Public Safety Management

About the public safety management major

If the process of protecting the public fascinates you, the public safety management major will give you a well-rounded understanding of public safety theory and the skills and services used to save lives.

As part of your coursework, you'll study a wide range of topics—administration of emergency services, principles of public safety, the art of decision making, terrorism, financial management, GIS techniques, public policy, and much more. You’ll learn from faculty who are studying criminal justice issues relevant to the field of public safety and who have real-world experience to match.

Skills and abilities this major develops: strategic planning, project management, communication, and leadership.

Engaged learning experiences

Regardless of your major or future career, engaged learning is vital to your present and future. It makes you more marketable for jobs and professional schools upon graduation, it enables you to build deeper connections with faculty and staff in your field of study, and it makes your learning personal by connecting your interests and values with the curriculum from your classes. Check out the three ideas below for places to get started, or learn more at IU Indianapolis’s Institute for Engaged Learning website.

Career services

O’Neill’s career services office is designed to help you build your job-search skills and find full-time employment or an internship. They can also help you connect with alumni!

Study abroad

Enrich your academic experience by studying important public policy and criminal justice issues at a global level.

Opportunities after graduation

Employment of emergency management directors is projected to grow 4% from 2023 to 2033, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Despite limited employment growth, about 1,000 openings for emergency management directors are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as retirement (Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024).

According to the IUPUI (now called IU Indianapolis) First Destination Survey in 2023, the average starting salary reported for O'Neill graduates with a bachelor's degree was $48,197, and the median was $47,300.

The national median annual salary for emergency management directors was $83,960 in 2023 (Occupational Outlook Handbook).

(This section is intended for informational purposes, not prediction of actual salary.)

O’Neill public safety management graduates often pursue advanced degrees in the following areas:

Business administration (M.B.A.)
Health administration (M.H.A.)
Law
Public administration (M.P.A.)

Quick facts

Sample coursework

American criminal justice system
Emergency services management
Foundation of homeland security
Mapping and analysis for public safety
Public safety in America
Terrorism and public policy

Possible careers

Emergency management coordinator
Fire service manager*
First responder*
Homeland security planner or director
Public safety director

*These careers require additional training or education.

Where could I work?

Indianapolis EMS
Dept. of Homeland Security (state or federal)
Public health agencies
Research agencies
Transportation Security Administration

Complementing interests

EEnterprising

SSocial

RRealistic

Get your interest code

Where to get more information

O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs

Federal Emergency Management Agency

Department of Homeland Security

Arts, Humanities, and Human Services Cluster

This major is part of the Arts, Humanities, and Human Services (AHHS) cluster. The AHHS cluster is the academic home of University College students pursuing majors in art and design, education, general studies, journalism, liberal arts, and social work. The AHHS cluster partners with students on their academic advising and career plans to guide them into their degree-granting schools.

Learn about the AHHS cluster

Learn about other clusters

Meet with an advisor or career consultant

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