Doctorate in Public Safety (DPS)
Doctor of Science in Public Safety (DSPS)
Dean of the School of Education and Behavioral Sciences: Dr. David Biek
Chair of the Department of Psychology and Criminal Justice: Dr. Paul Gladden
Interim Graduate Program Coordinator, DSPS: Dr. John Hall
(478) 757-5748, office
(478) 471-2501, FAX Email: john.hall3@mga.edu
School of Education and Behavioral Sciences
Middle Georgia State University
100 University Parkway
Macon, Georgia 31206
Program Description (Doctor of Science in Public Safety)
The Doctor of Science in Public Safety is a graduate program that prepares individuals to serve as managers in the executive arm of local, state, and federal government and that focuses on the systematic study of executive organization and management. The program includes instruction in the roles, development, and principles of public administration; the management of public policy; executive-legislative relations; public budgetary processes and financial management; administrative law; public personnel management; professional ethics; and research methods. The Public Safety Doctoral Program is designed to serve current professionals within the field who have interest in advancing into leadership roles within their respective area. The proposed program fits well within both the vision and mission of MGA by offering a doctoral level practitioner focused program that enhances partnerships between research and practice in the public safety workforce. The program aims to merge the practice of public safety with the research capabilities of higher education to provide a holistic approach to in-service training (i.e., to working public safety professionals), with concentration being on those who are currently in, or plan to seek, administrative positions within their respective agency or area of experience and linking them with researchers who can guide program evaluation with the intent of improving public safety for all Georgians.
Program Format (Doctor of Science in Public Safety)
The Doctor of Science in Public Safety (DSPS) curriculum emphasizes the core concepts, theories, and practices of public safety management to provide a holistic approach to administrative education. The program includes coursework in management and leadership theories, human resource practices, cultural competency, and program evaluation with an emphasis on application of this knowledge within a public safety context. The DSPS program requires students to complete 54 hours of graduate coursework. All courses are offered online and students may complete the program on a full-time or part-time basis. Students choose from among two concentration tracks: Those who select the security and analytics track will learn the foundations of security systems theories and practices and will then apply those to specific analyses (i.e., geographical information systems or financial and fraud analysis). Alternately, students who select the emergency and disaster management track will focus on the application of resilience to public emergencies and disaster science within a public safety context. In the capstone course for the program, students will complete a field-based research project using the skills acquired through their previous coursework, including Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods Course. Projects will be focused on a real-world challenge faced in the student’s public safety agency and will include implementation and evaluation of a programmatic solution to that challenge.
Doctorate in Public Safety Curriculum
Students must complete all program requirements with a grade of "C" or better.
Core Courses (33 Credit Hours)
Complete each of the following courses.
Global Diversity Elective (3 Credit Hours)
Complete one of the following courses.
Concentration Track (9 Credit Hours)
Choose and complete one of the following concentration areas.
Security and Analytics Track
Security and Analytics Required Courses
Complete both courses.
Security and Analytics Track Elective
Complete one of the following.
Emergency and Disaster Management Track
Emergency and Disaster Management Track Required Courses
Complete both courses.
Emergency and Disaster Management Track Elective
Choose and complete one of the following.
Practicum (9 Credit Hours)
Complete both courses.