Public Safety Management Courses | 2025-2026 Academic Catalog | SIU

Credit granted for documented and relevant occupational licensure, certifications, continuing professional education, and similar demonstrable training. Students may not receive both academic credit from an educational institution and training credit for occupational training, certification, or licensure for the same activity. Work will be evaluated and credit determined by the Program Coordinator and/or the School Director. Maximum of 30 credit hours toward degree. Graded on a credit/no credit basis.

Credit Hours: 1-30

An introduction to library resources, electronic media resources and formal academic writing styles common to public safety management research. Introduction to basic theories, concepts and practices pertinent to public safety management. May be independent study. Restricted to Public Safety Management major.

Credit Hours: 3

This course examines the basic principles of ethics as related to public safety operations with special attention given to current issues affecting the sector. Major topics include morals, ethics, and the examination of their interaction in the public sphere.

Credit Hours: 3

This course is for students interested in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) education. This course introduces the EMS professional to the education system as it relates to EMS education. Students explore issues in curriculum development, teaching, program direction, and development. Restricted to PSM major or consent of program coordinator.

Credit Hours: 3

This course provides students with a deeper understanding of self as it relates to leadership philosophies, knowledge, skills, and abilities. Each student will explore their core values, ethics, and decision making to cultivate a personal philosophy of leadership. Through course presentations, dialogue, and learning activities, the participant will focus on leadership functions in the community including self, family, professional, and social roles.

Credit Hours: 3

This course is for students interested in public information and community relations in Emergency Services. This course introduces the public safety professional to benefits of community information and community relations. Students explore issues in marketing, crafting the message, identifying the audience, developing programs, and creating press releases. Restricted to PSM major or consent of program coordinator.

Credit Hours: 3

(Same as TRM 316) The course will increase the student's ability in communicating various workplace documents common to technical disciplines. Prerequisite: ENGL 101 with a grade of C or better. Restricted to PSM major or consent of program coordinator.

Credit Hours: 3

The course examines the distinctive economic situations faced in the public safety sector, of which labor management problems represent a subset. Students will deepen their understanding of labor relations in the United States and learn how the interactions of labor and management differ throughout the world. This course also introduces the student to negotiating techniques applied in public safety to deepen their understanding of such dealings.

Credit Hours: 3

An in-depth study of electronic media, and the use of bibliographic materials to produce a written research report. Study of topics selected from current events and trends in public safety management. Examples include recruiting and retention, managing through fiscal crisis, substance use prevention, stress management, and global health and environmental health. Restricted to Public Safety Management major.

Credit Hours: 3

This course surveys relationships and issues in personnel administration and human resource development with unified content that spans all public safety professions including collective bargaining, productivity, recruitment, retention, performance management, discipline, and organizational development.

Credit Hours: 3

The course provides public safety leaders with tools to integrate data organization into their profession. Emphasis will be placed on understanding basic principles and techniques involved with analysis, synthesis, and utilization of data. The student will learn to employ statistical data to make proper decisions regarding public well being.

Credit Hours: 3

An introduction to the fiscal problems encountered in the administration of public safety facilities. This course covers the fundamentals of monetary management, analysis of financial statements, examination of cash flows, taxes, and the financial environment which underlies all public safety entities.

Credit Hours: 3

The student will learn basic legal principles, identify sources of American laws, and recognize the structural framework of the American legal system. Additionally, the student will learn to identify the principles of law which relate to management of public services and areas which impact related operations. This includes identifying applicable laws and ordinances, collective bargaining, and state/local civil service commission protocols.

Credit Hours: 3

The course covers the function of subnational governments in the management of public safety services, and the political constraints facing organizations. Topics include the duties, powers, and obligations of governmental agencies relative to the operation of public safety organizations.

Credit Hours: 3

This course is designed for the intermediate level public safety manager and introduces the concept of risk management to examine its applicability to municipal protection. A particular emphasis is placed upon developing a risk management program that's pertinent to all public safety disciplines.

Credit Hours: 3

This course examines the rationale for conducting research, its applications, and how it can be applied to enhance the public's protection. Students will learn the proper application of standards and codes to help improve community safety and steps that can be taken to improve first responder wellness. Prerequisite: PSM 350.

Credit Hours: 3

A review of the current problems affecting public safety with particular emphasis on resource allocation, planning, and constraints.

Credit Hours: 3

This course is for students interested in the practice and principles of Emergency Services management and the processes that contribute to the effectiveness of day-to-day operations within an emergency service organization. This course introduces the public safety professional to topics that include government structure, strategic planning, injury prevention, risk management and safety, customer service, human resources management, financial management, fleet management, career development, quality management, data collection and research, labor relations, and special operations. Restricted to PSM major or consent of program coordinator.

Credit Hours: 3

This course examines responses to natural and man-made disasters. It also looks at the unique role of the local first responder with other governmental agencies. Students will identify the common elements of a disaster response and the roles of each emergency responder and agency. Course emphasis is on the actions and procedures "at the scene" where decisions are made rather than concepts and policies applied by officials physically removed from the scene. Restricted to PSM major or consent of program coordinator.

Credit Hours: 3

Students will be trained in determining public need during an emergency event through exercise. Students will learn the impact that effective project and operational planning and management can have on the overall effectiveness of public safety organizational performance. Restricted to PSM major or consent of program coordinator.

Credit Hours: 3

This course traces the history, emergence, and growth of domestic terrorist and extremist groups within the United States. Students will assess various groups' intentions, capabilities, and activities within contexts of and ramifications on political, national security, and legal paradigms. "Domestic Terrorism and Extremist Groups" traces the roots of domestic political violence and terrorism in the United States, and will expose the student to academic works concerning contemporary domestic extremists and the terrorist threat they may pose. The course will explore how a radical nature has continued to persist in isolated pockets throughout our nation's history. Restricted to PSM major or consent of program coordinator.

Credit Hours: 3

Introduces students to the various elements involved in obtaining a promoted position in their chosen fields. Topics may include personal inventories, placement services, employment agencies, interviewing techniques, resumes, letters of application, references and employment tests.

Credit Hours: 3

This course examines tools and techniques of rational decision making in fire departments, including databases, statistics, probability, decision analysis, utility modeling, resource allocation, cost benefit analysis, and linear programming. May be taken as an independent study.

Credit Hours: 3

A comprehensive course that equips students to seek public safety grants from governmental, public, and private funding sources. This course examines the funding application and approval processes and overall grant administration.

Credit Hours: 3

Supervised readings or independent research projects in various aspects of Public Safety Management. May re-enroll for a maximum of six credits. Requires instructor approval.

Credit Hours: 1-3