VIDEO: San Diego Miramar College is launching the stateโs first bachelorโs degree program designed specifically for first responders seeking careers in public safety management. The new program, which begins this fall with about 50 students, offers a Bachelor of Science degree in public safety management. It focuses on training in emergency management, emergency medical services and law enforcement. โWeโre the first in the state focused on public safety management,โ said Darren Hall, a retired Coronado fire captain who now teaches at Miramar.
โIn our professions in public safety, the gold standard is pursuing higher education. A bachelorโs degree is pretty standard if you want to go from captain to chief or above.โ Hall said the degree is aimed at preparing first responders for leadership positions in management, communications and human resources โ roles that often require higher education for advancement. Students must already hold an associate degree before enrolling. The bachelorโs program takes about two years to complete and costs roughly $5,000. Coursework combines online instruction with hands-on training, including 3D simulations of emergencies such as brushfires.
