B.S. Public Safety Management & Leadership
120
Credit Hours
75%
Max Transfer Credit
Class Type
100% online, 6 & 12-week courses
Next Start Date
Jan 6, 2025
Cost Per Credit

Enhance your academy training with a public safety management degree

Sept. 11 brought increased respect and hightened awareness of the important role strong public safety leaders play in our communities. More than managing a team, a crew and a plan, Franklin's B.S. Public Safety Management & Leadership builds on your know-how and experience with investigation, prevention, enforcement, monitoring, communication and response. Transfer in 24 hours of technical credit to quickly advance your skills and your rank.

Program Availability

On Site

Highly Versatile Major

Learn to adminster public safety initiatives in various environments.

Customized Program

Design a pathway based on your interests.

Real-World Practitioners

Learn theory, application and best practices from public safety professionals.

100% Online Classes

Take classes that fit with your busy life.

Finish Faster

Get 24 hours of technical credit.

Accredited Online University

Nearly 80% of our students take online courses.

Program Overview

Stand out for a promotion and join the leadership ranks

If you're a first responder working in the public safety field, a bachelor's degree can help you earn a promotion. And if you choose Franklin University's transfer-friendly Public Safety Management & Leadership degree completion program, you may be closer to earning your degree than you think!

Whether you're looking to move into a leadership role or you see a teaching position at some point in your career - a bachelor's degree enhances your on-the-job-experience and sets your apart from the competition.

Transfer 24 technical credits toward Franklin's Public Safety Management & Leadership degree-completion major

At Franklin University, we value your previous public safety experience. That's why we allow you to transfer 24 hours of technical credit from an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in Law Enforcement, Criminal Justice, Fire Safety, Emergency Medical Services, Corrections, or other Public Safety-related field – giving you college credit for work you've already done.

You'll study advanced topics in emergency management, risk management, security planning, and threat assessment in our relevant and applicable public safety curriculum. No matter your area of expertise, you will benefit your agency and gain career mobility with a bachelor's degree in Public Safety Management & Leadership from Franklin.

Don't have 24 hours of technical credits? Check out Franklin's Criminal Justice Administration major. 

Earn your degree from a university built for busy adults

Earn your degree on your terms by taking classes 100% online. Accredited and nonprofit, Franklin was built from the ground-up to satisfy the needs of adult learners. Our seamless transfer process and team of academic advisors will help ease your transition to becoming a student, while our flexible course schedules help to balance your education with work, family and life. Get started on your future today.

Read more >

Matthew

B.S. Public Safety Management Graduate

"While I was at Franklin, my interaction with the faculty provided more than just the course work description. They provided real-life examples, real-life scenarios that would be applicable in my life educationally, as well as professionally. So, more than just reading a book and understanding something on my own. They put real context to the examples."

Future Start Dates

Start dates for individual programs may vary and are subject to change. Please request free information & speak with an admission advisor for the latest program start dates.

Spring 2025
January
6
Recommended Register By:
Dec 27
Spring 2025
February
17
Recommended Register By:
Feb 7
Spring 2025
March
31
Recommended Register By:
Mar 21
Summer 2025
May
19
Recommended Register By:
May 9
Summer 2025
June
30
Recommended Register By:
Jun 20
Fall 2025
August
18
Recommended Register By:
Aug 8
Fall 2025
September
29
Recommended Register By:
Sep 19
Fall 2025
November
10
Recommended Register By:
Oct 31
Spring 2026
January
5
Recommended Register By:
Dec 26
Spring 2026
February
16
Recommended Register By:
Feb 6
Spring 2026
March
30
Recommended Register By:
Mar 20
Summer 2026
May
18
Recommended Register By:
May 8
Summer 2026
June
29
Recommended Register By:
Jun 19
Fall 2026
August
17
Recommended Register By:
Aug 7
Fall 2026
September
28
Recommended Register By:
Sep 18
Fall 2026
November
9
Recommended Register By:
Oct 30

Your Best Value B.S. Public Safety Management & Leadership

Choose Franklin's B.S. Public Safety Management & Leadership and get a high-quality degree that fits your life and budget.

Keep the Credit You've Earned

64
AVG TRANSFER HOURS

On average, students transfer in 1/2 of the credits required.

Transfer MORE Credits, Pay LESS tuition*

$11,940
|
$22,288
Max Transfer Credits
Avg Transfer Credits
*$398 per credit, 120 Total Credits, 90 maximum transfer credits, 64 average transfer credits.

 

Have Credit? Save Time!

21
MONTHS TO COMPLETE

Previously earned credit saves you time toward your degree. 

Completion time is calculated based on full-time status and average transfer credits. 

×

Full-Time, One-Class-at-a-Time

Focus on one 6-week class at a time and maintain full-time status by taking 3 courses per term.

