Public Safety Leadership and Administration, MPSLA
Are you seeking the skills you need to effectively manage and lead public safety organizations? 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.
Quick facts
Locations
Credits
Additional facts
STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
International students (F1), this program is not eligible for the STEM-OPT extension.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Degree description
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 your leadership and policy and administrative acumen. You gain skills in data analysis, organizational management and leadership, and public policy and administration.
You possess a practical understanding of public safety organization administration.
Curriculum
This graduate degree includes courses focused on a specialized topic, so you can advance your skills for further professional opportunities. Explore all courses below.
30 credit hours - course-based master's
Required Core (15 credit hours) Electives (15 credit hours) Additional Curriculum Information
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)
This master's degree is a course-based program. Students should see the academic unit for the approved elective course list.
What you'll learn
The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.
- Integrate theoretical perspectives on leadership into the planning and evaluation of public safety programs.
- Formulate a final program evaluation research paper based on foundational knowledge of organizational leadership and administration.
- Evaluate approaches to effectively manage personnel and change efforts in public safety organizations.
Integrate theoretical perspectives on leadership into the planning and evaluation of public safety programs.Admission requirements
Here are the admission and application details
All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
U.S. applicants (opens in new window) | International applicants (opens in new window) | English proficiency (opens in new window)
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: Additional Application Information The written statement should be one to two pages and describe the applicant's prior education, relevant professional experience and career goals, and explain how the criminal justice program will help them attain their career goals. The statement should explicitly explain how the applicant's plans are consistent with the role and mission of the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at ASU. It is recommended that applicants who feel they are weak in a particular area or admission requirement address their plan to remedy any shortcomings if they are granted provisional admission to the degree program. Admission examinations are not required. Current employment in an organization in public safety, at least two years of prior professional experience in this or a related field, or a bachelor's degree in a related area is required.
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency
Application deadlines
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | Online | 08/01 | Final* |
| Session B | Online | 09/23 | Final* |
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | Online | 12/23 | Final* |
| Session B | Online | 02/24 | Final* |
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | Online | 04/29 | Final* |
*A final deadline means that all applications and application materials must be received by Admission Services by the deadline date. Applications that are incomplete may not be considered after the final deadline. Applications that are submitted past the final deadline may not be considered.
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students recieve financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimateCareer 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.
Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Prospective students should fill out the Request for Information form.
School of Criminology and Criminal Justice
|
UCENT 600
idpadvising@asu.edu
602-496-0485
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) provides a reduced tuition rate to non-resident graduate students who qualify. Visit the WRGP/WICHE webpage for more information: https://graduate.asu.edu/wiche.
