Bachelor of Science in Public Safety and Emergency Management
Overview
Position Yourself for Success
If you currently work in the field of emergency management, fire protection, emergency medical response, law enforcement or environmental health and safety, and you seek a bachelor’s degree to help propel you to the next level of your career, Grand Canyon University's (GCU) Bachelor of Science in Public Safety and Emergency Management degree was designed with you in mind. This public safety degree program was also developed for individuals who have a desire to pursue a career in the aforementioned fields. This bachelor's degree program, offered through GCU’s Colangelo College of Business, provides you with a theoretical and applied approach, while ensuring relevance to the homeland security and public safety industries.
Degree Outcomes
Explore Public Safety Fundamentals
The public safety and emergency management degree offers you an understanding of the fundamentals of emergency management, while providing an interdisciplinary course of study in the skills and practices of emergency planning and management. The BS in public safety and emergency management 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.
What You Will Learn
Learn Core Topics in Public Safety
GCU's Bachelor of Science in Public Safety and Emergency Management degree program provides courses in the following topics:
- Servant and ethical leadership
- Individual and group behavior in organizations
- History and development of emergency management
- Emergency operations and techniques
- Processes and principles of mitigation planning for emergency management
- Disaster response and recovery
- Terrorism's impact on emergency management
- Unique challenges associated with managing projects
Career Outcomes
Take Your Career to the Next Level
After you complete the bachelor's in public safety and emergency management, you may choose to further your education. Choose from a variety of master's degrees at GCU, 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.
Course List
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.
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.
GCU 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.
GCU 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.
GCU 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.
GCU 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
- MAT-134, Applications of Algebra: 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.
GCU Course Options
- HIS-144, U.S. History Themes: 4 credits
- PSY-100, Psychology in Everyday Life: 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. Also PSC-420.
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.
Faculty Bios
Program Locations
Online
* 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 graduated between 7/1 – 6/30 of the preceding year. The On-Time Completion rate is determined by the number of students in the cohort who completed the program within the published program length divided by the number of students in the cohort who graduated.
Online and Evening program disclosures* Please refer to the Academic Catalog for more information. Program subject to change.