PSE 4005 Fire Department Organization and Management 3 credits
This course includes an analysis of the administrative functions and responsibilities of fire departments, including fire suppression, fire prevention and emergency medical services. It will apply the management techniques of planning, organizing and controlling to specific fire department operations, such as training, recruitment and promotion. Finally, it will examine issues of public administration that influence the operation of the fire department, such as unionization, affirmative action, and residence requirements.
PSE 4015 Fire Protection and Emergency Service Master Planning 3 credits
This course will focus on the environmental factors and processes involved in developing a comprehensive master plan for the provision of fire protection and emergency services. The course will focus on the broad social, political and economic issues involved in emergency planning, community master planning, and local emergency services. Finally, the course will examine future possibilities for regionalization, inter-local cooperation, disaster management and technological improvements.
PSE 4025 Research and Evaluation 3 credits
This course is an introduction to qualitative and quantitative concepts from different theoretical perspectives. It will help students design, analyze and evaluate research in the public safety, environmental protection and occupational safety fields including information-gathering techniques, organizational analysis and writing research reports.
PSE 4305 Law Enforcement Management 3 credits
This course will focus on the problems and challenges facing police agencies at the federal, state and
local levels from the perspective of public administration in trying to meet the basic goals of responsibility, responsiveness and representation. It will focus on the elements of public policy analysis involving such areas as performance and productivity, civil service, collective bargaining, and public budgeting and finance. Finally, it will analyze various factors such as physical, demographic, economic, legal and political influences and how they affect police agencies as government organizations.
PSE 4315 Emergency Medical Services Management 3 credits
Emergency medical services is the third side to the public safety triangle. EMS provides direct “hands on” personal care to those fallen victim to illness or injury. Though identical to the Fire Service’s use of paid and volunteer staff, EMS responds to higher call volumes, operates under scrutiny of the Department of Health and receives reimbursement for services rendered. This course will address finance, delivery systems, specialized services and patient/personnel needs in EMS.
PSE 4325 Law Enforcement Technology 3 credits
This course is geared to the non-technical police manager and is designed to present an overview of major automated systems used throughout the United States. Topics covered include the following: Internet project management, budgeting, automation via computer, including networks, dealing with vendors, maintenance agreements, and grants and applying for technical grants. The course will highlight major public safety systems such as the National Crime Information Center, (NCIC2000) computer-aided dispatch, geographic information systems and crime mapping. The course will also cover 911 systems, mobile/field communications and vehicle mobile data terminals. (MDT) No prior technical knowledge is required.
PSE 4555 Management Principles and Practices 3 credits
This course covers an array of basic management principles and practices. It reviews techniques supporting the development and implementation of a basic business plan. The emphasis is on applying course material to those organizations involved in public safety and environmental protection management. The course will also focus on skills that are critical to being a successful manager.
PSE 5405 Critical Incident Stress Management 3 credits
This course will focus on critical incidents, disasters and other traumatic events which often produce effects that disrupt the abilities and well-being of the individuals, organizations and communities that experience the event. It will examine critical incident stress management, prevention and mitigation strategies and protocols that can be used in the workplace and community. We will also investigate the principles of individual stress management and stress proofing.
PSE 5425 Seminar: Special/Target Hazard Planning and Evaluation 3 credits
This course will focus on the special problems of fire, safety and emergency management presented to local public safety agencies by high risk or target hazards such as chemical plants, refineries, railroads, airports, port facilities, etc. It will analyze the unique challenges of prevention, protection and control at such major facilities and examine strategic approaches to ongoing and major incident planning. The course will integrate fire and safety codes that are related to specific target hazard occupancies.
PSE 5555 Seminar: Environmental Protection Management 3 credits
This course will focus on major issues and public policy in environmental protection. This course analyzes the various managerial problems associated with the prevention, mitigation and cleanup of environmental problems. It will focus on the major areas of governmental involvement and regulation and emerging trends as they influence decision-making in the public and private sector. It will also examine the physical, political, legal, economic and technological factors that help shape and constrain environmental protection policy.
PSE 5565 Seminar: Disaster Planning and Management 3 credits
The purpose of this seminar is to cover a broad range of topics, problems and activities involved in developing a comprehensive yet flexible plan of response to a major life- and property-threatening emergency at the local level. Through lectures by professionals from a variety of fields and perspectives, the course will provide an overview of the managerial responsibilities and multi-dimensional skills necessary to coordinate and control a disaster situation. There will also be a review and study of past disasters. Finally, the seminar will focus on developing techniques and approaches that can be used to handle similar emergencies in the future.
PSE 5575 Occupational Safety and Health Administration 3 credits
An examination of the management problems associated with occupational safety and health hazards in industrial, commercial and institutional organizations. It reviews techniques of prevention and control of life- and property-threatening incidents and procedures for compliance with federal, state and local regulations. Finally, it analyzes the role played by other organizations in safety management, such as police, fire, legal, insurance and government agencies.
PSE 5585 Seminar: Public Safety and Emergency Management 3 credits
This seminar will address current trends and issues in Public Safety.
PSE 5595 Independent Study in Public Safety 3 credits
This independent study entails the application of a research project to a particular issue or problem of public safety. Requires permission of Program Director.
