Program Overview

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Public Safety Leadership and Administration, MPSLA

The Master of Public Safety Leadership and Administration degree program is designed around the needs of public safety professionals. This master's degree program, with accomplished faculty and an intricately connected curriculum, endeavors to advance students' leadership and policy and administrative acumen. Students gain skills in data analysis, organizational management and leadership, and public policy and administration.

Program Description

The knowledge and experience you'll acquire in this program can put you on the path to being an agent of positive change within public service agencies. Graduates possess a practical understanding of public safety organization administration.

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)
• Electives (15 credit hours)
• Culminating Experience (3 credit hours)
  • CRJ 593 Applied Project (3)
• Additional Curriculum Information
  • Students should see the academic unit for the approved elective course list.

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, environmental sciences or geography, public health, 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.
• 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 or concentration, or at least two years of professional experience in the field of the chosen degree program or 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 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 public safety organizations.

Career Opportunities

An advanced degree is increasingly important for career progression within public safety administration. Graduates of this program are prepared for pursuit of management, leadership, and administrative career paths in all levels of government and public safety agencies and organizations, such as the police force, hospitals and rescue services, and the fire department, as well as in private sector organizations.