Public Safety Administration, BAS

Purpose

The Bachelor of Applied Science in Public Safety Administration (BAS PSAD) is designed to prepare individuals to be leaders and administrators in public safety related professions. Students enrolling in the program bring a variety of safety and security backgrounds to enrich the educational experience, including legal studies and law enforcement, corrections, fire science, and emergency medical services. The program provides a career and educational pathway for students who have earned an Associate in Science degree in a Public Safety discipline or an Associate in Arts with electives chosen from the Public Safety field.

Program Structure

The program is a planned sequence of instruction consisting of 120 credit hours in the following areas: 36 credit hours of General Education Requirements, Additional Lower Division Requirements, 39 credit hours of Upper Division Program Requirements, and Additional Program Requirements.

The BAS PSAD program includes courses in public administration, strategic planning, finance and budgeting, human resource management, and homeland security. Courses are offered online or in a blend of online and traditional formats, in an accelerated eight-week fashion, to accommodate students’ varying schedules and learning preferences.

Admission Requirements

1. Applicants must complete the Bachelor’s Degree admissions application online, pay the $30.00 application fee, and be accepted to Florida SouthWestern State College. Official transcripts from all previously attended colleges or universities must be sent directly to the Office of the Registrar.

 

Students are encouraged to apply for admission during the term in which they will complete their Associate degree program.

 

2. Applicants must have earned:
   1. Associate in Science degree in Criminal Justice Technology, Emergency Medical Services, Fire Science Technology, Paralegal Studies, or Crime Scene Technology (or a related public safety field) from any regionally accredited college or university, as defined by State Board of Education rule, with a minimum of 60 credit hours,
      
      OR
       
   2. Associate degree or higher from a regionally accredited college or university, which includes the completion of Florida State General Education Core Requirements. Students with a minimum of 60 hours, with all general education and prerequisite courses completed, may apply for admission. Such applicants must complete 12 credit hours in one of the following content areas:
      1. Criminal Justice
      2. Crime Scene Technology
      3. Paralegal Studies
      4. Fire Science
      5. Emergency Medical Services
      6. A combination of the above content areas upon recommendation by the BAS Admissions Committee or approval by the appropriate academic Dean.

OR
 

3. Associate degree or higher from a regionally accredited college or university, which includes the completion of Florida State of Florida General Education Core Requirements. Students with a minimum of 60 hours, with all general education and prerequisite courses completed, may apply for admission. Such applicants must have one of the following current certifications:
   1. Active national or state firefighter certification
   2. Active National Registry or Florida Emergency Medical Technician-Basic or Paramedic certification
   3. Active national or state eligible certification in law enforcement or corrections
   4. Previous certification which includes at least four years demonstrated work experience in one of the following:
      1. National or state firefighter certification
      2. National Registry or state firefighter certification
      3. National or state certification in law enforcement or corrections.

 

3. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.

 

Note: Applicants not meeting stated admission criteria may petition for program admittance if they feel there are mitigating circumstances. Applicants must submit an official petition form to the Office of Admissions.

Requirements to Enroll in Baccalaureate Courses

1. Upon admission to the BAS program, students must attend a required orientation session prior to enrollment in Upper Division (3000 and 4000 level) Program Requirements.
2. Students must complete ENC 1101 - Composition I , ENC 1102 - Composition II , and three credit hours of approved mathematics, all with a grade of “C “or higher, prior to enrollment in any Upper Division (3000 or 4000 level) Program Requirements. (Refer to the General Education Program Guide )
3. Students who are accepted under Admission Requirement 2.B. must complete 12 credit hours in a single Public Safety discipline, or a combination of courses as approved by the appropriate academic dean, within their first 12 credit hours of enrollment.
4. Cross-enrollment approval: Students must obtain prior approval to cross enroll (as a transient student) in courses intended to fulfill program requirements. Approval will be determined by the appropriate dean in collaboration with program faculty. Students initiate this process using Florida Virtual Campus: www.floridashines.org .
5. Students who have not fulfilled the State of Florida General Education Core requirements must complete them. Students who transfer to Florida SouthWestern State College with an Associate in Arts degree from a Florida College or a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution are considered to have met the General Education component of the degree. Students are permitted to complete remaining General Education courses while enrolled in the BAS program.  Students who have previously earned an Associate in Arts or a baccalaureate degree from a college or university outside the State of Florida will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis to determine which courses will meet the 36-hour General Education Requirements.  Students must have earned equivalent credit hours in each General Education category. 
6. Prior to enrollment in PAD 4878 - Public Safety Administration Capstone , students must have completed all General Education Requirements and other Upper Division Program Requirements. PAD 4878 must be completed through Florida SouthWestern State College and is not eligible for cross-enrollment. This course should be taken in the last semester of the program.

Graduation Requirements

1. Students must fulfill all specific degree requirements of the program to be eligible for graduation.
2. Students must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 120 credit hours as outlined in the Public Safety Administration, BS program of study.
3. To satisfy residency requirements, a minimum of 15 credit hours of Upper Division Program Requirements and a minimum of 30 total credit hours must be completed at Florida SouthWestern State College.
4. Students must earn a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
5. Students must earn a grade of “C” or better in all Upper Division (3000 or 4000 level) Program Requirements.
6. Students must complete the State of Florida General Education Core Requirements, including any assessment of General Education outcomes required by the College. Transfer courses will be reviewed for equivalency.  Students who transfer to Florida SouthWestern State College with an Associate in Arts degree from a Florida College or a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution are considered to have met the General Education component of the degree.
7. Students must complete the State Civic Literacy Competency Requirement which is met by achieving a passing score on the Florida Civic Literacy Exam and by successfully passing a civic literacy course.
8. Student must successfully complete 12 semester hours of coursework demonstrating college level writing skills with a grade of “C” or better in order to meet the Writing Intensive Requirement.  Six (6) credit hours must be taken in English Composition and six (6) credit hours must be taken in additional coursework that demonstrates college-level writing skills.
9. Students must satisfy the State Foreign Language Competency Requirement which is met by completing one of the following:

• 2 years of the same High School Foreign Language, or
• Documented foreign language proficiency through testing (for example, CLEP), or
• 2 semesters of the same College Level Foreign Language (Level II proficiency).

Note: Students who wish to participate in the Commencement Ceremony must indicate their intention to attend the Commencement Ceremony by completing the Commencement Application by the published deadline.

Course Prerequisites

Many courses require prerequisites. Check the description of each course in the list below for prerequisites, minimum grade requirements, and other restrictions.  Students must complete all prerequisites for a course prior to registering for it.