9 Best Online Master’s in Public Safety Degree Programs

About

The University of San Diego was founded in 1949, and the online program began in 2013.

There are 15 online master’s pathways, ranging from cybersecurity to theology.

Courses Offered

The university offers an award-winning online Master of Science in Law Enforcement and Public Safety (MS-LEPSL).

Taught by working military and experienced law enforcement professionals, this 20-month graduate program is specifically designed for Law Enforcement and Public Safety professionals.

Terms are 14 weeks long and often completed in 1.5 to 2 years.

There is a total of 31 units, which include courses in:

• Public Safety Law in a Dynamic World
• Community Engagement – Best Practices
• Effective Leadership in Modern Public Safety
• Public Policy Innovation
• Communication Skills

The pathway ends with an integrated Capstone project.

The cost of the program is $729 per unit plus course equipment and fees.

Financial Aid and employer scholarships are available to eligible students.

About

Adelphi, Maryland, is home to both the digital education platform for the University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) and the University of Maryland.

UMGC has been recognized by the Military Times as a standout educator for veterans.

It offers 135 undergraduate and graduate degrees and skill-specific certifications to an estimated 55,838 students worldwide.

Courses Offered

The Master’s in Public Safety at UMGC offers numerous concentrations.

• Biotechnology: Biosecurity & Biodefense
• Digital Forensics & Cyber Investigation
• Homeland Security, Intelligence Management

These options allow students to advance their understanding of public safety while developing skills in management and inter-agency collaboration.

Courses for the master’s program include:

• Data Analysis and Management
• Critical Infrastructures
• Biodefense Policies
• Agents of Bioterrorism
• Disaster Planning, Response, and Recovery

In addition to coursework, a 3.0 GPA and a Public Safety Capstone are needed to graduate.

The online campus offers career services and digital resources to all UMGC students.

The in-state costs for the Master’s in Public Safety are $544 per credit or roughly $22,299 for the program.

Additional course-specific fees are applicable.

Students are encouraged to apply for Financial Aid and employer scholarships to defray education costs.

About

The University of Virginia (UVA), located in Charlottesville, Virginia, is a public research institution that serves roughly 26,000 students.

Founded by Thomas Jefferson, the orange and blue colors of the university have been a part of the United States’ history since 1819.

It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Courses Offered

UVA offers an online Master of Public Safety degree through the School of Continuing and Professional Studies.

Classes are asynchronous, with multiple start dates throughout the year, and lasting eight weeks.

Public Safety coursework must be completed with a GPA of 3.0 and within five years.

Coursework taken from the FBI Academy or the university’s National CJ Command qualifies for credit in the master’s program.

A sample of the courses offered includes:

• Constitutional Framework of Public Safety
• Creating and Sustaining Community Dialog
• Developing and Implementing Disaster Preparedness

The cost of the 10-course graduate degree is $18,870.

An additional $1,268 is added for the required Capstone program.

Employer scholarships, FAFSA, and field-specific grants are considered.

Unique to UVA is a scholarship benefiting single moms.

About

Liberty University is based in Lynchburg, Virginia.

It was formed in 1971 by Rev.

Jerry Falwell, as a private, faith-based university.

There are over 600 degrees offered at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Courses Offered

Liberty University offers an online Master of Public Safety Administration – Disaster Management.

Throughout the 36-credit-hour program, students will hone their public safety and crisis management skills.

Most students complete their coursework in 1.5 to 2 years.

Divided into 8-week courses, students will learn:

• Hazard Mitigation
• Politics & Policy of Public Sector Budgeting
• Terrorism & Homeland Security
• Emergency Management
• Public Administration: Legal & Contemporary Issues

A final thesis and defense are required to graduate.

The public safety master’s program costs roughly $20,340 or $565 per credit hour.

Military students’ tuition is discounted to $290 per credit hour.

Additional program-specific fees may apply.

Financial Aid, grants, and subject-matter scholarships are available for eligible students.

About

The University of Texas education system began with the flagship campus in Austin, Texas, in 1883.

UT El Paso (UTEP) was originally established in 1913 as the State School of Mines and Metallurgy in far West Texas.

It is the second-oldest university in the UT system.

Currently, there are 23,861 students enrolled across all degree levels.

