either fully or partially online and most programs at the graduate level are designed for working professionals.
Coursework
Public safety programs typically include courses such as those described below:
- Public Safety Leadership – Topics include leadership styles and roles, leadership development, succession and political factors.
- Terrorism and Political Violence – Study of political violence and terrorism and what efforts can be made to minimize threats to the civilian population.
- Cyber Crime – The emergence, prevention and control of computer-related crimes are examined. Topics include computer security, deviance, risk management and criminal justice.
- Planning and Execution of Disaster Response - Students will learn to create disaster response plans for natural, accidental and intentional disasters. Also covered are strategies for execution of a disaster plan.
- Media Relations and Politics – Students learn the role media plays in public safety and guidelines for media interactions and writing of press releases.
Aptitudes and Interests
Those interested in working in a public safety role should have the ability to respond effectively in crisis situations, have very strong communication skills and the ability to assess risk in complex environments. Many positions are with the federal government which requires applicants to have US Citizenship and pass a thorough background check.
Career Options
Public safety careers span a wide range of roles within local, state and federal governments as well as private companies. Some of the many possibilities are listed below:
- Emergency Management Specialist
- Detective or Criminal Investigator
- Fire Fighting Supervisor
- Police Chief
- Private Security Analyst
- Homeland Security Program Specialist
- Fire Program Specialist
- Risk Analysis Specialist
Related Majors
- Homeland Security - Heavier focus on national security threats.
- Emergency Management - Focuses on preparation for and response to emergency situations.
- Criminal Justice - Prepares students for law enforcement, corrections and parole and probation careers.
- Law Enforcement - Focus is only on law enforcement principles for those pursing this career.
- Fire Service Administration - Training is specific to management of fire departments.
How To Evaluate Public Safety Degree Programs
When choosing a public safety degree program, the below considerations should be kept in mind:
- Experience Level – Some programs are more appropriate for experienced professionals in need of in-depth public safety training while others provide more background knowledge for students with little or no field experience.
- Leadership Focus - Some programs are focused solely on leadership skills in public safety and would be appropriate for those looking to take on a leadership role.
- Certification - In some states, certification is needed for supervisory positions and specific training is required for certification. Students will want to make sure all training requirements are met by the program they choose.
- Tuition Reimbursement - Working students should determine whether their employer will reimburse tuition and if there are restrictions on which program they enroll in.
- Accreditation - Schools should be accredited by a regional accreditation agency or an agency that is recognized by the US Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
Resources
The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials
US Department of Homeland Security
Homeland Security Studies and Analysis Institute
Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences
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