EPANDING THE CONTENT OF AN OUTLINE using notes.pptx
PEMA Conference
1. Higher
Education
Update
Robert Skertich, PhD
Director, Nontraditional
Programs
School of Business
2. For Discussion
• Why Higher Ed?
• Degree Options
• Choosing a school
3. Your First Decision
• I already know what I need to know
• I need/want more of what I already know
• I need/want more of what I don’t already
know
4. ON-THE-ROAD FOCUS
•Training
•Certification
•NIMS/ICS focused
command and control
•Supervision
•Experience
What about
DOWN-THE-ROAD?
5. What’s the next step for Public Safety
leaders and departments?
• Management
knowledge, skills and
abilities beyond the
streets?
• Human resources
• Budget and finance
• Strategic planning
• Risk management and
reduction
• Change management
6. Choosing a School
• Where & When?
• Cost
• Degree options
• Accreditation
7. Anatomy of a Degree
Program Requirements
•General (School)
•Concentration (Major)
Core / Gen-Eds
•Math
•Communication Skills
•Science
•Arts
•Humanities
Electives
•Minor
•Directed Electives
•Free Electives
8. Choosing a School – Degree Options
Degree Credits Comments
Certificate
18 Specialized focus
(not “certification”)
Starting point or add-on
Undergraduate or graduate
Associates 60 + Community Colleges, Universities
Starting point
Bachelors 120 + Colleges and Universities
Rounded education
Masters 30-48 Colleges and Universities
Higher level specialty
Doctorate Ouch Research
9. What is a “Credit”
• In PA (and most places)
– 1 credit = 14 instructional hours
– 3 credit course = 42 instructional hours
10. Degree Completion Programs
• Credits from other
colleges/universities
• CLEP
• Professional
certifications
• Military training
• Start with some or a lot
of credits toward
degree
12. How does online work?
• Course Management System
– Blackboard
– Moodle
• Structured learning activities
– Lectures
– Reading
13. How does online work?
• “Equivalent Instructional Activities”
– Student-to-Student interaction
• “Discussion Boards” most common
– Student-to-Instructor interaction
• 7-, 8-, 15-week terms
14. How does online work?
Synchronous
• All online at the same time
– “Webinar”
Asynchronous
• Work at your own pace
15. How does “Hybrid” work?
• Part in classroom, part online
• “Flipped” classroom
– Lectures online, activities in the classroom
16. Choosing a School - Cost
• Tuition
• Discounts for various delivery mechanisms
• Financial Aid
• Reimbursement
17. Choosing a School - Accreditation
• PA Dept. of Education
• Regional vs. National
– Regional
• More stringent requirements
• Very important if moving on to another degree, school
or professional certification
• May be more recognizable by potential employers
• May be a requirement for reimbursement
28. FEMA Higher Ed Programs
• EMI Higher Ed Program
• Fire and Emergency Services Higher Ed
Program (FESHE)
– Both are designed to foster higher education and
collaboration between professionals and academic
institutions
29. FESHE Partnership
• USFA / NFA
• State Directors of Fire
Training
• Colleges and
Universities
30.
31. Bachelors in Public Administration
• Concentrations in
– Fire Service Administration
• FESHE recognized
– EMS Administration
– General Public Admin
• Minors and certificates
• BS Business
• BA Organizational Leadership
32. For More Information
Robert L. Skertich, PhD
Associate Professor of Public Administration
Director, Nontraditional Programs
Point Park University School of Business
201 Wood Street, 1307WP
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
412-392-6153
Email: rskertich@pointpark.edu