Courses Offered

UTEP offers an online Master’s in Public Administration – Homeland Security through its UTEP Connect online program.

Areas of focus include:

• Professional Seminar in Homeland Security
• Emergency Management
• Public Health Issues & Homeland Security

With a basis in public safety, the degree focuses students on the larger roles needed in a global environment.

The 36-hour graduate degree includes courses in:

• Intergovernmental Relations
• Emergency Management
• Innovation and Problem Solving
• Policy Analysis and Decision-Making
• Intergovernmental Relations

The basic cost for the online MPA is $17,640 ($480.90/credit hour) for Texas residents.

Financial Aid, work programs, grants, and scholarships are available for the online program.

About

American Public University is a public education system.

Over 39,000 students are enrolled worldwide across some 232 degrees and certificate programs.

APU focuses on skill development for intelligence, military analysis, and law enforcement careers.

Courses Offered

Offered through the School of Security and Global Studies, the Master of Arts in Homeland Security is a 36-hour online degree.

Full-time students usually complete the program in two years.

The degree also includes a Capstone project.

A few of the courses in this program include:

• Homeland Security and Defense
• Terrorism and Extremist Groups
• Privacy and Security
• Transportation Security
• Applied Decision-Making

Application to APU is free. Graduate degrees at APU cost $455 per credit hour ($250 for military).

The starting cost for a graduate degree in public safety is $16380.

Additional degree-specific fees may apply.

However, fees include books and e-books.

The university honors the military with discounted tuition.

FAFSA, GI Bill, veterans grants, and state discounts are available to eligible students.

About

Founded in 1876, Texas A&M University is based in College Station, Texas.

Known as Aggies, the Bush School for Public Affairs ranks in the top 10% of all graduate schools.

Courses Offered

Texas A&M University offers an online Executive Master of Public Service Administration degree administered through the Bush School of Government and Public Policy.

Unlike most online programs, this degree requires one week of residency each year (two weeks total).

The 39-hour program has several different concentrations:

• Homeland Security Track
• Nonprofit Management Track
• Public Management Track

The online non-thesis graduate degree includes studies of:

• Public Policy Formation
• Economic Analysis
• Budgeting in Public Service
• Public Policy Formation
• Domestic Intelligence Operations

Additional certifications are also available through the program.

Completion of a track-specific Capstone project is required for graduation.

The cost of the online program is $12,089 annually.

Financial Aid and scholarships are available for qualified students.

About

The main campus of Arizona State University (ASU) is located in Tempe, Arizona.

ASU was founded in 1885, 27 years before Arizona became a state in 1912.

The university offers 850 undergraduate and graduate programs, with over 83 among the top-ranked in the nation.

Current enrollment data lists 181,000 students, including 66,000 online.

Courses Offered

The online Master of Public Safety Leadership and Administration (MPSLA) offers three concentrations:

• General MPSLA
• Police Administration
• Fire Safety and Leadership
• Mobile Integrated Health

There are 11 courses in each program.

Core courses for the 33-credit hour degree include:

• Organizational Behavior
• GIS Analysis
• Race/Ethnicity, Crime and Justice
• Community Resilience
• Fire Services Innovation

Base residency-contingent tuition and mandatory fees are $10,890 per year.

Federal Aid (FAFSA) is available for eligible students.

The university also accepts payment plans and works with the GI (veterans) program to pay education costs.

ASU holds live orientation webinars and Q&A sessions for interested students.

About

The Southern New Hampshire University (SHSU) first opened its doors in 1932.

The online platform was established in 1995.

An innovative educator, SNHU offers over 200 degree and certification programs.

SNHU’s online education is popular.

Only 3,000 of the 184,000 enrolled students attend classes on-site.

Courses Offered

The 36-hour Master’s in Public Safety is part of the College of Criminal Justice.

It offers leadership-level courses such as:

• Strategic Management in Public Service
• Public Safety Administration
• Law Enforcement Management

The university supports students through:

• 24/7 Technical Assistance
• Online Community
• Academic Advisors
• Career Consultants

SNHU tuition is highly competitive.

The cost of a master’s degree is estimated at $22,932 or $637 per credit hour.

Financial Aid and payment plans are available for eligible students.