85% of the program can be completed by taking six-week course, one class at a time

×

Tuition Guarantee

Inflation-proof your degree cost by locking-in your tuition rate from day one through graduation.

Highly Recommended

98%
STUDENT SATISFACTION

98% of graduating students would recommend Franklin to their family, friends and/or colleagues.

Source: Franklin University, Office of Career Development Student Satisfaction Survey (Summer 2023)

×
×

Curriculum & Course Descriptions

120 Semester Hours
Fundamental General Education
English Composition
ENG 120 - College Writing (4)

In this course, students acquire the writing competencies necessary for completing analytical and argumentative papers supported by secondary research. A variety of assignments, beginning with personal reflections, build upon one another, as students develop ideas that respond to, critique, and synthesize the positions of others. Students systematize and organize knowledge in ways that will help them in all their courses. The course also emphasizes the elements of critical reading, effective writing style, appropriate grammar and mechanics, clarity of language, and logical and cohesive development. It culminates in submission of an extended, documented research paper.

Mathematics
MATH 215 - Statistical Concepts (4)

This course introduces you to statistics with applications to various areas. The course covers both descriptive and inferential statistics. Topics included are: sampling techniques, data types, experiments; measures of central tendency, measures of dispersion, graphical displays of data, basic probability concepts, binomial and normal probability distributions, sampling distributions and Central Limit Theorem; confidence intervals, hypothesis tests of a mean, or a proportion for one or two populations, and linear regression.

AND

Choose either MATH 140 Introduction to Quantitative Reasoning or MATH 150 Fundamental Algebra as the prerequisite. Course can count as University elective.

Social and Behavioral Sciences
POSC 204 - American Government (3)

The course examines the complex political and legal environment of public administration. Students learn how politics, law, and the structure and principles of American government impact citizens, public policy, and the administration of public and nonprofit organizations. Students apply fundamental political theories and administrative law principles in administrative contexts. Students pursuing the Public Administration major should take this course prior to beginning their specialization course work.

AND

3 credits from the following types of courses:
Choose an additional course from the Anthropology, Geography, History, Psychology, or Sociology discipline.

Science

6 credits from the following types of courses:
Two courses from the Science discipline. One course must have a lab component.

Arts & Humanities

6 credits from the following types of courses:
Choose from the Art, English Literature, Fine Arts, Humanities, Music, Philosophy, Religion or Theater disciplines.

Additional General Education
PF 121 - Basic Learning Strategies (2)

This course prepares students to be successful lifelong learners both academically and in their chosen careers. Franklin courses require a high level of self-directed learning and focus on the skills required in the workplace and the classroom that are easily transferrable between the two environments. The course includes strategies for time management, goal setting, reading comprehension, and advancing communication skills, including the use of electronic tools to participate in virtual environments.

OR PF 321 - Learning Strategies (2)

This course prepares students to be successful lifelong learners both academically and in their chosen careers. Franklin courses require a high level of self-directed learning and focus on the skills required in the workplace and the classroom that are easily transferable between the two environments. The course includes strategies for advancing communication skills, including the use of electronic tools to participate in virtual environments. The assignments and activities in the course are created to closely simulate teamwork found in the workplace.

AND

COMM 107 - Intro to Web Presentation & Publishing (1)

This course is an introduction to the use of Open Source Content Management Systems (CMS) for creating Web sites. It will provide students with the basic knowledge required to design, build, and maintain an informational Web site.

OR COMM 205 - Professional Communication (2)

In this course students will learn how to apply principles of intelligent visual design to professional communication and self-presentation. The focus will be on helping students reframe how to look outward to the professional world, and how to get professionals to view them as great employees and collaborators. How do you seek information to better understand organizations and professional opportunities? How do you present yourself to employers or prospective clients? Throughout the course students will receive professional mentoring and participate in an informational interview. Students will enhance their skills in impression management and communication through social media such as Linked In, blogs, and digital portfolios. Each assignment is tailored to fit the students? professional goals and career path. This course is intended for all academic majors.

AND

COMM 150 - Interpersonal Communication (4)

By using applied critical and creative thinking, students in this course will develop a set of communication skills that will enhance their personal and professional relationships and endeavors. This course will focus on skill development in key areas such as self, perception, listening, verbal messages, conversations, relationships, conflict management, persuasion, and presentation skills.

OR SPCH 100 - Speech Communication (4)

This basic public-speaking course intends to improve the student's ability to think critically and to communicate orally. Theory and practice are provided in various speaking situations. Each student is required to speak before an audience, but class work also involves reading, gathering and organizing information, writing, and listening.

AND

PF 106 - Introduction to Spreadsheets (1)

This course focuses on using spreadsheets to solve business problems.

