For individuals who have completed at least 60 credits toward a bachelor's degree, and currently work or desire to work in a public safety or emergency management role, Grand Canyon University offers the Bachelor of Science in Public Safety and Emergency Management degree. Candidates for the public safety and emergency management degree include those working in or desirous of working in fields such as emergency management, fire protection, emergency medical response, law enforcement, and environmental health and safety. Individuals transitioning out of the military may also pursue this degree program.
This bachelor's degree completion program provides a theoretical and applied approach to the professional education of students, while ensuring relevance to the homeland security and public safety industries. The public safety and emergency management degree emphasizes the fundamentals of emergency management while providing an interdisciplinary course of study in the skills and practices of emergency planning and management. The program highlights the application of research methodology; the utilization of communication skills at the personal, professional, and public level; and the development of professional skills and knowledge in the fields of public safety and emergency management.
Upon completing the bachelor's in public safety and emergency management, many graduates opt to further their education. GCU offers a variety of master's degrees including a Master of Public Administration with an Emphasis in Government and Policy, a Master of Public Administration with an Emphasis in Health Care Management, a Master of Science in Leadership, and a Master of Science in Leadership with an Emphasis in Disaster Preparedness and Executive Fire Leadership.
General Education Requirements
General Education coursework prepares Grand Canyon University graduates to think critically, communicate clearly, live responsibly in a diverse world, and thoughtfully integrate their faith and ethical convictions into all dimensions of life. These competencies, essential to an effective and satisfying life, are outlined in the General Education Learner Outcomes. General Education courses embody the breadth of human understanding and creativity contained in the liberal arts and sciences tradition. Students take an array of foundational knowledge courses that promote expanded knowledge, insight, and the outcomes identified in the University‛s General Education Competencies. The knowledge and skills students acquire through these courses serve as a foundation for successful careers and lifelong journeys of growing understanding and wisdom.
| Competency |
Requirements |
GCU Course Options |
Total Credits |
| University Foundations |
Upon completion of the Grand Canyon University's University Foundation experience, students will be able to demonstrate competency in the areas of academic skills and self-leadership. They will be able to articulate the range of resources available to assist them, explore career options related to their area of study, and have knowledge of Grand Canyon's community. Students will be able to demonstrate foundational academic success skills, explore GCU resources (CLA, Library, Career Center, ADA office, etc), articulate strategies of self-leadership and management and recognize opportunities to engage in the GCU community.
Students with fewer than 24 credits will fulfill the University Foundations requirement with a specified lower-division course. An upper-division selection will be made available to students that enter the university with more than 24 credits. |
UNV-103/303, University Success: 4 credits
UNV-108, University Success in the College of Education: 4 credits |
4 credits |
| Effective Communication |
Graduates of Grand Canyon University will be able to construct rhetorically effective communications appropriate to diverse audiences, purposes, and occasions (English composition, communication, critical reading, foreign language, sign language, etc.). Students are required to take 3 credits of English grammar or composition. |
UNV-104, 21st Century Skills: Communication and Information Literacy: 4 credits
ENG-105, English Composition I: 4 credits
ENG-106, English Composition II: 4 credits |
9-12 credits |
| Christian Worldview |
Graduates of Grand Canyon University will be able to express aspects of Christian heritage and worldview. Students are required to take CWV 101. |
CWV-101, Christian Worldview: 4 credits |
4 credits |
| Critical Thinking |
Graduates of Grand Canyon University will be able to use various analytic and problem-solving skills to examine, evaluate, and/or challenge ideas and arguments (mathematics, biology, chemistry, physics, geology, astronomy, physical geography, ecology, economics, theology, logic, philosophy, technology, statistics, accounting, etc.). Students are required to take 3 credits of intermediate algebra or higher. |
PHI-105, 21st Century Skills: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: 4 credits
MAT-134, Applications of Algebra: 4 credits
BIO-220, Environmental Science: 4 credits |
11-12 credits |
| Global Awareness, Perspective and Ethics |
Graduates of Grand Canyon University will be able to demonstrate awareness and appreciation of and empathy for differences in arts and culture, values, experiences, historical perspectives, and other aspects of life (psychology, sociology, government, Christian studies, Bible, geography, anthropology, economics, political science, child and family studies, law, ethics, crosscultural studies, history, art, music, dance, theater, applied arts, literature, health, etc.). |
HIS-221, Themes in U. S. History: 4 credits
PSY-100, Psychology in Everyday Life: 4 credits
SOC-100, Everyday Sociology: 4 credits
If the predefined course is a part of the major, students need to take an additional course. |
6-8 credits |
Course List
| Course # |
Course Title |
Course Description |
Credits |
| PSA-350V |
Managerial Communications |
This course examines personal and professional relationships through the use of effective verbal and non-verbal skills. |
3 |
| PSA-433V |
Research Methodology |
This course helps students identify problems, review related literature, collect data, and measure objectives in the public safety environment. Students will apply analytical skills to public safety related research projects. A Writing-Intensive course. |
3 |
| PSA-438V |
Human Resource Management |
This course explores values and perceptions of groups that affect recruiting, training, retention, evaluation, and current legal issues in human resources. |
3 |
| PSA-332V |
Political and Legal Systems |
Students will analyze and apply the legal system‛s model for understanding governmental, legal, and operational problems via the application of systems theory. |
3 |
| PSA-360V |
Information and Technology Systems |
This course focuses on the organizational, management, and technology dimensions of information systems. Although many technologies are covered, it is not intended to be a technology class. |
3 |
| PSA-440V |
Ethics in Public Safety |
This course explores case issues and philosophies as they relate to accountability in the public safety environment. |
3 |
| PSA-439V |
Leadership in Public Safety |
This course focuses on motivation theory relating to individual and group functioning in public safety organizations. Leadership styles and their impact on performance are examined. |
3 |
| PSA-351V |
Public Safety and the Community |
This course examines the human and community services, in particular, law enforcement, fire protection, and emergency medical services, from theoretical and practical positions. A major focus will be the underlying philosophies, values, mission, planning, and development of programs and systems, as well as evaluating and altering them. The process of anticipating current and future challenges and the impacts of public policy, public opinion, and customer dynamics will also be explored. |
3 |
| PSA-490V |
Organizational Development & Change |
The course provides an overview of approaches to organizational development with emphasis on the practical aspects of changing public safety organizations to improve effectiveness. |
3 |
| PSA-460V |
Project Management |
This course addresses basic concepts in project management, emphasizing a balance between the technical aspects of project work. Topics include the emerging importance of project management, tools, and techniques to plan and schedule projects, the manager‛s role in coordinating projects, and how managers need to be aware of cultural influences. |
3 |
| PSA-435V |
Strategic Planning |
This course deals with the fundamentals and application of strategic analysis and planning in public safety. |
3 |
| PSA-495V |
Public Safety Capstone |
This course provides a structured way to organize facts, information, and ideas from the academic major. Theoretical concepts from the major will be discussed by critically analyzing and evaluating ideas relating to a practical application process. Students will examine concepts of faith, belief systems, and sets of values and examine moral and ethical issues, including responsibility to individuals and communities. |
3 |
| Required Course Total Credit: | 36 |
| General Education Requirements: | 34 - 40 credits |
| Courses: | 36 credits |
| Open Elective Credits: | 44 - 50 credits |
| Total Degree Requirements: | 120 credits |
This program is offered in the following formats or locations:
Online
An online education allows you the flexibility to fulfill your educational goals without distracting you from your career. Full-time faculty members support our online students while our dynamic tools allow for engaging and challenging discussions with classmates. Classes start every month.
