Program Overview

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Public Safety Leadership and Administration (Executive Fire Administration), MPSLA

The Master of Public Safety Leadership and Administration program with a concentration in executive fire administration prepares students to handle the challenges facing chief officers. Through coursework in strategic planning, public policy and administration, leadership and organizational management, data analysis, finance and technology, students develop a solid foundation of knowledge and skills on which to build success within the fire service.

Program Description

The program description highlights the importance of navigating fire and emergency services as a leader who understands the function and impact of budgeting and finance, emergency services operations, fire services innovation, and public policy.

At a Glance

• College/school: Watts College of Public Service & Community Solutions
• Location: Online
• STEM-OPT extension eligible: No

Degree Requirements

The program requires 33 credit hours, including the required applied project course (CRJ 593).

• Required Core (15 credit hours)
  • CRJ 510 Criminal Justice Planning and Program Evaluation (3)
  • CRJ 574 Executive Leadership Principles in Public Safety (3)
  • PAF 506 Public Budgeting and Finance (3)
  • PAF 507 Public Human Resource Management (3)
  • PAF 508 Organization Behavior (3)
• Concentration (9 credit hours)
  • CRJ 570 Leadership for Innovation in Public Fire Services (3)
  • CRJ 573 Emergency Services: Operations Analysis and Planning (3)
  • PAF 560 Community Resilience (3)
• Electives or Research (6 credit hours)
  • Culminating Experience (3 credit hours)
    • CRJ 593 Applied Project (3)
• Additional Curriculum Information Students choose two courses from a restricted list or any graduate-level CPP or PAF course, with program approval, for the electives or research credits.

Admission Requirements

• General university admission requirements: All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
• Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions.
• Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in criminology or criminal justice, public administration or public service, sociology or social work, public safety or fire service management, parks and recreation management, applied sciences, or another closely related field from a regionally accredited institution.
• Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program, or applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.
• All applicants must submit:
  1. graduate admission application and application fee
  2. official transcripts
  3. two letters of recommendation
  4. written personal statement
  5. evidence of current employment in an organization in the field of the degree program and concentration or at least two years of professional experience in the field of the chosen degree program and concentration
  6. resume or curriculum vitae
  7. proof of English proficiency

Tuition Information

When it comes to paying for higher education, everyone’s situation is different. Students can learn about ASU tuition and financial aid options to find out which will work best for them.

Attend Online

ASU Online offers this program in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year.

Application Deadlines

• Fall
  • Session A/C: Online, 08/01, Final
  • Session B: Online, 09/23, Final
• Spring
  • Session A/C: Online, 12/23, Final
  • Session B: Online, 02/24, Final
• Summer
  • Session A/C: Online, 04/29, Final

Program Learning Outcomes

Program learning outcomes identify what a student will learn or be able to do upon completion of their program. This program’s learning outcomes include the following:

• Critically integrate theoretical perspectives on leadership into the planning and evaluation of public safety programs.
• Demonstrate the essential qualifications for employment in public safety leadership roles by applying their foundational knowledge of organizational leadership and administration to a final written project.
• Demonstrate the ability to effectively manage organizational operations and change efforts in fire services.

Career Opportunities

Graduates with a concentration in fire administration are well-equipped to drive innovation from the upper levels of fire service in federal, state, and local fire departments and emergency management agencies. They should expect to find employment and advancement in all levels of government agencies as well as in the private sector.

• Career examples include:
  • firefighter supervisor
  • fire inspector
  • fire investigator
  • fire prevention and protection engineer
  • municipal firefighter

Additional Information

The program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of public safety leadership and administration, with a focus on executive fire administration. The curriculum is designed to prepare students for leadership roles in fire services, and the program is offered entirely online.