Public Safety Administration, BAS

The Bachelor of Applied Science in Public Safety Administration (BAS PSA) is designed to prepare individuals as 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 Highlights:

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

Career Opportunities:

The BAS PSA program prepares graduates for career promotions and advancement in the public safety industry to include law enforcement, fire services, corrections, emergency medical services, emergency administration management, and industrial security enterprises in both government and private sector agencies.

Admission Requirements:

1. Applicants must apply for admission and be accepted to Edison State College. Official transcripts from all previously attended colleges or universities must be sent directly to the Office of the Registrar.
2. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale in relevant transfer courses that apply toward the BAS degree.
3. Applicants must have earned:
   
   
   1. An Edison State College Associate in Science degree in Criminal Justice Technology, Emergency Medical Services Technology, Fire Science Technology, Paralegal Studies, or Crime Scene Technology awarded within the past 10 years, which includes 60 hours of transfer credit. Additional General Education requirements must be completed prior to graduation.
      
               OR
       
   2. An Associate in Arts degree, or 60 hours of transfer credit, which includes the completion of the Florida State General Education requirements. Such applicants must have 12 credit hours earned in the past 10 years 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. Combinations of the above content areas upon recommendation by the BAS Admissions Committee or approval by the appropriate academic Dean.
         
         OR
          
   3. An Associate in Arts or higher degree, or 60 hours of transfer credit, which includes the completion of the Florida State General Education requirements. Such applicants must have one of the following:
      
      
      1. Florida Fire Officer I certification
      2. Florida Paramedic licensure
      3. Florida Department of Law Enforcement Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission certification in law enforcement or corrections
      4. Demonstrated competencies in the field of Public Safety upon recommendation by the BAS Admissions Committee or approval by the Dean of Baccalaureate Programs.
          
4. Transfer students with an AS degree in Criminal Justice, Emergency Medical Services, Fire Science, Paralegal Studies or Crime Scene Technology from a regionally accredited college or university awarded within the past 10 years may be admitted following a review of transcripts, faculty credentials, and course descriptions. Any outstanding General Education coursework must be completed prior to being eligible for graduation. The College reserves the right to review all applicant transcripts and to require supplemental coursework to correct deficiencies, should they exist.
5. Applicants not meeting stated admissions criteria may petition for program admittance if they feel that there are mitigating circumstances. Applicants must submit an official petition form available in the Office of the Registrar.
6. While the BAS program is designed to articulate associate degrees, Edison State College freshman and sophomore students may declare their intent to enroll in the BAS program through the Edison State College Admissions Application.
7. Prior to enrollment in any upper division courses, applicants must successfully complete ENC 1101, ENC 1102, and three credit hours of college level mathematics.

Priority Application Deadlines: 

Fall term - August 1;   Spring term - December 1;   Summer term - April 1

The Edison State College Registrar’s Office will ensure that previous coursework meets all relevant academic standards before acceptance for transfer. The Dean of Baccalaureate Programs and the BAS Admissions Committee will ensure adherence to the above admissions criteria.

Students who have not fulfilled the State of Florida general education requirements must complete them. The general education requirements are waived for students who have an AA or Bachelor’s degree from a public Florida state university system (SUS) institution or  community/state college. General education requirements will not be waived for graduates from other states, regardless of the regional accreditation.