ENG 220 - Research Writing: Exploring Professional Identities (4)

This is an intermediate course focusing on the composition of research papers. Students in this course prepare to be active participants in professional discourse communities by examining and practicing the writing conventions associated with their own fields of study and work. By calling attention to the conventions of disciplinary writing, the course also prepares students for upper-division college writing and the special conventions of advanced academic discourse. Course activities include three extended research papers, semi-formal writing addressing interdisciplinary communication, and readings fostering critical engagement with disciplinary conversations.

Technical Credit

24 credits from the following types of courses:
Transfer credit from public safety related discipline.

Major Area Required
PUAD 305 - Introduction to Public Administration (4)

Students are introduced to the field and profession of public administration. Students learn to think and act as ethical public administration professionals by developing a broad understanding of the political and organizational environment in which public administrators work and by applying fundamental analytical, decision- making, and communication skills. The professional knowledge and skills explored in the course provide a foundation for subsequent public administration courses.

PUAD 420 - Government & Nonprofit Budgeting (4)

Students learn fundamental budgeting, accounting, and financial management concepts and techniques necessary for planning, analysis, and decision making in government and nonprofit organizations. Students also examine the competing values and politics that underlie and impact the budget process and financial decisions. Finally, students apply skills for effectively communicating financial analysis methods and conclusions with colleagues, elected officials, the media, and the public.

PUAD 495 - Public Administration Capstone (4)

The capstone course is a practicum in which students analyze an important administrative problem relevant for a government or nonprofit organization. Students create an administrative action plan for addressing their chosen administrative problem by integrating concepts and skills learned in the public administration program and the student's specialization area.

SEMT 322 - Ethics & Leadership in Public Safety Agencies (4)

This course will study ethics and leadership theories in the context of public safety agencies. Consideration of leadership skills and traits in both the strategic and tactical settings will be considered. Ethics will be considered in terms of creating a culture of ethics within a public safety agency.

Focus Area

Fire & Emergency Medical Services:

FIES 310 - Fire & Emergency Services Administration (4)

This course focuses on Fire and Emergency Services Administration. In particular, the course provides an understanding of how the fire and emergency services administrator performs as an effective human resource manager, risk manager, and politician by recognizing legal and political issues affecting public safety, finding and applying appropriate legal rules and/or political constructs, and articulating supportable conclusions and recommendations.

FIES 330 - HR Management for the Fire & Emergency Services (4)

This course examines relationships and issues in personnel administration and human resource development within the context of fire-related organizations, including personnel management, organizational development, productivity, recruitment and selection, performance management systems, discipline, and collective bargaining.

FIES 430 - Political & Legal Foundations for Fire Protection (4)

This course examines the legal aspects of the fire services and the political and social impacts of legal issues. This course includes a review of the American legal system and in-depth coverage of legal and political issues involving employment and personnel matters, administrative and operational matters, planning and code enforcement, and legislative and political processes with regard to the fire services.

SEMT 240 - Disaster Planning & Response (4)

In planning for catastrophic disasters using strategic protocols and tools are needed for incorporating environmental and social into efficient responses. The importance for understanding the history of previous catastrophic events, and learning from those responses. What worked well? What didn?t? Will better prepare us for the future challenges as they arise. Students will explore the nuances of planning for and respond to catastrophic disasters. The course will discuss domestic and international approaches to planning and responding to such disasters. The Emergency Manager will spend most of their time in the field planning for critical incidents and disasters and understanding the key components to a good plan that involves many agencies at all levels of government and at different stages of the event is essential. Students will delve into the logistics of mass care, mass evacuations, and critical infrastructure damage.

SEMT 450 - Critical Incident Management (4)

The course will explore the NIMS, ICS, and other federally mandated systems in place for the management of critical incidents such as major fire scenes, major disasters, terrorist?s attacks, and other events that require a multi-agency response and recovery effort. The course discusses and evaluates the roles of high-level leadership in setting policy direction and planning as well as real-time management of the scene.

OR

Law Enforcement:

CJAD 315 - Policing in America (4)

This course is designed to provide insight into the history and organization of American police agencies from the mid-1800s to the present day. You will learn about the three levels of law enforcement in America. You will be exposed to managerial and organizational concepts commonly employed in American police agencies. You will become familiar with the standards and training generally required to become a police officer in America. The concept of police culture and related issues will also be discussed. You will have the opportunity to consider the history and current status of females and minorities in the American police system. American policing and its relationship to ethics and the power of discretion will be discussed. The operations and functions of patrol officers and detectives will also be discussed in some detail. Included in the discussion of patrol and detective operations will be a discussion of the related importance and impact of the Bill of Rights and the U.S. Supreme Court. The concept of police-community relations will be discussed as will selected philosophies of policing that impact police-community relations. Finally, you will consider the impact of new and emerging technologies on American policing. The impact of the advent of the Department of Homeland Security and related changes in the Post - 9/11 era will also be discussed.

