The School of Policy, Justice, and Public Safety (SPJPS) provides an academic structure that houses the Criminal Justice, Political Science, and Public Administration programs, and the Command College which offers Public Safety programs.  These programs share commonality in their program outcomes, disciplinary traditions, and faculty educational backgrounds.
The School offers programs in public safety and administration that include ten (10) undergraduate degree programs and two master’s degree programs with four (4) concentrations The School offers a unique combination of a large university scope while keeping the small school feel that keeps our students coming back. Students enjoy flexible course scheduling, e.g., hybrid, online, hy-flex, modular, and traditional classroom lectures.

Programs

Criminal Justice

The Criminal Justice programs lead to four outcomes:

• A Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice

• A Nexus degree in Public Safety

• An Associate of Applied Science degree in Criminal Justice

The Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice enables students to demonstrate a general knowledge of law enforcement, research, corrections and criminology. Students must take a minimum of 39 credit hours in criminal justice courses in residence at Columbus State University.  This degree is also offered fully online.

The Nexus Degree in Public Safety is a 2-year, 60-credit-hour undergraduate transfer degree program. The program is designed for the completion of general education requirements and includes 18 credit hours of coursework focusing on public safety and policing curriculum. Students in the Nexus Degree program will have the opportunity to gain valuable experience working with public safety officials at a public safety site. 

The Associate of Applied Sciences Degree in Criminal Justice (AASCJ) is designed for students who are seeking a degree that will meet the minimum educational requirements of various law enforcement agencies for entry and/or promotion.

Professional training hours may be applied with approval for specific courses toward an associate's or bachelor's degree.

The Criminal Justice program also offers advanced professional training and graduate degrees through the Georgia Law Enforcement Command College and the Columbus State Graduate School respectively.

Graduates of Columbus State University's criminal justice programs secure jobs with local, state and federal government agencies such as city and state police and sheriffs' departments, probation and parole departments, FBI, Georgia Bureaus of Investigation, drug enforcement agencies, the Secret Service, correctional institutions, juvenile justice agencies and in private, industrial security.

Political Science

The political science program prepares students to think analytically and evaluate pressing public policy concerns, the role of political institutions, and the role of the United States in the international arena. Students can take classes in political science, philosophy, and public administration/policy to fulfill their degree requirements and may minor in Legal Studies. 

Public Administration

The Master of Public Administration (MPA) is the degree for students with professional goals related to public service in areas such as government agencies, justice administration/law enforcement, not-for-profit organizations, and the private sector.

The mission of the Public Administration Program at Columbus State University is to provide professional education and leadership skills for effective, efficient, and responsive public service necessary for individuals preparing for or currently serving in public service careers.

The program structure is designed to accommodate students currently employed in the public sector as well as students seeking entry level positions by offering classes in the evenings and on-line. Columbus State University's Public Administration Program offers curricular tracks in Government Administration and Justice Administration (can be completed fully online).

The MPA program consists of 36 hours and offers flexible course scheduling, multiple entry points, in-class and online options, and some 8-week course offerings. The program can be adapted for students who wish to attend part-time or full-time. 

Command College

The Command College trains executives to influence and manage the future, to be prepared to analyze current issues, forecast the impact and effect of these issues, study probabilities of the future, thus having the ability to influence the future of law enforcement.

Academic Orientation: The Command College, in association with Columbus State University, provides a program of study that goes beyond what is currently available in public safety executive and management development courses, serving as a "graduate school" for public safety executives. To meet present and future training and educational needs of public safety executives, the Command College offers a study program that is distinctive, flexible and comprehensive.

Program Design:The Command College brings together leaders in corporate and public management to provide public safety executives with intense training in the best available management theory and practice, to render innovative solutions to organizational problems and to address important issues in managing public service organizations effectively.

The Command College offers the following programs

• Public Safety Certificate Program
• Master of Public Safety Administration (MPSA)

 

The School of Policy, Justice and Public Safety offers the following degrees and programs:

• Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice (AASCJ)

• Criminal Justice (BS)

• Master of Public Safety Administration (MPSA)

• Public Safety (Undergraduate Certificate)

• Public Safety (Nexus)

• Political Science (BS)

• Public Administration (MPA) - Government Administration Track

• Public Administration (MPA) - Justice Administration Track