Public Safety

The Public Safety program is designed to meet the ongoing needs of municipalities, students, business, and industries. The program will develop your technical skills, general knowledge, critical thinking, and problem solving abilities. Broad-based technical skills and critical thinking processes will assist you in adapting to changes in the work environment and promoting successful advancement on the job.

Through your choice of electives, you can study:

Environmental Health and Safety: You will be prepared to work in state and local agencies, waste water facilities, private companies and labs where they often test samples in lab environments, monitor air and water quality and advise on nature conservation strategies, site management, species protection, development, and pest control.

Fire Science: You will be prepared to work in public and industrial fire departments and at airports and fire protection agencies where they often respond to and put out fires, operate emergency equipment and investigate fires.

Homeland Security and Emergency Management: You will be prepared to work as first responders, firefighters, military personnel, corrections and law enforcement professionals, emergency managers, as well as corporate and government workers.

Public Administration: You will be prepared to work in local, city and state government agencies where you might support city managers or other public administrators.

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SAMPLE CAREERS IN THIS FIELD
Public Safety Specialist, Firefighter, Environmental Safety Specialist, Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, First Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers

DEGREES AVAILABLE
Associate of Applied Science, Technical Certificate, and short- term Certificate. NOTE: The number of credits required for a degree or certification is based on students who are program-ready and does not include non-academic skills courses. Availability of degrees varies by campus. Contact your campus of interest below for more information.

PUBLIC SAFETY CERTIFICATES

Short-term certificates are sequences of technical and professional courses that are industry focused and designed for workforce preparation. They provide access to targeted, short-term training in a discipline, and completers may sit for specific certification exams. Courses in certificate programs also apply toward technical certificates and associate degree programs in the subject area.

Certificates currently offered in this field are:

Driver/Operator (18 credits)
Completion of the Public Safety - Driver/Operator Certificate leads to taking the National Fire Protection Association Driver/Operator Exam, Indiana Department of Homeland Security First Responder Certification Exam, Fire Officer Strategy and Tactics Exam, and/or employment in a fire science profession, and/or completion of an associate degree. Program and Employment Information

Fire Prevention and Investigation (18 credits)
Completion of the Public Safety - Fire Prevention and Investigation Certificate leads to taking the National Fire Protection Association Inspector I & Inspector II, the National Fire Protection Association Investigator I, the National Fire Protection Association Officer I & Officer II Certification Exams, employment in an arson, insurance adjuster, fire investigator or other fire science professions, and/or completion of an associate degree. Program and Employment Information

Fire Service Administration (18 credits)
Completion of the Public Safety - Fire Service Administration Certificate leads to taking a National Fire Protection Association Fire Officer I and Fire Officer II Certification Exams, employment in a fire science profession, and/or completion of an associate degree. Program and Employment Information

Hazardous Materials (19 credits)
Completion of the Public Safety - Hazardous Materials Certificate leads to taking the National Fire Protection Association Awareness, Operations and/or Technician Certification Exams, employment in a public safety related profession, and/or completion of an associate degree. Program and Employment Information

TECHNICAL CERTIFICATE IN PUBLIC SAFETY
(Minimum of 31 credit hours)

The Technical Certificate in Public Safety can be earned on the way to acquiring the Associate of Applied Science degree. Many available jobs require advanced education beyond the high school diploma. Technical Certificate programs provide education in conceptual and technical skills for specific occupations. The program content is designed to develop competency in the comprehension of general and technical skills. Certificate programs require mastery of basic reading, writing, mathematical and quantitative skills. Program and Employment Information

ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE IN PUBLIC SAFETY
(Minimum of 60 credit hours)

Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree programs are two-year programs that prepare students for careers, career changes and career advancement. Students who need to take longer to complete the degree because of job or family obligations can take the program over a longer period of time. AAS programs may also prepare students for transfer to four-year institutions. These programs offer education in recognized technical areas and specialties with emphasis on analysis, synthesis and evaluation. The program content, which is approximately 30% general education and 70% professional/technical, provides depth and breadth in conceptual and professional/technical skills. The general education courses equip students with the problem solving, communications, scientific and mathematical skills to compete successfully in the job market. Professional/technical courses equip students with the skills to obtain employment and to advance in the workforce.