Public Safety

The Master of Professional Studies with the concentration in public safety is an interdisciplinary program of study designed to provide the public safety professional with leadership and strategic management tools to lead and serve in one of the nation’s growing professions. The focus of the program is to provide these professionals with the opportunity to develop important skills in risk assessment and disaster preparations, crisis response, public safety leadership, research and administration in the various components of law enforcement, homeland security, emergency management, and other public service systems that include local, state, and federal agencies. This degree also has an embedded certificate in public safety.

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Admissions Requirements

In the Master of Professional Studies degree, there are several concentrations available. Students seeking admission to all of the Professional Studies graduate programs are required to have:

1. 1. Undergraduate GPA: at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale
   2. As well as one of the following conditions:
      1. Undergraduate GPA: at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
      2. GRE: a score of at least 146 on the verbal portion and 144 on the quantitative portion; or a combined score of 290 on the verbal and quantitative reasoning sections and at least a 3.5 in analytical writing
      3. Professional Work Experience: at least five years of professional work experience demonstrated through a portfolio (see further details below)

International students are required to demonstrate competency in spoken and written English by taking appropriate standardized tests. See accepted standardized tests and minimum required scores »

• » Portfolio

  The portfolio is to include:

  • a resume;
  • a 500- to 600-word essay detailing the reasons for wanting to enter the MPS program and discussing how the program will help the applicant achieve personal and professional goals; and
  • two (2) sealed letters of professional reference.

  Other items that an applicant may include in the portfolio include a description of professional responsibilities, professional achievements and professional awards/recognition's. The portfolio material must be submitted as a packet, not mailed separately. 

• » Provisional Admission

  Satisfying minimal standards, however, does not guarantee your admission.  Admission decisions are based on departmental review, using a combination of factors including an interview to evaluate dispositions for professionals in the chosen concentration.

  Students may be admitted with provisional status if they do not meet all of the criteria above but do meet the minimum requirements of the graduate school and are approved for provisional status by the departmental admissions committee.  Provisional status will limit students to a maximum of 9 hours before the departmental admissions committee makes a recommendation for full admission.  To advance from provisional to full admission a student must earn a 3.0 GPA on the 9 hours of graduate study in the concentration and be approved by the departmental admissions committee.

Career Opportunities

Learn More About Career Development