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College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Public Safety Administration

Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

The need for public safety graduates is greater than ever before and Woodbury’s Public Safety Administration program is ideal for preparing graduates for a career in criminal justice. The program offers a unique, interdisciplinary approach to the study of criminal justice and human behavior, enabling students to evaluate and address the causes of crime as well as the unique challenges facing today’s law enforcement agencies.

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Create Your Future

The Public Safety Administration program is ideal for a career in criminal law, probation or parole, or for students looking for a career as a federal, state or municipal police officer. Students in the program study the fundamentals of the criminal justice system, including:

  • Policing and Criminal Investigations
  • Enforcement and Corrections
  • Forensics
  • Community Relations
  • Juvenile Justice

Students learn from highly experienced public safety professionals that include:

  • Police Administrators
  • Criminal Investigators
  • Correctional Supervisors
  • Forensic Criminalists
  • Police Psychologists
  • Criminal Law Attorneys

Why Woodbury:

  • Woodbury instructors have extensive experience in all aspects of law and law enforcement.
  • Small class sizes allow for rich interaction with faculty.
  • Numerous internship and networking opportunities.
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Reasons Police Officers Should Have College Degrees

Students interested in pursuing a career in policing should be encouraged to pursue a college degree in Public Safety based on recent research that has shown the tremendous positive impact of higher education in this field.  

One of the more obvious benefits of police officers receiving a college degree is the ability to promote faster into high levels of law enforcement. In addition, a college degree enhances the technical training skills police officers receive in police academy to prepare for the job. Research has also revealed that college-educated police officers  have enhanced disciplinary skills, such as writing, critical thinking, communication and ethical decision making skills in comparison to non-degree officers. These essential skills have shown that police officers with degrees are less likely to shoot their guns; less likely to use force; have fewer citizen complaints; and use creative thinking and problem solving skills in community policing to resolve social ills in communities.  More on this topic and the sources of research can be found in the article  5 Reasons Police Officers Should Have College Degrees published in The Conversation.

Woodbury is proud to offer a Public Safety Administration program in which our students receive an excellent interdisciplinary education that prepares and gives them an advantage as they pursuit their professional careers.

Facilities

Intimate classrooms, state-of-the-art auditorium, MAC and PC computer labs, on-campus library, and art galleries.

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Public Safety Administration Courses

Course Requirements

PSAD 101: Introduction to Public Safety
Survey of public safety system with emphasis on intervention, public communication, policing, prosecution, corrections, and societal reaction to offenders and their communities. The course focuses on the process—from the community and family, to crime and police, to arrest and prosecution through the correctional system—and reintegration efforts. Lecture. Prerequisite: None

PSAD 102: Enforcement & Corrections
Introduction to essential criminal procedures: the law of search and seizure, arrests, confessions, identification; and basic criminal investigations: crime scene search, interview of witnesses, interrogation of suspects, methods of surveillance; and fundamental corrections practice: sentencing, incarceration, parole, probation, and rehabilitation. Lecture Prerequisite: PSAD 101, Introduction to Public Safety.

PSAD 201: Courts and the Law
The scope, purpose, and definitions of substantive criminal law and trials: criminal liability, statutory and common law offenses (with some reference to the California Penal Code), and significant defenses. Lecture. Prerequisites: PSAD 102, Enforcement and Corrections.

PSAD 202: Introduction to Forensic Science
The fundamentals of forensic science and analysis. Topics include the recognition, identification, individualization, and evaluation of physical, chemical, and biological evidence. Lecture. Prerequisites: ENVT 220, Environmental Studies

PSAD 203: Introduction to Community Relations
The basics of effective communication concerning public safety with various community constituencies: neighbor-hoods, businesses, places of worship, community groups, and families. Lecture. Prerequisites: PSAD 101, Introduction to Public Safety: and COMM 120, Public Speaking.

PSAD 204: Public Policy
An introduction to the interactions between local, regional, state and federal legislation and administration and their effect on city management, police administration, and community services. Lecture. Prerequisite: PSAD 102, Enforcement and Corrections.

