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Graduate Studies

Public Safety Administration
2024-2025

Admission | Courses | Program | Requirements | Certificate | Integrated Program | Profile

Director:听 Jill J. Myers
Graduate Committee Chairperson: Patricia A. Walton
Office:听 Stipes Hall 403
Telephone: (309) 298-1038 Fax: (309) 298-2187
Website:听 wiu.edu/leja
Location of Program Offering: Macomb, Quad Cities, Online

Graduate Faculty

Professors

  • Jamie L. Johnson, Ph.D., Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
  • Todd Lough, Ph.D., Loyola University
  • Barry S. McCrary, Ed.D., Duquesne University
  • Bonny Mhlanga, Ph.D., University of Surrey
  • Jill Joline Myers, J.D., University of Baltimore School of Law
  • John Schafer, Ph.D., The Fielding Institute

Associate Professors

  • C. Suzanne Bailey, J.D., The Thomas M. Cooley Law School
  • Niyazi Ekici, Ph.D., Rutgers University-Camden

Associate Graduate Faculty

Professors

  • Dean C. Alexander, L.L.M., Georgetown University
  • Vladimir A. Sergevnin, Ph.D., Moscow Institute of National Economy

Associate Professors

  • Christopher Bitner, DPA, University of Illinois-Springfield
  • Thomas Meloni, Ph.D., Northern Illinois University

Assistant Professors

  • Benjamin Brewer, M.B.A., University of Phoenix
  • Glenn Daugherty, Ed.D., University of Phoenix
  • Joseph Henning, M.S., Benedictine University
  • Robert Kelly, J.D., Widener University
  • Troy Stinson, Ph.D., Capella University
  • Patricia Walton, J.D., Valparaiso University
  • David Young, J.D., University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign

Learning Outcomes

For student learning outcomes, please see wiu.edu/provost/learningoutcomes.

听Program Description

The School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration offers a Master of Arts in Public Safety Administration. The public safety administration (PSA) graduate program is internationally known for academic excellence. It provides students with a rich blend of theoretical, administrative, and practical knowledge as well as research skills. Those who have earned the degree occupy positions of leadership across the United States and in several foreign countries.

The program is designed to provide a balanced, interdisciplinary course of study for those currently employed in criminal justice and related fields, as well as for those wishing to pursue careers in these fields of academia. Courses provide students with current information in the areas of administrative/organizational behavior; law; research and quantitative skills; and specialized areas such as policing, emergency management, fire administration, social justice, corrections, security, and multiculturalism/diversity in criminal justice.

Graduates of the program are educationally well-rounded students who possess the skills needed to manage and lead in the increasingly complex field of criminal justice. Additionally, students are academically prepared to pursue advanced degrees in respected doctoral programs.

听Integrated Baccalaureate and Master鈥檚 Degree Programs

Please refer to the integrated programs for details and program offerings.

听Admission Requirements

  • A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 OR 3.0 or higher GPA for the last two years (60 s.h.) of undergraduate work

  • Applicants with a GPA below 3.0 would be considered for probationary admission if their prior professional training and work experience indicate their undergraduate GPA is an inaccurate reflection of their academic abilities

  • Current resume/vita

  • A personal statement of 1000-1500 words in length emphasizing academic, nonacademic, and employment experiences relevant to the degree

Only those files completed with all required documents listed above will be forwarded to the school鈥檚 graduate committee for consideration for admission into the program. All documents should be sent to (and any contact regarding status of receipt of those documents should be directed to) the School of Graduate Studies.

Undergraduate work should include 18 semester hours in criminal justice, law enforcement, or closely related areas. Students may not enroll in LEJA graduate courses unless admitted to the LEJA degree program or unless they receive special permission from the LEJA graduate coordinator or school鈥檚 director. Undergraduate courses in statistics or research methods are required or waived.

听Degree Requirements

The Master of Arts degree in Public Safety Administration may be earned by satisfying requirements of either the Thesis or Non鈥慣hesis Plan of study.

I. Core Courses: 15 s.h.

LEJA 500 Advanced Quantitative Techniques in Public Safety (3)

LEJA 501 Theory in Criminal Justice (3)
or
FS 481G Fire and Emergency Administration (3)

LEJA 502 Management Issues in Public Safety Administration (3)
LEJA 503 Research Methodology in Public Safety (3)
LEJA 504 Civil and Criminal Liability (3)

II. Select one of the following plans:

A. Thesis: 18 s.h.

LEJA 600 Thesis Research (3)
LEJA 601 Thesis (3)
Electives in one of the following departments (12):
educational administration, law enforcement and justice administration, management sciences, political science, psychology, or sociology; or in any other department with approval of the LEJA Graduate Committee and Chair. Courses should be geared toward career objectives.

A final oral presentation and defense of the thesis.

Thesis proposal must be approved before research is undertaken.

TOTAL PROGRAM: 33 s.h.

