This document discusses options for higher education for those in public safety careers. It outlines the benefits of pursuing further education in areas like management, human resources, and strategic planning to develop skills needed for career advancement beyond front-line roles. The document reviews different degree options and factors to consider when choosing a school, such as cost, location, accreditation, and opportunities to earn credits based on prior experience and training. It emphasizes that many public safety professionals may already have credits that can be applied toward a degree through options like credit for life experience, certification exams, and articulation agreements between institutions.

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

11. Choosing a School – Where and
When?
• On ground
• On line
• Hybrid

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

18. YOU MAY BE FURTHER ALONG
THAN YOU THINK ---

19. Credit for Life Experience and Training
• Prior Learning Assessment
– Work experience
– Specialized training and certification
– Military

20. “Testing Out”
• Institution Specific testing
• Acceptance of Certifications
– Microsoft Office Specialist®
• CLEP / DANTES

22. Transfer / Articulation
• Portability of credits between institutions
– Course to Course
– Program to Program
– Degree Completion Programs

25. http://www.acenet.edu/
Acceptance of ACE depends on your college/university

26. Acceptance of ACE depends
on your college/university

27. Acceptance of ACE depends
on your college/university

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

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