PSAD 301: Criminology and Forensic Psychology
An examination of principles and concepts of criminal behavior; criminological theory; the nature, extent, and distribu-tion of crime; legal and societal reaction to crime; dynamics of violence and victimology; and eyewitness testimony. Seminar. Prerequisites: PSAD 102, Enforcement and Corrections; PSYC 200, Introduction to Psychology; WRIT 112, Ac-ademic Writing II or WRIT 212, Rhetoric and Design; and LSCI 105, Information Theory and Practice, or LSCI 106, Information Sources in Architecture and Interior Architecture.

PSAD 302: Data Analysis for Public Safety
Application of statistical methods for examining large- and small-scale social phenomena related to public safety. Topics include poverty, employment, housing, crime, education, health services, public services, and policing. Seminar. Pre-requisites: PSAD 101, Introduction to Public Safety; PSYC 221, Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences; WRIT 112, Aca-demic Writing II or WRIT 212, Rhetoric and Design; and LSCI 105, Information Theory and Practice, or LSCI 106, Infor-mation Sources in Architecture and Interior Architecture.

PSAD 303: Ethics and Justice
An introduction to the fundamental theories of justice and their ethical application to communities and individuals in both domestic and international contexts, including discrimination and victimization of special groups (e.g., women, homosexuals, and various ethnic and racial groups). Seminar. Prerequisites: PSAD 102, Enforcement and Corrections; PHIL 210, Ethical Systems; WRIT 112, Academic Writing II or WRIT 212, Rhetoric and Design; and LSCI 105, Information Theory and Practice, or LSCI 106, Information Sources in Architecture and Interior Architecture.

PSAD 400: Internship
Application of classroom learning to an applied justice setting. Work experience is complemented by an academic requirement and periodic meetings with the student’s on-campus internship advisor. Internship contract required by the registrar. Thirty hours per unit of credit. Prerequisites: Senior standing, Public Safety Administration majors only.

PSAD 401: Senior Thesis Preparation
This course is a student-designed interdisciplinary research seminar that integrates the student’s distinct Public Safety concentration with the major core courses and applies the insights from one to the other and vice versa. The course serves as the penultimate course in the Public Safety Administration Studies major. Seminar. Prerequisites: PSAD 302, Data Analysis for Public Safety..

PSAD 402: Senior Thesis Execution
The course is the continuation of a student-designed interdisciplinary research seminar that integrates the student’s distinct concentration with the major core courses and applies the insights from one to the other and vice versa. The course serves as the final course in the Public Safety Administration major. Seminar. Prerequisite: PSAD 401, Senior Thesis Preparation.

PSAD 311: Policing
The historical evolution of policing as an institution of social control with emphasis placed on the contemporary roles of police officers, including patrol strategies, training procedures, ethical standards, and discretion. Considers under-represented groups in policing and corruption in police agencies. 3 Units. Lecture. Prerequisites: LSCI 105, Information Theory and Practice; WRIT 112, Academic Writing II or WRIT 212, Rhetoric and Design; COMM 120, Public Speaking; and PSAD 102, Enforcement & Corrections.

PSAD 312: Terror and Cybersecurity
Explores origins of terrorism, tracing development from early states to a modern mode of conflict. Presents national, regional, and global perspectives. Additionally, vulnerabilities of computer networks and techniques for protecting networks and data are discussed. Basic elements of symmetric and asymmetric cryptography, and secure e-commerce involving secure transmission, authentication, digital signatures, and digital certificates is presented. Seminar. Prerequisites: WRIT 112, Academic Writing II or WRIT 212, Rhetoric and Design; COMM 120, Public Speaking; LSCI 105, Information Theory and Practice, or LSCI 106, Information Sources in Architecture and Interior Architecture; and PSAD 101, Introduction to Public Safety.

