Program Overview

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

The Master of Public Safety Leadership and Administration degree program is designed primarily for public safety professionals. This advanced degree offers those who wish to progress in their career within public safety administration an important advantage: a practical understanding of public safety organization administration.

Program Description

The executive police administration concentration program provides law enforcement professionals with the highly specialized knowledge and practical skills required to rise to leadership positions in a law enforcement organization. This program enhances the leadership, management, and administrative skills and the knowledge and ability of present and future senior and midlevel managers, and it addresses the critical areas in the management of a contemporary law enforcement agency.

At a Glance

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

Degree Requirements

• 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 512 Seminar in Policing (3) or CRJ 527 Police Accountability (3)
  • CRJ 515 Seminar in Women and Crime (3) or CRJ 518 Seminar on Race/Ethnicity, Crime and Justice (3)
  • CRJ 516 Seminar in Criminal Justice Organization and Management (3)
• Electives or Research (6 credit hours)
• Culminating Experience (3 credit hours)
  • CRJ 593 Applied Project (3)

Admission Requirements

• 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 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
• 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:
  • Graduate admission application and application fee
  • Official transcripts
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • Written statement
  • Evidence of current employment in an organization in the field of the degree program or concentration, or at least two years of professional experience in the field of the chosen degree program or concentration
  • Resume or curriculum vitae
  • 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 offers this program in an 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 employees and change efforts in police organizations

Career Opportunities

Graduates are equipped to perform managerial duties in federal, state, local, territorial, and tribal law enforcement agencies. They also are prepared for roles in probation and parole, child support services, homeland security, and allied security professions. Graduates should expect to find employment and advancement in all levels of government agencies and in the private sector. Career examples include:

• Chief of police
• First-line police supervisor
• Police detective
• Police dispatcher
• Special agent

Additional Information

The Master of Public Safety Leadership and Administration degree program is designed to advance students' leadership, policy, and administrative acumen. The program provides a practical understanding of public safety organization administration, enhancing the leadership, management, and administrative skills of present and future senior and midlevel managers. The executive police administration concentration program addresses the critical areas in the management of a contemporary law enforcement agency, providing law enforcement professionals with the highly specialized knowledge and practical skills required to rise to leadership positions.