Bachelor of Applied Science in Public Safety Administration
Announcement: Rio Salado students interested in the Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) in Public Safety Administration program have the option to enroll in the Administration of Justice Studies and Public Administration pathway map specializations:
The BAS Public Safety Administration Specializations in Corrections, Detention, Juvenile Corrections, and Law Enforcement Training are offered through an educational partnership and require employment by the partnership organization prior to admission.
Rio Salado does not offer the specializations in Fire Science, Fire Management, or Paramedicine, as listed in the admission criteria, but students with these backgrounds can pursue the Public Safety Administration degree as a general pathway.
For more information, please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Please contact a Rio advisor for questions on the most current program information.
Credit for Prior Learning:
Students enrolled in the Public Safety Administration degree program can submit an application for Credit by Evaluation for 300 and 400 level PSA courses for training previously completed.
For information on the credit for prior learning evaluation process, please contact Laura Liuzzo, Faculty Chair of Public Safety Programs, at [email protected]
The Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) in Public Safety Administration prepares students with the skills necessary to coordinate, develop, and direct the resources of a variety of public safety agencies. Courses within this program analyze the legal, political, and social factors related to public safety, and provide an overview of topics such as organizational theory, public policy, resource management, leadership, and ethics. Prior to completion of this program, students will complete a capstone project within the field of public safety administration, applying the concepts covered throughout the program.
Details
The BAS in Public Safety Administration is aligned with the following current Maricopa CCL and AAS awards and supports students seeking professional advancement:
AAS3181/Associate in Applied Science, Administration of Justice Studies
AAS3016/Associate in Applied Science, Corrections and Detention
AAS3205/Associate in Applied Science, Fire Science
AAS3207/Associate in Applied Science, Fire Service Management
AAS3183/Associate in Applied Science, Forensic Science
AAS3188/Associate in Applied Science, Law Enforcement Training
AAS3889/Associate in Applied Science, Paramedicine
CCL5007N/Administration of Justice
CCL5698N/Basic Corrections
CCL5699N/Basic Detention
CCL5081N/Advanced Corrections and Detention
CCL5322N/Homeland Security
CCL5987N/Law Enforcement
CCL5027N/Law Enforcement Field Training
CCL5991N/Law Enforcement Training Academy
CCL5966N/Legal Studies
CCL5392N/Victimology
CCL5557/Firefighter Operations
CCL5420/Fire Service Management
CCL5990/Paramedicine
- Examine public administration management within the context of public safety and criminal justice organizations.
- Analyze public policies, structures, and the social forces that influence policy utilizing research to evaluate their effect on public safety and criminal justice organizations.
- Assess the ethical basis for public service.
- Assess the impact of key leadership and organizational theories within public safety and criminal justice organizations.
- Develop plans to manage complex events and incidents.
- Analyze the role of evolving technologies and social media including their application to practices within the fields of public safety and criminal justice.
- Demonstrate effective oral and written communication to diverse audiences as it relates to the fields of public safety and criminal justice.
Entry to the Bachelor’s of Applied Science (BAS) in Public Safety Administration requires completion of, or eligibility to complete, a designated Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree in a public safety-related field. Refer to BAS Plan Electives for a complete list of qualifying programs, and to eligible AAS degrees for associate-level admission criteria.
Successful completion of this degree may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Arizona-based wages* for this degree. Education requirements vary for the occupations listed below, so you may need further education or degrees in order to qualify for some of these jobs and earn the related salaries. Please visit with an academic advisor and/or program director for additional information. You can click on any occupation to view the detail regarding education level, wages, and employment information.
There are additional career opportunities associated with this degree that do not have occupational data available for Arizona at this time. These occupations are listed below:
- Personal Service Managers, All Other
* Career and wage information provided by Pipeline AZ using data, reports, and forecasts which are generated using government data sources. Sources
The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:
- Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Degree Progress Report Tool in your Student Center to manage your plan.
- The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
- Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
- Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include FYE101 and FYE103. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.
Full-time Sequence
| Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC) |
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Students pursuing an Associate for transfer to a university or a MCCCD bachelor's degree should note the following changes to the Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC) requirements, effective Catalog Years 2026-27 and beyond. Students are strongly encouraged to visit with an academic advisor to assess whether transitioning to the Reimagined AGEC requirements aligns with educational goals and to ensure completion of all graduation requirements. Effective Catalog Year 2026-27 and beyond, AGEC Requirements will include:
Effective Catalog Year 2026-27 and beyond, AGEC Requirements will no longer include:
For a full outline of the Reimagined AGEC Requirements, please visit Maricopa’s AGEC Webpage. |
Part-time Sequence
| Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC) |
|---|
|
Students pursuing an Associate for transfer to a university or a MCCCD bachelor's degree should note the following changes to the Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC) requirements, effective Catalog Years 2026-27 and beyond. Students are strongly encouraged to visit with an academic advisor to assess whether transitioning to the Reimagined AGEC requirements aligns with educational goals and to ensure completion of all graduation requirements. Effective Catalog Year 2026-27 and beyond, AGEC Requirements will include:
Effective Catalog Year 2026-27 and beyond, AGEC Requirements will no longer include:
For a full outline of the Reimagined AGEC Requirements, please visit Maricopa’s AGEC Webpage. |
- AHM = Arts and Humanities
- FYC = First-Year Composition
- IAM = Institutions of the Americas
- NSI = Natural Sciences
- OCM = Oral Communication
- QNR = Quantitative Reasoning
- SCB = Social and Behavioral Sciences
- WCM = Written Communication
All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.
The pathway map presented above is for the current catalog year and is the intended pathway map for new students. All previous catalog years for this pathway map are available at the link below.
Previous catalog years for Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) in Public Safety Administration