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Master of Professional Studies: First Responder Leadership

A first responder poses for a photo.
Earn a Master's degree on your terms

A hybrid Master's program

The Master of Professional Studies (M.P.S.) at Rowan University is hybrid program. Whether you’re working to enhance your career as quickly as possible or trying to fit a Master's program into your busy schedule, we will help you meet your goals.

Program Overview

The Rowan Experience
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The Master of Professional Studies (M.P.S.) degree combines traditional academics with specialized, industry-specific skills courses in a highly applied, hands-on research setting. Today's leaders create pathways to carry an organization forward and bring all stakeholders together with their strategic direction. 

Students enrolled in the M.P.S. program will learn and strengthen their skills in the following areas:

→ Data-driven decision making

→ Agile frameworks

→ Strategic resource planning

→ Team leadership

→ Project management

The degree includes core courses to provide an exposure to a broad range of interdisciplinary topics in organizational leadership, analytical data interpretation, and interpersonal and professional communication. With key private, public, and industrial partners throughout the region, the M.P.S. degree offers students a dynamic interdisciplinary learning approach, both in and out of the classroom, coupled with a final culminating experience in the student’s area of study.  

The M.P.S. program builds a solid foundation for career mobility for the contemporary learner. The M.P.S. program requires completion of 30 semester hours (M.P.S. core courses [15 semester hours] and the completion of one Certificate of Graduate Study (C.O.G.S.) [15 semester hours]: Administration Science or First Responder Executive Leadership). This page contains information for the following area of study focus: Certificate of Graduate Study (C.O.G.S.) in First Responder Executive Leadership.

Students will select the C.O.G.S. of their choice during the application process. Visit the Master of Professional Studies in Administrative Science page for information about the M.P.S. program with the following area of study focus: Certificate of Graduate Study (C.O.G.S.) in Administrative Science.

Curriculum
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The Master of Professional Studies (M.P.S.) program requires completion of 30 semester hours. The Master of Professional Studies consists of 15 semester hours and completion of one Certificate of Graduate Study (C.O.G.S.): Administration Science or First Responder Executive Leadership. Students will select the C.O.G.S. of their choice during the application process.

This page contains information for the following area of study focus: Certificate of Graduate Study (C.O.G.S.) in First Responder Executive Leadership

  • 10 Courses / 30 Semester Hours
  • Foundation Courses: No
  • Graduation / Exit / Thesis Requirements: Yes, students must complete the course MPS 22699-Action Study: Master of Professional Studies.

Students can start the M.P.S. degree at any point and complete any sequence of classes, the capstone is the last course and students must complete the prerequisites. Students are not required to complete the C.O.G.S. first to enter the M.P.S. degree.

Course Number Title S.H. / Credits
Required Courses: 15 S.H.
MPS 22500 Professional Studies Seminar 3
MPS 22503 Foundations of Agile Management 3
MPS 22551 Foundations of Data Analytics and Reporting (or MPS 22552) 3
MPS 22552 Advanced Foundations of Data Analytics and Reporting* 3
MPS 22600 Project Management and Team Building 3
MPS 22699 Action Study: Master of Professional Studies Research 3
First Responder Executive Leadership Certificate of Graduate Study | 15 S.H.
Required Courses: 9 S.H.
DPEM 00550 Disaster Policy and Legal Environment in Emergency Management 3
DPEM 00600 Public Budgeting and Finance for Emergency Managers 3
DPEM 00691 Administrative Public Policy and Law for Public Managers 3
Elective Courses: 6 S.H. (Choose two from the following list):
DPEM 00692 Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining 3
DPEM 00615 Management of First Responder Organizations 3
CJ 09526 Management of Criminal Justice 3
DPEM 00622 School-Based Threat Assessment and Planning 3
DPEM 00675 Disaster Analytics: Evidence-Based Emergency Management and Professional Practice 3
DPEM 00646 Fire Service Executive Leadership Clinical** 3

*Recommended for Data Analytics and Management Specialization

**With permission of Program Advisor

Note: The courses listed above are not official and are subject to change. For an official list of available courses please visit the Rowan Global section tally.


Transfer Credit Evaluation Policy

The student should contact the Program Coordinator/Advisor of this program to discuss any potential transfer credit or prior learning assessments.

Admission Requirements
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The following is a list of items required to begin the application process for the program. There may be additional actions or materials required for admission to the program. Upon receipt of the materials below, a representative from the Rowan Global Admissions Processing Office will contact you with confirmation or will indicate any missing items.

  • Rowan Global Application Form
  • $65 (U.S.) non-refundable application fee
  • Bachelor's degree (or its equivalent) from an accredited institution of higher learning
  • Official transcripts from all colleges attended (regardless of number of credits earned)
  • Minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale)
  • Current professional resume
  • Two letters of recommendation
Master of Professional Studies (M.P.S.) Core Courses

• Professional Studies Seminar

• Foundations of Agile Management

• Foundations of Data Analytics and Reporting -OR- Advanced Foundations of Data Analytics and Reporting*

• Project Management and Team Building 

• Action Study: Master of Professional Studies Research

*Recommended for Data Analytics and Management Specialization

The focus of your Master of Professional Studies degree

Strengthen your Emergency Management skills

In addition to completing the core courses in the Master of Professional Studies (M.P.S.), students in this track will enroll in classes to complete the Certificate of Graduate Study (C.O.G.S.) in First Responder Executive Leadership. The Certificate of Graduate Study (C.O.G.S.) in First Responder Executive Leadership is designed to equip our nation’s emergency management executive leaders at the federal, state, and local levels with the necessary skills to help communities, businesses, and individuals to protect themselves from threats and be able to mount an all-hazards response.

Required Courses: 

• Disaster Policy and Legal Environment in Emergency Management
• Public Budgeting and Finance for Emergency Managers
• Administrative Public Policy and Law for Public Managers

Elective Courses (Choose two): 

• Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining
• Management of First Responder Organizations
• Management of Criminal Justice
• School-Based Threat Assessment and Planning
• Disaster Analytics: Evidence-Based Emergency Management and Professional Practice
• Fire Service Executive Leadership Clinical**

**With permission of Program Advisor

We invite you to join us for an

Information Session or Virtual Event

Rowan University hosts a series of on campus and virtual events throughout the year to help you get to know us. From general information sessions, to program specific meetings with advisors, to webinars on timely and thought-provoking topics, these gatherings provide an excellent opportunity to ask questions, network with academics and future students, and learn from some of the most innovative and informed faculty in higher education today.
Admissions Information

Deadlines, Tuition and Financial Aid

Learn More

Ready to start your journey at Rowan?

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