Public Safety (MS)
Competency-Based
Build Safer Communities
This program helps professionals in law enforcement, emergency management, homeland security and related fields strengthen their leadership, handle crises with confidence and gain a deeper understanding of public safety practices and policies.
- Location and delivery information coming soon.
- 1 Year
- 30 credit hours
- Non-thesis
The M.S. in Public Safety at East Texas A&M University offers advanced study in emergency management, crisis response and public safety leadership with opportunities to explore critical infrastructure areas. Coursework emphasizes the theories, strategies and analytical approaches used across government, healthcare and public safety organizations.
Our competency-based format allows you to earn your degree online at your own pace.
What Are My Job Opportunities?
With an M.S. in Public Safety, graduates often work in roles that focus on leadership, planning, and strategy within emergency and security fields.
Careers and Salaries
Current Median Salaries from US DOL Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024
Program Details
Our program is designed to help you with expertise in emergency management, crisis response, public safety leadership, management, and policy.
What Will I Learn?
You will have the opportunity to gain experience in a number of key areas.
Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving
Students will demonstrate the ability to critically analyze complex public safety issues, identify root causes and develop innovative solutions that promote safety, security, and community well-being.
Leadership and Management
Students will acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to lead and manage public safety organizations effectively, including strategic planning, decision-making, resource allocation and personnel management.
Policy Analysis and Development
Students will be able to analyze existing public safety policies, identify gaps and inconsistencies, and develop evidence-based policy recommendations to address contemporary challenges.
Research and Data Analysis:
Students will demonstrate the ability to conduct rigorous research, analyze data and interpret findings to inform evidence-based decision-making in public safety.
Taking Classes
Our flexible programs are designed for current educators and working professionals.
Designed for your life
Whether you’re a full-time student or a working professional, our competency-based programs are structured to fit your schedule. You can progress through the program at your own pace, choosing from flexible online courses that allow you to learn wherever you are.
Our fully online master's program provides the convenience of studying from home using Brightspace, an intuitive online learning platform. Engage with interactive courses, lively discussions and cutting-edge content while managing your work and life commitments.
Curriculum
Our master's in public safety offers two specialized areas.
Disaster Preparedness Emphasis
This emphasis is designed for emergency managers, first responders, public health professionals, and community leaders seeking to enhance their skills in disaster prevention, response, and recovery. With a focus on both natural and man-made disasters, the program equips students with the knowledge and tools to effectively manage various emergency scenarios. Students will be prepared to lead disaster preparedness initiatives, coordinate emergency responses, and implement recovery strategies in their communities or organizations.
Corporate Training and Development Emphasis
This emphasis is designed for professionals seeking to excel in the dynamic field of organizational learning and employee development. Students will gain practical skills in needs assessment, curriculum development, and training evaluation, preparing them to drive organizational growth through strategic learning initiatives. The coursework provides a comprehensive overview of the field while offering practical, applicable skills for corporate training professionals.
Finding My Community
We believe that education thrives in an environment where collaboration, support and mutual respect flourish. Our community of students and professors embodies these values, creating an enriching and dynamic atmosphere for learning and growth. Our students come from a variety of backgrounds and bring a wide range of experiences and perspectives to the table. Our professors are not only experts in their respective fields but also dedicated mentors who are committed to guiding and nurturing the next generation of scholars.
Deena Besson
Faculty
Beth Bailey, Ph.D.
Faculty
George Swindell
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Program Costs
Earning a degree is more affordable than ever. Our competency-based graduate programs offer quality education at an affordable price. These rates include all required course materials.
| Residency Status | Tuition Per Term |
|---|---|
In-State (Texas resident) | $2,000 |
Out of state (e.g., Florida) | $3,000 |
Employee Scholarship | $300 |
- Tuition exemption limited to state residents
- Students can only receive ONE exemption (example: you cannot stack senior citizen and active-duty law enforcement exemptions.)
Financing My Future
Financial Aid
Financial aid includes scholarships, loans, and federal and state grants designed to help make your degree more affordable. Explore your eligibility for financial aid and scholarships, and discover how fixed tuition rates for our competency-based programs can help bring higher education within reach.
How Do I Get Started?
If you have not already done so, complete the Request Information form. You will be connected with your enrollment specialist, who can answer your questions. When you’re ready, go ahead and follow the steps below to apply.
Admissions Requirements
To be considered for admission, you must first meet the following criteria.
- GPA minimum 3.0
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
Admission Process
- Create an ApplyTexas account or login if you already have one
- Complete your profile section first once you log into your account
- Select “School Search” and select East Texas A&M
- Choose the semester you wish to begin
- Select “Public Safety, MS” as your “Program.”
- Pay the $50 application fee.
Wait to receive an application confirmation email before proceeding to the next step.
- Within two business days of your application, the Graduate School will send a confirmation email to the personal email account you used for ApplyTexas.
Submit the following documents after you receive an application confirmation email.
- Upload your documents at myLeo > Apps > Check Admissions Application Status & Test Scores or email your documents to your graduate coordinator unless otherwise specified below.
Your Graduate Coordinator
Domestic Transcripts
Contact your previous institution(s) and request that they send your official transcripts to your Graduate Student Services Coordinator. We accept transcripts officially via email (directly from the institution), through Parchment, and any other official transcript providing agency. If your university does not offer an electronic transcript service, you may request them to be sent via regular mail to:
East Texas A&M University
Attn: Graduate School
2600 S. Neal St.
Commerce, Texas 75428
If your degree is from East Texas A&M University, you do not have to order a transcript. We will access your transcript.
If we already have your transcript, we will reuse it for a new application as long as it is still on file.
International transcripts
WES ICAP evaluations will be required for certain countries; those are listed below:
- Transcripts/Degrees from universities in Nigeria
- Transcripts/Degrees from universities in China that do not come from CSSD (formerly CHESICC)
- Any country where the official transcript is not in English
For all other countries, an evaluation is not initially required. Original official transcripts are required for admission consideration.
Please know that upon receipt of your official transcript, the Graduate School reserves the right to require an external evaluation at that time.
Contact your previous institution(s) and request that they send your official transcripts to:
East Texas A&M University
Attn: Graduate School
2600 S. Neal St.
Commerce, Texas 75428
We will need official/original documents.
If those documents are the only copies you have, the Graduate School can mail them back to you upon request. Contact your graduate coordinator for more information.
Describe your preparation for graduate work and your academic interests and goals in no more than 500 words.
Submit a resume or curriculum vitae (CV) which includes your academic and professional history and achievements.
Look for application updates in myLeo > Apps > Check Application Status
- Once an admission decision has been made, you will receive an email to your student email account at myLeo > Apps > Leomail.
- Apply for scholarships and graduate assistantships once you are admitted.
- Apply for financial aid by submitting a FAFSA and sending it to school code 003565.
- Contact your financial aid advisor with any questions.
Once registration opens and you are eligible to enroll, your graduate enrollment specialist will contact you to complete registration.
- View your degree plan in DegreeWorks.
- To register for classes, go to myLeo > Student Resources > Registration Menu.
Contact your graduate enrollment specialist if you have any questions regarding your degree plan and registration.
Your Graduate Enrollment Specialist
I Still Have Questions
We are here to help! Send us an email. We can answer your questions and assist you in the application process.
Contact the Department
- College of Innovation and Design
- 214.954.3615
- [email protected]
- P.O. Box 3011
- Commerce, TX 75429-3011