Earn Your Master's in Public Safety Management Online!

Graduates of the MS in Public Safety Management program pursue roles across public safety, emergency management, fire services, EMS, criminal justice, and homeland security. 

Local labor‐market data from North Carolina illustrate the strong demand for these positions and the economic value of leadership level credentials:

• Fire Chief: In North Carolina, average salaries range from approximately $96,000 to more than $130,000 annually, with metropolitan postings approaching ~$111,000/year.
• Emergency Management Specialist/Coordinator: Regional average in NC is about $76,600/year, with some postings up to ~$85,000 or more depending on experience and location.
• Homeland Security Professional: In the state, the average salary for “Homeland Security” roles is ~$86,400/year, with major cities seeing averages near ~$92,900/year and ranges extending higher.
• Safety Coordinator / Corporate Public Safety Role: In NC, average base salary is ~$63,600/year with a typical range from ~$47,600 to ~$84,800/year.
• Public Safety Coordinator (Municipal/Agency‐Level): Raleigh region data show salaries ranging from ~$37,000 up to ~$156,000, with an average around ~$68,300/year.

 

Advanced Pathways

• Entry/Practitioner roles (Coordinator, Specialist) often begin in the $60,000-$80,000/year range.
• Mid-management roles (Area Coordinator, Program Manager) tend toward the $80,000-$100,000/year range.
• Senior leadership roles (Chief, Director) frequently exceed $100,000/year, with high- end roles in large municipalities or agencies reaching above $130,000/year.

The MS in Public Safety Management at Brevard College delivers immersive graduate experience for professionals in emergency management, fire services, EMS, law enforcement, community corrections, and homeland security. Through hands-on simulations, real-world scenarios, and collaborative exercises, you will build the leadership and critical thinking skills needed to navigate complex crises. A signature feature is the Summer Experiential Crisis Event, where you will manage realistic emergencies alongside peers and local agency partners from multiple public safety disciplines.

The curriculum emphasizes policy development, program evaluation, and research integration.

You will design and analyze public policies, assess the effectiveness of emergency services programs, and apply data-informed strategies to disaster preparedness, hazard mitigation, and recovery planning. Leadership workshops and ethical decision-making case studies prepare you to lead with integrity in high pressure environments.

Learning occurs in a supportive cohort model. You will collaborate with experienced professionals across public safety fields, strengthen your network, and learn from faculty with practitioner expertise. The program culminates in an applied capstone project addressing a real-world challenge and a reflection course that translates your experience into actionable policies and leadership strategies. With online coursework and three immersive on-campus sessions, the program is tailored for working professionals ready to advance their careers.

Program Features

• Experiential learning: Hands-on simulations and applied exercises, including three required on-campus sessions: Orientation and leadership weekend, the Summer Experiential Crisis Event, and final capstone presentations.
• Interdisciplinary scope: Content relevant to emergency management, fire services,EMS, law enforcement, community corrections, and homeland security.
• Leadership development: Strategic decision making, ethical leadership, crisis communication, and team management built through workshops and case studies.
• Policy and program evaluation: Design, assess, and improve public safety policies and programs using evidence-based methods.
• Data-informed practice: Integrate current research and analytics to guide preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery.
• Cohort model: Learn with peers from diverse agencies and build a professional network across disciplines.
• Capstone readiness: Culminating capstone project addressing a real agency need, presented on campus to faculty and partner organizations.
• Flexible schedule: Online coursework paired with three immersive on-campus events throughout the year.

Program Schedule and Curriculum

The fixed curriculum consists of 10 core courses delivered in a strategic sequence:

1. PSM 501: Leadership in Public Safety and Emergency Services (3)
2. PSM 510: Crisis Communication and Media Strategies (3)
3. PSM 520: Disaster and Crime Scene Management (3)
4. PSM 540: Homeland Security, Threat Assessment, and Policy (3)
5. PSM 550: Program Evaluation in Emergency and Public Safety Services (3)
6. PSM 560: Ethics and Leadership in Crisis Situations (3)
7. PSM 570: Resilience and Stress Management for First Responders (3)
8. PSM 580: Emergency Operations: Tactical and Strategic Approaches (3)

The Summer Experiential Crisis Event integrates the skills and knowledge developed in previous courses and will take place in the PSM 580 course. Students apply leadership, communication, and operational strategies in a realistic, large scale emergency simulation on Campus. We could also offer undergraduate students a possible LINC course or special topics course over the summer to work with the graduate program students.