B. Non鈥慣hesis: 24 s.h.

LEJA 518 Comprehensive Seminar in Law Enforcement and Justice Administration (3)
or
*FS 519 Comprehensive Seminar in Public Safety (3)

Electives in one of the following departments (21)**:
educational leadership, law enforcement and justice administration, management sciences, political science, psychology, or sociology; or in any other department with approval of the LEJA Graduate Committee and Chair. Courses should be geared toward career objectives.

*Only if FS 481G was taken as a core course

**No more than 12 s.h. of electives may come from departments outside of LEJA.

TOTAL PROGRAM: 39 s.h.

In either option, no more than 9 semester hours of 400G level courses will be counted toward fulfillment of the degree requirements without permission of the LEJA Graduate Committee.

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program

The School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration offers post-baccalaureate certificates in Community Engagement and Public Safety Leadership, Emergency Management, and Police Executive Administration. For program details, go to the post-baccalaureate certificates page.

听Course Descriptions

Emergency Management (EM)

460G Weapons of Mass Destruction in Public Health. (3) Provides an overview of weapons of mass destruction from the public health and emergency management perspectives. Examination of various forms of weapons of mass destruction and discussion of primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention practices facing future professionals are included. Prerequisites: CHEM 101 and EM 304.

521 Search and Rescue. (3) Overview of basic and advance principles of search and rescue techniques. Discusses team development, search primers, signaling, tracking skills, plan development for emergency management and first responders. The course covers SAR protocols for land, wilderness, urban and water operations. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

522 Advanced Mitigation and Community Recovery Techniques. (3) Overview of the basic and advance principles of community mitigation and recovery techniques for businesses, organizations, hospitals, and communities after manmade and natural disasters. This course focuses on first responders preparedness and mitigation principles and adaption strategies. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

561 Foundations of Emergency Management. (3) Provides an overview of emergency management and disaster sciences for application in public health, education, health care, and other settings. Topics will include basic emergency management concepts, the four phases of the disaster cycle, specific operational and policy frameworks for disaster management, roles of public health, schools and health care in disaster, and special topics in health and emergency management.

565 Evacuation Planning and Response. (3) Focuses on emergency evacuation issues resulting from natural disasters and human intentional injuries. Students will learn to develop proper evacuation techniques for a wide range of areas, such as public schools, colleges and universities, as well as private buildings, and governmental institutions.

Fire Science (FS)

481G Fire and Emergency Administration. (3) Organization and management of fire services, including new technologies and changing organizational structures. Blending personnel and equipment. Municipal fire protection planning. Fire department functions. Manpower and training. Prerequisite: FS 210, or permission of instructor/chairperson, or acceptance into National fire Academy Certificate Program. Permission of instructor is required for all online sections of this course.

488G (cross-listed with PSY 488G) Fire-Related Human Behavior. (3) Considers fire related human behavior in general, including fire detection, suppression action, and evacuation behavior. Also considers fire-setting behavior, fire-prevention education, and eyewitness processes. Prerequisites: FS 210 or permission of instructor/chairperson.

519 Comprehensive Seminar in Fire Protection. (3) A capstone course intended to reinforce the analysis of theories and models as they pertain to public safety administration. Emphasis on current trends research, analytics and civil liability. Prerequisites: FS 481G, LEJA 500, 502, 503, and 504 or by permission of the LEJA Graduate Coordinator or School Director.

Law Enforcement and Justice Administration (LEJA)

414G Legal Aspects of Homeland Security and Terrorism. (3) This course covers the legal aspects of terrorism and homeland security including domestic, foreign, and international legislation and cases. Other civil and criminal legal matters and public policy relating to terrorism/homeland security will be addressed. Prerequisites: LEJA 231 or permission of the instructor.

416G Terrorism and Law Enforcement. (3) Discusses law enforcement risks and responses in relation to terrorist activities. Counterterrorism policing theories and U.S. law enforcement experiences with terrorism are addressed. Law enforcement experiences overseas are shared. Case studies in this realm are analyzed. Prerequisites: LEJA 230 or permission of the instructor.

431G Organized Crime. (3) Historical and contemporary review of organized criminal groups with emphasis on structure and range of activities. Analysis of laws and successful investigations and prosecutions of organized crime figures and families. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor/chairperson.

500 Advanced Quantitative Techniques in Public Safety. (3) A consideration of advanced statistical methods and computer techniques that are applicable to public safety. Particular attention will be given to multivariate analysis. Prerequisite: LEJA 303 or equivalent undergraduate statistics course, or permission of the instructor/School Director.

501 Theory in Criminal Justice. (3) Analysis and comparison of various theories and models, with emphasis on the understanding of theoretical principles as they influence issues in criminal justice.