PSE 5605 Industrial Hygiene 3 credits
This course is designed to provide a broad overview of industrial hygiene principles. It will examine the various types of chemical, physical, biological and radiological hazards present in the workplace and the potential risks of employee exposures. It will also evaluate regulatory compliance issues and focus on special hazards found in various environments.
PSE 5615 Environmental Law and Enforcement 3 credits
This course will examine the regulatory and compliance issues involved in the area of environmental law. It will focus on the substantive and procedural elements of federal, state and local legislation and court decisions surrounding air, water and ground pollution. Finally, it will focus in developing a strategic and responsible approach to issues of compliance and control of environmental hazards.
PSE 5625 EPA/OSHA Auditing: Concepts and Procedures 3 credits
This course will examine the specific elements and procedures involved in conducting environmental and health/safety audits at a facility or a site. The course will define the steps involved in such audits and examine the physical, technological, legal and economic dimensions of the auditing process as a means of continuing control and evaluation of hazards and mitigation strategies.
PSE 5635 EPA/OSHA Issues for Health Care Institutions 3 credits
This course will focus on the unique and special problems of environmental, health and safety issues found in health care and medical facilities such as waste-stream management, personnel training and trends in regulatory policy. It will also focus on the impact of survey/accreditation by the Joint Council of Hospital Organizations and techniques and issues of compliance.
PSE 5705 Risk Analysis 3 credits
This course will provide an overview of the problems and challenges involved in risk identification and assessment. It examines the various physical, demographic, economic, technological, legal/political and socio-cultural factors that can threaten organizational stability or impede organizational change, such as liability. Finally, it will explore strategies to calculate probabilities of risk and to minimize uncertainty.
PSE 5725 Behavioral Aspects of Health and Safety Promotion 3 credits
This course provides a critical examination of the physical and social work environment and its role in causing and preventing occupational accidents and disasters. This course focuses on the techniques and theory of Applied Behavior Analysis as the conceptual basis for developing measurement, recording, intervention and evaluation strategies. Long-term maintenance, cost/benefit analysis, the roles of antecedents and consequences and problem solving strategies are stressed.
PSE 5735 Environmental Waste 3 credits
This course will examine the rules that govern the management of hazardous and other solid wastes, including industrial, household and medical wastes. The course will examine the requirements governing waste generation, storage transportation, processing, treatment and disposal as well as the closure and remediation requirements for waste sites. The course will also examine the relationship between federal
and state rules as they apply to the management of waste and enforcement issues to waste management.
PSE 5745 Terrorism: Contemporary Issues 3 credits
This course provides a critical examination of the characteristics and causes of terrorism, past and present. It will allow students to evaluate the key issues surrounding modem terrorism in the aftermath of 9/11. The course will examine the changing characteristics of twenty-first century global terrorism and the evolving strategies of political terrorism. It will also examine the religious roots of contemporary terrorism and seek to answer why America is a primary target. Finally, it will analyze the modem threats to first responders from weapons of mass effect and provide an overview of tactical response, crime scene operations and emergency response.
PSE 5755 Homeland Security: Perspectives and Issues 3 credits
This course will survey the system components of national and regionally significant critical infrastructure. Issues associated with asset vulnerability, consequence management, threat reduction and preparedness measures will be addressed. An examination of the risk-based management methodology as employed by the Department of Homeland Security in conducting infrastructure protection planning and risk assessments for National Special Security Events will be undertaken. Implications of federal Homeland Security regulatory requirements as well as current policies, and practices affecting urban areas will be discussed.
PSE 5765 Seminar: Environmental Crime 3 credits
This course focuses on the growing problem of environmental crime and the challenge it presents to federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. It will examine the various types of environmental crime such as illegal dumping and negligence. Finally, it will analyze methods that can be used by police agencies to investigate and prosecute violations.
PSE 5775 Strategic Planning for the Public Safety Sector 3 credits
This course provides the concept and framework for the development of a strategic plan for the functions of public safety, law enforcement, fire protection, emergency medical service, general safety and environmental safety. A study of the public safety function related to a framework for effective organizational management and performance will be evaluated. This course guides the student through the process of understanding the needs, resources and capabilities of the organization and how to establish a plan to achieve improved performance over time.
PSE 5795 Independent Study in Environmental Protection and Safety Management 3 credits
This independent study entails the application of a research project to a particular issue or problem of environmental protection. Requires permission of Program Director.
PSE 5805 Strategic Planning Issues in Homeland Security 3 credits
This course will focus on contemporary topics and issues in the evolving field of homeland security.
Employing a seminar format and utilizing the expertise of a variety of professionals from diverse areas, the course will focus on such areas as intergovernmental and interagency cooperation and coordination, interoperability of communications systems, port and border security, training exercise development and grant applications. The course will also focus on policy development and evaluation of prevention, response and recovery areas of homeland security for both the public and private sector.
PSE 6005 Case Study in Public Safety 3 credits
This case study entails the application of a research project to a particular issue or problem of public safety. Requires permission of Program Director.
PSE 6015 Case Study in Environmental Protection and Safety Management 3 credits
This case study entails the application of a research project to a particular problem or issue of environmental protection or occupational safety and health management. Requires permission of Program Director.
PSE- 6025 Case Study in Homeland Security 3 credits
This case study entails the application of a research project to a particular problem or issue of homeland security. Requires permission of Program Director.
