Mercer Reformulates Criminal Justice into Public Safety Degree

Mercer University’s College of Continuing and Professional Studies will launch a reformulated undergraduate major in public safety this fall. The program expands upon the College’s successful major in criminal justice in order to better serve current and future public safety officials. The new public safety program will launch this fall at four of the College’s locations: Atlanta, Macon, Henry County and Douglas County.

The changes to the degree mirror the changing landscape of public safety, which has shifted from distinctive emergency services such as law enforcement, fire and emergency response into a more cohesive and professionalized framework. With new threats demanding an integrated response, this new degree will help train a new breed of cross-trained professionals. Included in the new coursework for this program are courses in homeland security, cyber security, forensics, emergency management, terrorism, leadership and multi-cultural issues.

The degree is designed with public safety officials in mind, with courses online and in the evenings providing maximum flexibility. Students can choose to take most courses in person, online or in a hybrid format.

“In order to best prepare our graduates for new public safety challenges, we revised our current foundation courses to provide a much broader base of knowledge,” said Dr. V. Lynn Tankersley, assistant professor of public safety and one of the degree’s designers. “The response from public safety agencies and professionals has already been tremendous.”

Recognizing the need for continued education in this complex field, the Technical College System of Georgia partnered with Mercer to allow graduates from its associate degree programs in criminal justice to complete a “Plus 2” program at Mercer. Under the new articulation agreement, qualified applicants can earn a Bachelor of Science in Social Science, majoring in public safety, in two years.

Like the criminal justice major it replaces, the public safety major will lead to a Bachelor of Science in Social Science. The degree builds on the College’s expertise in the public safety field. The College offers the Public Safety Leadership Institute, a leadership development program for public safety officials, and the Master of Science in Public Safety Leadership, a degree program for public safety officials looking to advance into leadership positions.

For more information on admission to the program, contact:
Atlanta and Macon - Amanda Bentley, (678) 547-6554 or bentley_ad@mercer.edu
Henry County - Stephen Jenkins, (678) 547-6436 or jenkins_sd@mercer.edu
Douglas County - Tammy Collins, (678) 547-6493 or collins_tj@mercer.edu

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
www.artsacrossgeorgia.com
Arts Across Georgia

Tift College of Education Programs Expand Throughout State

Tift College of Education is expanding several programs, including the graduate program. The College’s Master of Education degree with a concentration in early childhood education, which is currently offered on the Atlanta campus, also will be available at the Douglas County and Henry County Regional Academic Centers beginning this fall.

The M.Ed. program for teachers consists of 10 classes designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of certified teachers while also providing teachers with the opportunity to upgrade their teaching certificate to a master’s level (T-5). Classes are arranged in cohort groups that will start each fall.

As a twist, the master’s level early childhood education program in Douglas and Henry Counties will be a hybrid program, with learning occurring in the classroom and in an online environment. Each program will have the same objectives and offer the same courses, though the Atlanta program will continue to meet all classes face to face.

The College also offers M.Ed. degrees in middle grades education, reading, secondary education and educational leadership, as well as a Collaborative Educator program.

In addition to the Master of Education degree program, other Tift College of Education programs are expanding their borders. The College introduced the Early Care and Education program at the Henry County Regional Academic Center in McDonough in fall 2006 with an inaugural class of 21 students. Although only a year and a half old, the program—which currently enrolls 85 students — is opening its doors to new communities. In addition to the Henry County Center, students interested in the program can now enroll at the Douglas County Regional Academic Center in Lithia Springs and at the Atlanta campus.

This Bachelor of Science in Education degree, with a major in early care and education, is designed for individuals who wish to be certified to teach children from birth to five years of age. Graduates of the early care and education program are qualified for administrative, certified teaching, or social service positions with child care centers, Head Start programs, pre-kindergarten programs, social services agencies, and other facilities designed for the care and development of young children.

Plans are also underway to expand the educational leadership program to the Savannah campus beginning fall 2008, making Tift College of Education the third of Mercer’s schools and colleges to offer programs in Savannah. The program will join the four-year doctor of medicine program offered by the School of Medicine and the Professional Master of Business Administration degree offered by the Stetson School of Business and Economics.

Information about all Tift College of Education programs can be found at http://www.mercer.edu/education.