9. PSM 600: Reflection and Policy Development (3)
10. PSM 610: Capstone Project in Emergency and Public Safety Services (3)

Curriculum

The fixed curriculum consists of 10 core courses delivered in a strategic sequence to align with experiential events, policy evaluation, and leadership development.

Core Courses (30 Credits)

1. PSM 501: Leadership in Public Safety and Emergency Services (3)

Focus on experiential leadership training and crisis management strategies. (July/August)

This course introduces foundational leadership principles tailored to public safety and emergency services. Students will engage in workshops and case studies to develop strategic decision-making and team leadership skills.

2. PSM 510: Crisis Communication and Media Strategies (3) Interactive case studies on effective communication during public safety crises.

Students learn the principles of crisis communication, media relations, and public messaging. Role-playing and real-world scenarios emphasize clear and ethical communication in high-pressure situations

3. PSM 520: Disaster and Crime Scene Management (3)

Hands-on exercises in coordinating disaster response and managing complex crime scenes.

This course explores best practices in managing large-scale incidents, combining disaster response protocols with crime scene management techniques through  experiential exercises

4. PSM 540: Homeland Security, Threat Assessment, and Policy (3)

Simulated scenarios to develop and evaluate security strategies.

Students assess threats related to homeland security, including terrorism and cybercrime. Policy-focused simulations allow students to design and critique security strategies.

5. PSM 550: Program Evaluation in Emergency and Public Safety Services (3)

Training in tools and techniques for evaluating policies and programs.

Students learn methodologies for assessing the effectiveness of programs and policies. This course integrates quantitative and qualitative tools to ensure accountability and improvement in emergency services.

6. PSM 560: Ethics and Leadership in Crisis Situations (3)

Case studies and simulations emphasizing ethical decision-making.

Focused on the ethical challenges of crisis leadership, this course uses case studies and role-playing to develop integrity-driven decision-making skills.

7. PSM 570: Resilience and Stress Management for First Responders (3)

Strategies for building resilience and supporting emergency personnel.

Students explore techniques to enhance resilience among emergency personnel.

Topics include stress management, mental health strategies, and building supportive organizational cultures.

8. PSM 580: Emergency Operations: Tactical and Strategic Approaches (3)

Field-based exercises preparing students for emergency operations. This course will include the on-campus Experiential Crisis Event.

This course prepares students for managing tactical and strategic operations during emergencies. It emphasizes collaboration, resource allocation, and decision-making under pressure.

9. PSM 600: Reflection and Policy Development (3)

Synthesizes program learning into actionable policy recommendations and leadership strategies through guided reflection, structured analysis, and stakeholder-focused writing.

Students produce a professional policy brief or implementation plan connected to their agency or community and articulate how their leadership approach has evolved across the program.

10. PSM 610: Capstone Project in Emergency and Public Safety Services (3)

Culminating, comprehensive project integrates evaluation methods, operational strategy ethics, and policy analysis to address a real-world public safety challenge.

Students complete a capstone project addressing a real-world issue in public safety. Projects focus on policy evaluation, program assessment, and leadership strategies, in an on-campus formal presentations.

.   

1. Completed application for admission.
2. Completion of a B.A. or B.S. degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
3. Minimum undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0.

In some cases, the Admissions Office can offer conditional admission to students who fall below this criteria. Students conditionally admitted must maintain a 3.0 GPA in their first two semesters of graduate study.

Total Tuition for the program is $15,000.

Payment Options

• $1,500 per class as you go,
• payment plan options

Note on Textbooks: We are focused on quality and affordability in this program. We want up to date current content delivered by our faculty. As a result, most of the textbooks used in the MBA program are open source textbooks.

Open source textbooks offer numerous benefits to students and educators.
They are freely available, reducing financial burdens on students. They can be customized and updated ensuring relevant and up-to-date content. They promote collaboration and knowledge sharing, fostering a sense of community and empowering learners. Open source textbooks promote accessibility, equity, and inclusivity in education.