Master of Public Safety
The Master of Public Safety (MPS) is a fully online, part-time professional program for those employed in or seeking employment in the field of public safety. Students will learn concepts and skills that are essential to effective administration and management, including critical thinking, leadership, performance management, public relations, and risk management. The program curriculum aligns with five pillars of public safety: border strategies, countering crime, emergency management, national security, and public safety GIS and data analytics.
To be admitted to the Master of Public Safety, students must satisfy the general admission requirements of the university, and have an honours degree, or equivalent. Applicants should have a minimum B (or better than 73%) average in the last year of full-time study (or equivalent) to be considered for the program. Applications must be accompanied by official transcripts and be supported by at least two letters of reference from individuals who are qualified to assess the applicant's potential for graduate training. Applications are reviewed by the Graduate Admissions Committee, which considers all prior university grades, a statement of intent, a resume, and letters of reference.
Alternate admissions for students who apply, but do not have the appropriate academic background, may be considered.
Proficiency in written and spoken English is essential to pursue graduate studies at Wilfrid Laurier University. Applicants whose first language is not English and who have not completed an undergraduate or graduate degree at an institution where English is the language of instruction are required to provide evidence of proficiency in English.
Students who complete one of the Graduate Diplomas (National Security, Border Strategies, Countering Crime, Emergency Management, Public Safety GIS and Data Analytics) may be eligible to transfer their diploma courses to the Master of Public Safety program. Students who complete a graduate diploma prior to enrolling in the Master of Public Safety are required to surrender their graduate diploma in order to graduate from the master's program. However, students are not required to surrender their master's degree in order to enrol in and graduate from a subsequent graduate diploma.
Students who graduate from the Master's program may choose to continue their interest in another pillar by taking additional graduate diplomas. Students would only need to take the two pillar-specific courses in order to fulfill the requirements for another graduate diploma, with SAFE600 and SAFE601 credited from the MPS to the graduate diploma.
The program is completed online, on a part-time basis. It is expected that completion of the degree will take a minimum of two years, with one or two courses taken each semester.
The program requires the completion of 8 courses, including 6 required courses (SAFE600, SAFE601, SAFE602, SAFE603, SAFE604, SAFE605), and the two courses from their chosen pillar, as follows:
National Security: SAFE606, SAFE607
Border Strategies: SAFE608, SAFE609
Countering Crime: SAFE610, SAFE611
Emergency Management: SAFE612, SAFE613
Public Safety GIS and Data Analytics: SAFE614, SAFE615
