Bachelor of Science in Public Safety and Emergency Management
What is a BS in Public Safety and Emergency Management Degree?
A Bachelor of Science (BS) in Public Safety and Emergency Management from Grand Canyon University prepares graduates to work in a number of public-service related fields. Careers in public safety and emergency management include those that help communities identify potential hazards and reduce the risks of those threats.
The field is broad and covers everything from law enforcement to environmental health and safety workers to natural disaster response. The jobs within the public safety and emergency management fields involve risk-based assessments, resource coordination and advocacy. Some people in these fields work directly with community members to ensure risk management and emergency preparedness. Others work behind the scenes in planning and analysis capacities.
Learn About the Importance of a Public Safety and Emergency Management Bachelor of Science Degree
Graduates from the BS in Public Safety and Emergency Services degree program at GCU go on to hold important roles in community safety. They work on such important issues as:
- Emergency management
- Fire protections
- Emergency medical response
- Law enforcement
- Environmental health
- Disaster response and preparedness
When something goes wrong in a community, public safety and emergency management degree holders can be there to help. Whether there’s a natural disaster like a flood or tornado, an accident, a threat to safety or a fire, students who earn this degree will be on the front lines of keeping people safe.
Earn Your BS in Public Safety and Emergency Management Online
The emergency management degree from GCU is popular with people currently working the fields of fire protection, emergency medical response, law enforcement and health and safety. These students complete their bachelor’s degrees in public safety and emergency management online while continuing their work. The degree gives them a chance to move to the next level in their fields.
People currently in those public safety fields are not the only ones to benefit from this bachelor’s program. Anyone with a desire to work in the public safety and emergency management field can earn their degree online through GCU’s Colangelo College of Business. This connection with the business college provides students both theoretical and applied approaches to the six major coursework domains:
- Servant Leadership
- Project Management and Action Research
- Organizational Behavior and Management
- Development of the Field of Emergency Management
- Planning in Emergency Management
- Implementation in Emergency Management
Opportunities in Public Safety and Emergency Management Careers
Graduates of the GCU BS in Public Safety and Emergency Management have many options when it comes to work. They may find work at both the local and national levels.
A local emergency specialist might make traffic grid improvements, enforce safety codes or coordinate risk management initiatives for major events. While someone at the national level could work to keep the public safe from:
- Terrorist acts
- Oil spills
- Radioactive leaks
- Earthquakes
- Wildfires
- Power grid failures
If you know that your mission in life is to be of service to people and keep them safe from harm, then it is time for you to follow your path to a career in public service. Learn more about the Bachelor of Science in Public Safety and Emergency Management degree at GCU today.
Program DomainsGeneral 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.
Requirements
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.
Course Options
- UNV-112, Success in Science, Engineering and Technology & Lab: 4 credits
- UNV-103, University Success: 4 credits
- UNV-303, University Success: 4 credits
- UNV-108, University Success in the College of Education: 4 credits
Requirements
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.
Course Options
- 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
Requirements
Graduates of Grand Canyon University will be able to express aspects of Christian heritage and worldview. Students are required to take CWV-101/CWV-301.
Course Options
- CWV-101, Christian Worldview: 4 credits
- CWV-301, Christian Worldview: 4 credits
Requirements
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.
Course Options
- MAT-154, Applications of College Algebra: 4 credits
- MAT-144, College Mathematics: 4 credits
- PHI-105, 21st Century Skills: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: 4 credits
- BIO-220, Environmental Science: 4 credits
Requirements
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.). If the predefined course is a part of the major, students need to take an additional course.
Course Options
- HIS-144, U.S. History Themes: 4 credits
- PSY-102, General Psychology: 4 credits
- SOC-100, Everyday Sociology: 4 credits
Program Core Courses
Course Description
This writing-intensive course focuses on servant leadership and ethical leadership, explores how servant leadership is different from other styles of leadership, and examines how this connects to ethics, accountability, and being a responsible leader.
Course Description
Drawing upon real-world management situations, this course is a study of individual and group behavior in organizations through detailed coverage of the functions of management, individual differences/diversity, leadership, motivation, decision making, organizational design, and organizational change and development. Emphasis is placed on how an understanding of organizational behavior leads to effective management practice.
Course Description
This course provides students with insight into the profession of emergency management, its history, principles, participants, functions, structure, and future. This course includes concepts related to accreditation of emergency management programs, professional associations, and professional credentials.
Course Description
The knowledge and practice gained in this course will provide the emergency manager and first responder with management and supervision skills and techniques that are specific to emergency management and to the agencies employing emergency managers. These skills and techniques of management are necessary for success in the emergency services environment.
Course Description
This course examines the processes and principles of mitigation planning for emergency management, the benefits of mitigation, and the development and implementation of appropriate mitigation measures.
Course Description
This course addresses disaster recovery and business continuity in public agencies and private companies, an explanation of federal guidelines for government continuity planning, and professional practices for business continuity planning in private companies, as well as how to address and respond to special emergency management issues in disasters, including animal care, special needs populations, and evacuations.
Course Description
This course examines the historical and political impact of terrorism on emergency management, including examples of terrorist activity, a summary of federal government efforts, and media coverage of terrorism. Also JUS-442.
Course Description
This course is a study of the unique challenges associated with managing projects as related to the overarching management framework of planning, organizing, leading, and controlling. Emphasis is placed on balancing competing priorities related to human recourses, time constraints, and physical resources/materials. Additional focus is placed on managing and controlling project scope. Prerequisite: MGT-420.
Course Description
This writing-intensive course provides a structured way for managers to take an overview and general management perspective. Emphasis is on a research project that synthesizes major elements of the professional studies program.
Online
* Please note that this list may contain programs that are not presently offered as program availability may vary depending on class size, enrollment and other contributing factors. If you are interested in a program listed herein please first contact your University Counselor for the most current information regarding availability of the program.
* The Department of Education defines how an institution must calculate a program's On-Time Completion rate for federal disclosure purposes. The On-Time Completion rate is based on a program's published required number of months to complete all degree requirements as provided in the institution's catalog. Completion statistics are updated every January and are based on the cohort of students who started the program in the same year and then graduated within the published program length.
Online and Evening program disclosures (48 months)* Please refer to the Academic Catalog for more information. Program subject to change.