IUPUI Bulletins » Schools » SPEA » Undergraduate » Degree Programs » Public Safety Management (B.S.C.J.)


Public Safety Management (B.S.C.J.)

The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice in Public Safety Management requires 120 credit hours. The program includes four main areas: I. IUPUI Common Core, II. SPEA General Education/baccalaureate requirements, III. Program/Major requirements, and IV. Open electives. Criminal Justice and Public Safety majors learn to protect communities and their citizens. Students who major in Public Safety Management focus on large-scale disaster preparedness, homeland security and delivery of lifesaving services including fire fighting, emergency medical services and disaster recovery.

I. IUPUI Common Core (30 Credits)

Students at IUPUI will complete 30 hours of general education coursework prior to graduation with a baccalaureate degree. The coursework is aligned with the Indiana Statewide Transferable General Education Core. For more information, please visit http://go.iupui.edu/gened.

  1. Core Communication (2 courses; 6 credits) From approved list, students must take at least one writing course (ENG W131 - Reading, Writing and Inquiry I or ENG W140 Honors Composition I) and one speaking and listening course (COMM R110 - Public Speaking) for a total of two courses and six credits.
  2. Analytical Reasoning (2 courses, 6 credits) From approved list, at least one college level math course. It is recommended that SPEA students take Math M118 (finite) and SPEA K300 (Statistical Techniques).
  3. Life and Physical Sciences (2 courses, 6 credits) From approved list, at least two courses and six credits toward the life and physical sciences.
  4. Cultural Understanding (1 course; 3 credits) From approved list, at least one course. SPEA students are encouraged to complete first year competency in a foreign language.
  5. Arts & Humanities and Social Sciences (3 courses; 9 credits) From approved list, students must take at least three credits from the Arts & Humanities list and at least three credits from the Social Sciences list for a total of nine credits.
II. Baccalaureate Requirements: SPEA General Education Requirements (21 credits)

Classes in this area must be a minimum of three credits each.

  • ENG W231 or BUS X204 - Professional Writing Skills or Business Communications
  • *HIST H105 - American History I
  • *HIST H106 - American History II
  • *SPEA K300 - Statistics
  • SPEA V261 - Computers in Public Affairs (or SPEA J426 or BUS K201)
  • Arts, Humanities and Social Science Elective
  • Arts, Humanities and Social Science Elective

*If HIST H106, HIST H106, and/or SPEA K300 are used to meet a core requirement, the student must take additional credits from any of the core curriculum general areas (Core Communication, Mathematics/Analytical Reasoning, Life and Physical Sciences, Cultural Understanding, Arts & Humanities, Social Sciences) to achieve the additional SPEA general education requirement credits. Though, students are not limited to only the core course listings and are encouraged to take higher level courses in those areas, depending on interests, minors, or certificates. Course selection and approval should be done in consultation with a SPEA Academic Advisor.

All SPEA students are encouraged to complete First Year Competency in a foriegn language.

Students cannot double count courses in this area with their major requirements.

III. Public Safety Management Major (16 courses; 48 cr.) Required courses:
  • SPEA-J 101 American Criminal Justice System (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-J 150 Public Safety in America (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-J 202 Criminal Justice Data, Methods, and Resources (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-J 272/V 272 Terrorism and Public Policy (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-J 376 Principles of Public Safety (3 cr.)**
  • SPEA-V 375 Emergency Services Administration (3 cr.)**
  • SPEA-J 387 Foundations of Homeland Security (3 cr.)
  • SPEA J426 Mapping and Analysis for Public Safety (3 cr.)
  • SPEA J429 Public Safety Management Capstone (3 cr.)

Select three Public Safety elective courses totaling 9 credit hours. These courses will be counted only in the major and may not be used to satisfy the general education computer requirement. Students may select only V263 or V366, not both.

  • SPEA-V 263 Public Management (3 cr.) OR
  • SPEA-V 366 Managing Behavior in Public Organizations (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-J 324 Technology, Crime, and Public Safety (3 cr.)
  • SPEA V 348 Management Science (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 368 Managing Government Operations (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 372 Government Finance and Budgets (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 361 Financial Management (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 435 Negotiation and Alternative Dispute Resolution (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 380 Internship for Public and Environmental Affairs (3 cr.)**

Select three Management and Policy courses (9 credit hours):

  • SPEA-V 221 Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 264 Urban Structure and Policy (3 cr.)
  • PBHL-A 316 Environmental Science and Health (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 373 Human Resources in the Public Sector (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 376 Law and Public Policy (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 378 Policy Processes in the United States (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 432 Labor Relations in the Public Sector (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 443 Managing Workforce Diversity (3 cr.)

**Students who are graduates of a number of fire academies may receive credit for V375, J376, and V380 (limited up to 3 credits) upon admission. Please see the Fire-Training area of the bulletin for more information.

IV. Open Electives (approx. 18 cr.)

Additional courses beyond the IUPUI Common Core, SPEA General Education requirements, and Major requirements to total 120 credit hours.

Only college level course work will count toward open electives. Remedial courses in areas such as math and English do not count.

Important notes:

Students may transfer to IUPUI School of Public & Environmental Affairs once they acquire 12 credit hours, have a cumulative GPA of 2.3 in SPEA major courses (section III), an overall cumulative GPA of 2.0 and a previous semester GPA of 2.0.

On the Indianapolis campus, no more than 50 percent of courses taken to satisfy the requirements of the Public Safety Management Concentration may be transfer courses from other accredited institutions of higher learning; including all IU campuses.

SPEA Good Standing requires: a previous semester 2.0 GPA, a cumulative 2.0 GPA, as well as 2.3 GPA in SPEA major courses.

Please see your SPEA Academic Advisor with any questions. To make an appointment with your advisor, call SPEA Student Services at 317-274-4656.

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