Public and Emergency Services Degree Completion
At Fairleigh Dickinson University, we proudly partner with public service professionals, including the law enforcement community, by providing programs for your busy lifestyle in affordable and convenient formats. Designed to suit busy schedules, our programs are offered at off-campus sites throughout New Jersey and online, allowing you to pursue your degree around family and career obligations.
BA degree completion
The BA degree completion program with a specialization in public administration is a convenient — and affordable — pathway to success for public service professionals.
Additional advantages of our 120-credit BA program include shorter terms and reduced tuition. Plus, our generous transfer policy awards college credit for experiential learning so you can accelerate your education — saving you time and money. What’s more, you’ll benefit from rigorous academics, small classes, and personal support every step of the way from faculty and an office dedicated to the adult learners in the program.
Program highlights
- Courses run just 8 to 10 weeks and our rolling admissions allows you to start during any of our terms: Fall, Spring and Summer. Year-round scheduling means you can earn your degree sooner.
- Costs for the program are significantly less than standard FDU tuition.
- Numerous financial aid options are available to help you pay for college, including government grants and loans. GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon Program benefits are also available for eligible military veterans. Our Financial Aid Office and Office of Veterans Services can help you successfully navigate the financial aid process.
- You can begin work toward a master’s degree while still completing your bachelor’s degree. Once you complete 99 credits, you can take up to nine credits of graduate coursework in the Master of Administrative Science (MAS) or Master’s in Public Administration (MPA) program offered through our School of Public and Global Affairs. The head start would allow you to earn your master’s in as few as 12 months (four semesters).
- Public service professionals can also take advantage of the Master of Science in Cyber and Homeland Security Administration, a program specifically designed to help students become leaders in the security profession.
Admissions requirements
- Proof of a high school diploma (official transcript) or GED (required for those transferring fewer than 24 college credits from a regionally accredited post-secondary institution)
- Official transcripts from all previously attended colleges or universities (if applicable)
- Certificates earned from public safety training (New Jersey State Police should include HR transcripts)
Degree requirements
- Completion of 120 credits (at least 30 at FDU)
- Cumulative grade point ratio of 2.0
Curriculum
General Education Requirements: 40 credits
The University’s General Education curriculum focuses on seven areas including Written and Oral Communication, Information and Technological Literacy, Ethical Reasoning, Global and Cultural Understanding, Scientific and Quantitative Analysis, Social and Behavioral Sciences, and the Arts and Humanities.
Many students transfer to FDU with enough previous credits to satisfy part, if not all, of the general education requirements.
Major Requirements: 24 credits
This includes a specialization in Public Administration. Students can choose from courses such as:
- PADM 4400 Seminar on Leadership Development
- PADM 4505 Psychology of Terrorism
- PADM 4506 Domestic Prep. For Terrorism and Catastrophic Emergencies
- PADM 4545 Effective Risk Communication for Leadership
- PADM 4563 Violence and Culture
- PADM 4566 Intro to Cybercrime and Computer Forensics
- PADM 4567 Intro to Gangs and Gang Behavior
- PADM 4587 Intro to Homeland Security
Free Electives: 56 credits
Free electives are other courses for which you have not received credit. You should consult your advisor about Free Electives that best complement your specialization.
