Master of Science in Forensic Leadership and Administration

Program Description/Overview

This program supports students to develop advanced competencies to lead in the forensic sectors, including in law enforcement, fire safety, corrections, and private security. Practical training in asset management (fiscal, material, and personnel) is paired with education and training that are particularly relevant within public safety arenas, such as crisis prevention, response, and management; forensic report writing and testimony; and building strong internal and community relationships. The program supplements agency-specific training, and expands the knowledge base and skillset that leaders can draw upon to support those on the front lines.

Emphasis/Concentration/Tracks

This program offers four (4) concentrations as follows:

1. Criminal Behavior: Designed for students interested in understanding offenders from amotivational, psychological, social perspective. Designed to enhance the knowledge base for students aspiring to law enforcement, correctional, investigative or consulting careers.
2. Forensic Victimology: Designed to support those who want a deeper understanding of victim-offender dynamics to aid in safety planning and civil and criminal investigations.
3. Professional Security and Protection: Designed for those in or aspiring to careers dedicated to the safety and security of individuals, groups, agencies, and institutions in a variety of contexts.
4. Threat Assessment and Management: Designed to provide a solid foundation in being able to examine risk factors and behavioral cues in the context of identifying and investigating an individual who may pose a threat to personal and organizational safety and of managing that threat. Designed for students interested in personal and organizational safety and security. Designed to enhance the knowledge base for students working in any industry or setting.

Program Learning Outcomes/Goals

Upon completion of the program students will be able to:

1. Apply evidence-based and informed leadership approaches to improving organizational performance in private security and public safety contexts.
2. Engage in core organizational leadership tasks, including budgeting, program development, employee investigations, and personnel development and management.
3. Describe the ethical and communication considerations associated with leadership in public safety and security milieus.
4. Analyze the role that culture and cultural competency play in successfully managing and leading in public safety and private security contexts.
5. Demonstrate knowledge of the specific emotional, psychological, and behavioral vulnerabilities that employees dedicated to promoting safety and security may experience, and be able to effectively prevent, intervene, and postvene when critical incidents occur.

Professional Behavior Expectations/Ethical Guidelines

Respectful Speech and Actions: As an institution of higher education, the University has the obligation to combat racism, sexism, and other forms of bias and to provide an equal educational opportunity. Professional codes of ethics and the academic code shall be the guiding principles in dealing with speech or actions that, when considered objectively, are
abusive and insulting.

Professional Behavior: This program is a graduate-level professional program, and each member of the program, both students and faculty, are expected to engage in professional behavior and conduct. Students should always display empathy, self-control, friendliness, generosity, cooperation, helpfulness, and respect in all of their interactions with other students, staff, and faculty. Students will strive to exemplify professional behavior in all aspects of their participation in this program, to be on time in all engagements, to thoughtfully and diligently complete activities and assignments, and to treat all other program members with respect and dignity.

Credit Units

Total Credit Units: 36

Total Core Credit Units: 21

Total Elective Credit Units: N/A

Total Concentration Credit Units: 15

Emphasis/Concentration/Track Requirements

Curriculum Plan

The following curriculum plan is a sample and serves only as a general guide. Curriculum plans and course sequence are subject to variation depending on a student’s start term. Students must complete all coursework required for their program as set forth in their individual master plan of study.