PSAD 313: Criminal Investigations
Study of basic principles of criminal investigation. Analysis of investigative techniques; patterns and modus operandi; interviewing and interrogation strategies; collection and management of evidence; surveillance; and crime scene investigation. Theories, philosophies, and concepts related to suppression of crime are covered. Seminar. Prerequisites: WRIT 112, Academic Writing II or WRIT 212, Rhetoric and Design; COMM 120, Public Speaking; LSCI 105, Information Theory and Practice, or LSCI 106, Information Sources in Architecture and Interior Architecture; PSAD 101, Introduction to Public Safety; and PSAD 301, Criminology and Forensic Psychology.

PSAD 314: Private Security
This course will provide students with an overview of the private investigation field. The course will focus on employment opportunities, history, evolution, methods and management of private investigations, sources of information, investigative technology, and ethical, public policy, and legal considerations related to investigations in the private sector. Seminar. Prerequisites: WRIT 112, Academic Writing II or WRIT 212, Rhetoric and Design; COMM 120, Public Speaking; LSCI 105, Information Theory and Practice, or LSCI 106, Information Sources in Architecture and Interior Architecture; and PSAD 101, Introduction to Public Safety.

PSAD 315: Problems in Law Enforcement
The class will survey contemporary and timely issues that are current within law enforcement. These problems will likely vary from semester to semester. Students will think critically and attempt to provide solutions for the unique problem set. Seminar. Prerequisites: WRIT 112, Academic Writing II or WRIT 212, Rhetoric and Design; COMM 120, Public Speaking; LSCI 105, Information Theory and Practice, or LSCI 106, Information Sources in Architecture and Interior Architecture; PSAD 102, Enforcement and Corrections; and PSAD 311, Policing.

PSAD 321: Criminal and Civil Law
The course analyzes the elements of an offense, to classify offenses, and to identify possible defenses in criminal cases. Students will analyze the rights and obligations of citizens involving areas of civil law. Additionally, students will learn to recognize the responsibilities and limitations of citizens and police officers in light of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and develop legal research and analysis skills to locate, interpret, and apply statute and case law. Lecture. Prerequisite: PSAD 201, Courts and the Law

PSAD 342: Evidence and Procedures
This course covers rules of evidence in law enforcement procedures from investigations to courtroom hearings. It examines burden of proof, judicial notice, and admissibility of testimonial and documentary evidence, relevancy, materiality, and competency. The course analyzes state and federal court cases as well as trial techniques and presentation of evidence. Lecture. Prerequisites: PSAD 301, Criminology and Forensic Psychology; PSAD 302, Data Analysis for Public Safety.

PSAD 343: Crime Scene Investigation
A study of the methods and techniques of scientific crime scene investigation, documentation and recognition of physical evidence, collection, and crime scene reconstruction. Laboratory. 3 credits. Lecture. Prerequisites: PSAD 301, Criminology and Forensic Psychology, PSAD 302, Data Analysis for Public Safety.

PSAD 324: Law and Society
Introduces the relationship between law and society. Discusses theoretical perspectives from several social science disciplines. Promotes a foundational understanding of the concept of law and the origins, development, and role of law in society, particularly outside of formal legal institutions. Topics covered may include legal mobilization, law and social change, social movements, law and inequality, and law’s relationship to social control. Lecture. Prerequisite: PSAD 203, Introduction to Community Relations

PSAD 331: Community Service
Current and historical definitions of community, community service organizations, and the variety of public safety organizations that provide service within communities are examined. Emphasis is on interactions between neighborhood residents, civic organizations, law enforcement, and the courts in conflict resolution, crisis intervention, and remediation efforts. Lecture. PSAD 203, Introduction to Community Relations

PSAD 332: Domestic Violence
This seminar provides an in-depth examination of domestic violence from a legal perspective. It explores a wide range of topics, including police and prosecutorial responses, expert witness testimony, battered women as criminal defend-ants, domestic violence and child custody, legal remedies for battered immigrants, and domestic violence as a human rights concern. Each subject area brings together doctrinal issues with those of practice and of theory. Seminar. Prerequisites: WRIT 112, Academic Writing II or WRIT 212, Rhetoric and Design; COMM 120, Public Speaking; LSCI 105, Information Theory and Practice, or LSCI 106, Information Sources in Architecture and Interior Architecture; PSAD 203, Introduction to Community Relations; and PSAD 302, Data Analysis for Public Safety.