502 Management Issues in Public Safety Administration. (3) Focus on the public safety agency from the standpoint of top and middle management, including (but not limited to) labor relations, personnel management, fiscal administration, and the integration of internal and external operations. Prerequisite: LEJA 501 or FS 481G or permission of the instructor/department chair.

503 Research Methodology in Public Safety. (3) Critical examination of current research in public safety with regard to methodological adequacy, significance and importance; problems in the design and execution of public safety research. Prerequisite: An undergraduate course in statistics or methods, or permission of the instructor/School Director.

504 Civil and Criminal Liability. (3) The study of public safety administration policy and practice as impacted by principles of civil and criminal responsibility. Prerequisite: Six hours of undergraduate law courses or permission of the instructor/School Director.

505 Independent Study. (1鈥�3, repeatable to 6 under different topics) Special topics selected in consultation with a member of the graduate faculty. Prerequisites: Twelve graduate credits and permission of the instructor/School Director.

506 Police: Theory and Practice. (3) An examination of theoretical and philosophical bases of the police and the ways in which theory and philosophy are translated into practice. Analysis of problems arising as a result of the translation, theory and/or philosophy. Prerequisite: LEJA 501 or permission of the instructor/School Director.

507 Courts: Theory and Practice. (3) An in鈥慸epth examination of current and key issues in courts, with emphasis on those which affect adjudicatory administration. Prerequisite: LEJA 501 or permission of the instructor/School Director.

508 Corrections: Theory and Practice. (3) Course focuses on major administrative, inmate, and societal issues. Examines historical, philosophical, and legal issues related to corrections. The course discusses correctional objectives and principles in the context of prevailing practices. Prerequisite: LEJA 501 or permission of the instructor/School Director.

509 Security: Theory and Practice. (3) Intensive analysis of the operative principles underlying security and loss prevention procedures in business and industry. Case studies and projects will integrate security management theory with the solution of practical security problems involving computer security, executive personnel protection, transportation systems, bank security, and the protection of proprietary information. Prerequisite: LEJA 501 or permission of the instructor/School Director.

510 Public Personnel Law. (3) The study of the law and policy of public sector collective bargaining, employment discrimination and employee/employer rights and responsibilities within a public safety context. Prerequisite: LEJA 501 or 502 or permission of the instructor/School Director.

511 Diversity in Public Safety. (3) This course examines the relationship between public safety personnel and the minority citizens they are to serve. Community relations are discussed as the basis for successful programs, as well as attracting and hiring minority public safety employees. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

512 Ethics in Public Safety. (3) This course focuses on a variety of ethical/moral issues confronting public safety practitioners. Ethical choices, their consequences, and the relationships among law, morality, and ethics are discussed. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor/School Director.

513 Public Policy Issues in Criminal Justice. (3) This course addresses the development and impact of public policy with respect to specific criminal justice and security matters facing the American society. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

514 Executive Management Seminar. (3) The Executive Management Seminar is designed to meet the needs and challenges of top-level public safety personnel. Topics of instruction include a variety of traditional management subjects as they relate to the management of public safety agencies. Prerequisite: Prior management courses or relevant experience, or permission of the instructor/School Director.

515 Terrorists鈥� Use of the Internet. (3) This course provides insights into how terrorists use the Internet and social media to recruit new members, propagate their ideologies, communicate with each other, fund operations, and prepare for future attacks. Law enforcement responses to this threat are addressed. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

516 Hate Crime Investigations and Prosecutions. (3) This course provides insights into investigating and prosecuting hate crimes in the United States and abroad. Also, a discussion of hate groups and police tactics in combating hate groups and hate crimes are addressed. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

518 Comprehensive Seminar in Law Enforcement and Justice Administration. (3) A capstone course (part of the non-thesis 39 semester hour option) intended to reinforce the analysis and comparison of various theories and models as they pertain to criminal justice issues in a dynamic society. Emphasis is on critical examination of current trends and research in criminal justice as well as design and implementation of criminal justice research. The course is developed to meet the needs and challenges of criminal justice administrators. Prerequisites: LEJA 500, 501, 502, 503, and 504 (must have all core courses completed), or by permission of the LEJA Graduate Coordinator or School Director.

520 Restorative Justice: Principles, Practices, and Implementation. (3) This course reviews the evolution and development of what has come to be known as Restorative Justice. The learning experience will address a variety of topics including restorative justice principles, community engagement, victim issues, and restorative practices and change. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

598 Seminar in Social and Legal Problems. (3, repeatable to 9 with different topics) A seminar in administrative, social and legal problems in public safety. Prerequisite: Nine graduate credits or permission of the instructor.

600 Thesis Research. (3) Prerequisites: LEJA 500, 501, 502, 503, and 504 (must have all core courses completed), or by permission of the LEJA Graduate Coordinator or School Director.

601 Thesis. (3) Prerequisites: LEJA 500, 501, 502, 503, and 504 (must have all courses completed), or by permission of the LEJA Graduate Coordinator or School Director.