CJAD 340 - Evidence Based Practice & Research (4)

This innovative approach to research describes best practices and data-driven solutions in criminal justice research including quantitative, qualitative, and program evaluation research. Students will be good consumers of research and will have the fundamental knowledge necessary to evaluate research studies, evaluate their value toward their field of interest, and evaluate their usefulness for making sound decisions in the field.

CJAD 360 - Intro: Terrorism & Intelligence Analysis (4)

This course examines intelligence analysis and its indispensable relationship to the management of terrorist attacks, man-made disasters and natural disasters. It also explores vulnerabilities of our national defense and private sectors, as well as the threats posed to these institutions by terrorists. Students will discuss substantive issues regarding intelligence support of homeland security measures implemented by the United States and explore how the intelligence community operates.

CJAD 415 - Contemporary Policing Strategies & Issue (4)

This course provides insight into the history and evolution of policing strategies in American law enforcement. You will become familiar with the eras of policing and discuss the policing strategies commonly associated with each era. You will engage in a discussion of the War on Drugs and the War on Crime and the ways in which these efforts have impacted and/or influenced policing strategies since the mid-1960s. You also will engage in a more focused study of contemporary policing strategies to include: Community Policing, Problem Oriented Policing, Third Party Policing, Hot Spot Policing, and Crime Prevention as well as CompStat, Intelligence-led policing, and other selected strategies applied to policing in the 21st Century. You will have the opportunity to examine various policing strategies as they are applied in an actual police agency that you will select for study and analysis. Finally, you will consider the growing militarization of local police agencies and the impact it is having on civilian police services in America.

CJAD 450 - Criminal Justice Management & Admin (4)

This course will examine the basic concepts of management and administration as applied to agencies in the criminal justice system. Emphasis will be placed on issues related to the effective management and administration of criminal justice agencies. Topics covered will include environmental influence; conflict, power, and ethical issues; motivation, leadership, and communication. The concept of the service quality approach will also be considered.

CJAD 400 - Forensic Psychology (4)

The course outlines the history of psychology and the law from the late 1800?s to the Daubert Standard and beyond. The course outlines various arenas where the law and particularly aspects of the criminal justice system have utilized psychology to inform investigations and litigation. There are some aspects of civil litigation covered with respect to family law and harassment. The course describes criminal psychology, sexual violence, and victimology from a psychological perspective.

OR

20 credits from the following types of courses:
Students may also design an individualized focus area using any courses from Franklin’s catalog. Students must obtain approval from the Program Chair of the Public Safety Leadership & Management Program for an individualized program focus.

University Electives

22 credits from the following types of courses:
Any undergraduate courses offered by the University except developmental education courses.

Additional Requirements

All students are required to pass College Writing (ENG 120), and either Basic Learning Strategies (PF 121) or Learning Strategies (PF 321) prior to enrolling in any course at the 200 level or above. Students who enroll at Franklin with 30 or fewer hours of transfer credit are required to pass PF 121 Basic Learning Strategies in place of PF 321 Learning Strategies. Interpersonal Communication (COMM 150) or Speech Communication (SPCH 100) must be taken prior to enrolling in any course at the 300 level or above. Students must also meet the University algebra competency requirement.

Academic Minors

Personalize your degree with a minor. Explore available minors, learn how minors can benefit you, and find out what requirements you must meet to earn a minor.

Learn More

B.S. Public Safety Management & Leadership Program Details

Anna K.

B.S. Public Safety Management & Leadership '21

"This opens up a world of possibilities for me!"

Employment Outlook

8%

From 2022-2032, jobs in Criminal Justice & Public Safety are expected to increase by 8%

Occupation Median Salary (2022) Job Postings (2022) Projected Growth (2022-2032)
Occupation
First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers $80,142 6,864 8%
First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers
Median Salary: $80,142
Job Postings: 6,864
Projected Growth: 8%
Occupation
Job Titles
Skills
Industry
Description

First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers directly supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in firefighting and fire prevention and control.

Projected Growth
Job TitleJob Postings% of Job Postings
Fire Chiefs77111%
Fire Marshals90913%
Incident Commanders5097%
Battalion Chiefs3936%
Prevention Coordinators4987%
SkillJob Postings% of Total Postings
 
Industry% of Occupation in Industry
Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals92%
Other Support Services4%
State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals2%
Federal Government, Civilian2%
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services0%
Investigation and Security Services0%
Other0%

Knowledge & Skillsets

Gain in-demand skills sought by employers with curriculum that teaches you:

Get College Credit for What You Already Know

The certificates and training listed below are relevant to this degree program. Search our database to view pre-evaluated credentials and see how a license, certification or professional training saves you time and money toward your degree.

Frequently Asked Questions

Back to College Blog

Related Programs