Course Listings

Public Safety Organizational Management

MSPS 600 | 3 Credits

Course Desc: A comprehensive examination of organizational management principles and practices within public safety agencies. The goal is to analyze organizational management theories, evaluate contemporary leadership principles, design resource allocation strategies, and utilize key performance indicators. Topics include organizational structures and hierarchies, management of organizations and individuals, budget management, and strategic management and organizational change.

Decision-Making for Public Safety Leaders

MSPS 610 | 3 Credits

Course Desc: An in-depth exploration and application of best practices in decision-making for public safety leaders. The aim is to evaluate decision-making frameworks and models, assess the influence of personal leadership styles and psychological factors on decision-making, analyze the role of risk assessments and mitigation strategies on decision-making, and integrate best practices in intelligence gathering and assessment into decision-making. Topics include high-stress decision-making, evidence-based decision- making, and ways to optimize the effectiveness of decision-making in public safety.

Communications for Public Safety Leaders

MSPS 620 | 3 Credits

Course Desc: A comprehensive examination of the advanced communication skills essential for effective leadership in public safety organizations. The objective is to evaluate and apply advanced communication strategies, analyze strategies for media relations, create effective communication strategies for community engagement and delivery of critical information, and develop effective crisis communication protocols. Topics include Interagency communication, conflict resolution, interpersonal communication, and communication of risks and threats.

Strategic Planning and Innovation

MSPS 630 | 3 Credits

Course Desc: An in-depth exploration of strategic planning frameworks and innovative practices within public safety organizations. The aim is to analyze fundamental principles of strategic planning; develop effective data management strategies; assess strategies to plan for risk, resiliency, and continuity; and construct strategies for innovation and continuous improvement. Topics include transparency and accountability, performance measures, ethics and legality, and innovation and collaboration.

Evidence-Based Policing

MSPS 650 | 3 Credits

Course Desc: An exploration of foundational principles and effective modern police practices, grounded in research and direct field experience. Topics include current profession philosophies/challenges; adaptation to evolving community needs; historical guidance; and modern practices for proactive, evidence-based policing engagement.

Legal Aspects of Law Enforcement Leadership

MSPS 652 | 3 Credits

Course Desc: A study of the legal challenges of law enforcement and current trends in command-level decision-making. Discussion explores the balance of community expectations, governmental strategy, and effective employment management for daily operations from a police perspective. Topics include police employment relations, community demand, and political expectations from the police perspective.

Law Enforcement Leadership Communication

MSPS 654 | 3 Credits

Course Desc: An examination of the communication techniques required to properly convey information to stakeholders throughout the criminal justice system. Topics include press releases for media partners, internal communication within law enforcement organizations, communication transparency to public inquiry, industry standards for multijurisdictional and political notification, and social media¿s impact on law enforcement.

Building Trust and Legitimacy

MSPS 660 | 3 Credits

Course Desc: An in-depth study of community relations and the improvement of public trust. Discussion covers evidence-based strategies to build and maintain legitimacy in the roles of public servants and law enforcement leaders. Topics include cultural competence and diversity awareness within the community, community engagement strategies, transparency and accountability in policing, and the construction of partnerships with community organizations.

Contemporary Law Enforcement Issues

MSPS 662 | 3 Credits

Course Desc: An examination of the ever-evolving challenges facing modern law enforcement agencies in today¿s rapidly changing environment. Discussion covers the historical context of policing and current issues confronted by law enforcement leaders in the 21st century. Topics include police/community relations, mental health and drug crisis intervention, police reform and accountability, emerging technologies and police practices, and evidence-based solutions to contemporary law enforcement problems.

Public Safety Leadership Capstone

MSPS 690 | 3 Credits

Course Desc: The application of key concepts in public safety leadership learned through previous study. Focus is on the integration of theoretical frameworks, practical applications of ethical leadership skills, and personal reflection on the challenges in the public safety field. Topics include executive leadership, the solution of ethical dilemmas, leadership principles, ethics in public safety, and challenges faced by the 21st-century public safety executive.