PSAD 333: Juvenile Justice
Overview of delinquent behavior and juvenile justice system responses to delinquency. Considers current issues (e.g., gangs, police, and corrections) from perspectives of individuals, families, communities, and society. Explores history of juvenile justice in America, the nature of justice, punishment, rehabilitation, and the goals and effectiveness of our juvenile justice system. Includes a juvenile court experiential component. Seminar. Prerequisites: WRIT 112, Academic Writing II or WRIT 212, Rhetoric and Design; COMM 120, Public Speaking; LSCI 105, Information Theory and Practice, or LSCI 106, Information Sources in Architecture and Interior Architecture; PSAD 203, Introduction to Community Relations; PSAD 204, Public Policy; and PSAD 302, Data Analysis for Public Safety.

PSAD 334: Prevention and Probation
Students learn about basic duties of parole or probation officers who work for community-based correctional programs. Duties may include monitoring house arrest, day reporting, restitution enforcement, and community service details. Additional topics of instruction may include levels of offender supervisions, various treatment needs, revocations processes, investigative reports writing, and sentencing structures. Seminar. Prerequisites: WRIT 112, Academic Writing II or WRIT 212, Rhetoric and Design; COMM 120, Public Speaking; LSCI 105, Information Theory and Practice, or LSCI 106 Information Sources in Architecture and Interior Architecture; PSAD 203, Introduction to Community Rela-tions; PSAD 204, Public Policy; and PSAD 302, Data Analysis for Public Safety.

PSAD 335: Problems in Community Justice
The class will survey contemporary and timely issues associated with community justice. These problems will likely vary from semester to semester. Students will think critically and attempt to provide solutions for the unique problem set. Seminar. Prerequisites: WRIT 112, Academic Writing II or WRIT 212, Rhetoric and Design; COMM 120, Public Speaking; LSCI 105, Information Theory and Practice, or LSCI 106, Information Sources in Architecture and Interior Architecture; PSAD 203, Introduction to Community Relations; and PSAD 303, Ethics and Justice.

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Faculty Directory

Woodbury faculty are accomplished, caring academics and professionals dedicated to supporting the success of students throughout their academic journey. They bring their professional expertise to students and work closely with them to teach the skills and theory required to enter professional practice or pursue advanced study. Through this individual attention, Woodbury fosters close mentoring relationships between faculty and students in a supportive and encouraging environment.

FACULTY DIRECTORY

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Professional Licensure Disclosure

The Public Safety Administration (PSAD) program offers a 120-unit Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in criminal justice that prepares students for a wide variety of career paths, such as law enforcement, correctional counselor, CSI careers, legal/court positions, and more.

The PSAD program meets all educational requirements preparing graduates for pursuing state-mandated law enforcement certification in California, as well as all other U.S. states and the District of Columbia.  California requires Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certification for police officers, deputy sheriffs, school district police officers, district attorney investigators, and a few other classifications of peace officers.

Students who wish to pursue law enforcement careers in locations outside of California may or may not have additional non-educational requirements to complete prior to, or in association with, seeking employment in law enforcement.

Woodbury University encourages prospective and current students to explore certification processes in the states where they anticipate working. Prior to enrollment, prospective students must visit Woodbury’s PSAD Professional Licensure webpage to review a full list of U.S. states and jurisdictions in which the PSAD program meets the educational requirements.

Woodbury University will assist individuals in exploring certification requirements in states and U.S. jurisdictions where students wish to practice this profession. For assistance, please contact Admissions at [email protected] or 818-252-5221. For more information on state legislature-mandated law enforcement requirements see: National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL).

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