Unlock Your Career Potential
((degree.pctCareerPreparation!html))
See Courses & Program Info
View a complete list of program courses, program-specific and general education requirements, and more.
This program requires a total of 120 credits.
- 30 Required Major Credits: Review the required major courses outlined below or view the recommended course sequence to progress through this program.
- 41 General Education Credits: Review the options available to fulfill the 41 credits of general education coursework requirements for bachelor's degrees.
- 49 Minor & Elective Credits: Review a list of available academic minors or see the course catalog or Schedule of Classes to help you select elective courses.
Required Major Courses
((degree.courses!html))
Not ready to get started on a bachelor’s degree? You can pair a 15-credit minor in public safety administration with another major at UMGC.
Master Key Skills in Public Safety Administration
Today’s employers understand that public safety is a growing area of concern, which is why they’re looking for educated working professionals who have sufficient training in the field of public safety administration. Graduates of this online program will develop crucial and career-relevant skills in emergency response, ethical analysis, threat identification, data analytics, and leadership.
Our faculty refresh and update the online program curriculum regularly with a focus on helping students achieve the following:
10K+
Job Openings
More than 10,000 job openings for emergency management directors are projected each year over the next decade.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | “Occupational Outlook Handbook” | Last Reviewed: September 9, 2024
14%
Job Growth
Job openings for occupational health and safety specialists and technicians are projected to increase 14% by 2033, much faster than the national average.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | “Occupational Outlook Handbook” | Last Reviewed: September 9, 2024
$700B
Market Size
The public safety and security market is expected to surpass $700 billion by 2027, spurred by a rising need for security training and increasing law enforcement requirements.
Source: MarketsandMarkets | "Public Safety and Security Market Statistics – Size, Share, & Growth" | April 2022
Practice Real-World Skills in Your Public Safety Courses
Throughout your public safety administration degree curriculum, your instructors will assign hands-on coursework that may help you prioritize real-world skills and experience. In past courses, students have been able to complete the following in-depth course projects:
- Identify a public safety organization and, through published accounts of the organization, review it from a risk analysis perspective.
- Select a disaster and discuss, in detail, the roles of the local, state, and federal jurisdictions as they relate to the preparation plan process, mitigation practices, and area evacuation for each jurisdiction.
- Discuss at least one ethical issue that is arguably present in public safety that might be impacted by the lessons learned from your research related to ethical decision-making.
- Select a scenario in which you will lead your agency through the crisis. Select the type of public service agency you will lead through this crisis (law enforcement, fire services, emergency management, etc.) and apply the various leadership concepts learned in your lessons.
I feel like I've been successful throughout my Air Force career and I feel, with my UMGC degree, I will also be successful in the civilian sector as an Emergency Management Director.
Natasha G., Humble, TX BS in Public Safety Administration
FAQs
Get answers to questions that current and prospective students are asking about program admission, credibility, and more.
An online bachelor's degree in public safety administration is a college degree that students can earn online to help prepare for a career in public safety administration. UMGC’s online bachelor's degree in public safety administration is a 120-credit program that covers topics like risk management, emergency preparedness, prevention, liability, ethics, and more. The program helps students prepare to work in a wide range of industries, corporations, nonprofits, and government organizations. This program is a great fit for mid-career police officers, law enforcement, first responders, or homeland security professionals looking to develop their knowledge base and advance to administrative, leadership, or decision-making roles in the public safety field.
UMGC's online bachelor's degree in public safety administration a 120-credit program with courses offered year-round. The time it will take you to complete your degree will depend on several factors, including your goals, how many transfer credits you have, your course load each semester, and whether you are able to benefit from one or more of our fast paths to credit, including credit for prior learning and credit for military education and training.
Tuition rates for the online bachelor’s degree in public safety administration from UMGC are very competitive and appear at the top of this page. We offer a low in-state rate for Maryland residents and a reduced tuition rate for military servicemembers and their spouses and dependent children. We also offer scholarships for those who qualify, an interest-free monthly payment plan, and no-cost digital materials in place of most textbooks to help make online bachelor's degrees even more affordable.
You do not need any background or experience to apply for and graduate with an online bachelor’s degree in public safety administration. As long as you meet our undergraduate admission requirements, you can enroll in this program.
You do not need any certifications to enroll in or complete this program.