Undergraduate

Individualized Studies: Public Safety

Learn about law enforcement, emergency management, and public safety policies to protect communities.

Degree

Bachelor of Science

Location

Online

Courses

10*

Credit

120 hrs.*

Full-time

Varies (Transfer up to 90 credits)

Part-time

Varies (Transfer up to 90 credits)

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College of Professional Studies

The online Bachelor of Science in Individualized Studies: Public Safety option at the University of New Hampshire focuses on law enforcement, emergency management, and public safety policies to protect communities. Students work with the Program Director for Individualized Studies to ensure that the program meets industry standards and all requirements for successful completion. Those pursuing careers in law enforcement leadership, emergency planning, public-sector administration, or public policy may find this degree to be of interest.

Designed for flexibility, the program is tailored to meet the needs of working professionals seeking to advance their careers in both business and management sectors.

*Number of courses and course credit hours may vary, please reach out to your academic advisor for exact requirements.

College of Professional Studies

What is Individualized Studies?

The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Individualized Studies provides an opportunity for interdisciplinary or specialized study in the following focus areas: Behavioral & Social Sciences, Business & Finance, Health & Human Services, Management, Media & Communication, and Public Safety. The Individualized Studies major is usually developed in conjunction with the regular course assignments in CRIT 602 Advanced Critical Analysis and Strategic Thinking (4 s.h.). A proposal for the major must be submitted to Academic Affairs for approval. You will work with the Program Director for Individualized Studies to ensure that your program meets industry standards and meets all requirements for successful completion of a approved undergraduate degree.

Why study Individualized Studies at UNH College of Professional Studies?

An Individualized Studies degree, also known as an Interdisciplinary Studies degree, offers a customized and flexible approach to higher education. Instead of following a traditional program of study, an Individualized Studies degree allows you to design your own curriculum by selecting courses from multiple disciplines based on your specific interests and career goals. In order to be approved for this program, you will need to think about your career goals or personal interests, what prior credits you have, and how to build a cohesive degree plan based on your goals. These selected courses work together to build a final integrative capstone project that can have more flexibility than a traditional major. This degree plan requires slightly more planning up front before approval, however it provides a tailored education based on your unique interests and goals, an interdisciplinary approach, flexibility, and adaptability particularly if you already have multiple college credits. This plan of study could be particularly useful for students aiming to meet the prerequisites for a specific graduate program, for transitioning to a different position at work, for gaining new skills for work promotion, or to finally pursue a specific program that suits your personal interests and allows for personal growth.

Students in Individualized Studies degrees choose this degree for a variety of reasons. Some are looking to complete specific pre-requisites for post-baccalaureate or graduate programs. Many already have careers but need to complete a bachelor's degree in order to be promoted or be eligible for additional opportunities. Many students have chosen this path to complete non-certification training or to become instructors within their current work environment. We have had police officers develop a Health & Wellness promotion program, several work on a degree plan to prepare them for promotion, some to become better writers, and others for specific social work, business, public service, or behavioral science career paths.

Potential Career Areas

Federal/State/Local Government Worker
Child Protection
Corrections Officers
Court Advocates
Detectives and Criminal Investigators
Emergency Management Directors
First-Line Supervisors
Juvenile Probation
Military Police
Police Administration
Police Identification and Records Officers
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
Probation and Parole Officers
School Resource Officer
Security Guards
Transit and Railroad Police

Curriculum & Requirements

Program Description

Degree Plan

The Individualized Studies (IS) Degree is designed for self-directed students who seek to pursue a unique course of study not available through existing degree programs at UNH-CPSO. This flexible and customizable major allows students to tailor their academic journey to focus on a specific issue or topic in-depth, rather than following a traditional program.

Requirements for the Program

Degree Requirements

Minimum Credit Requirement: 120 credits

Minimum Residency Requirement: 30 credits must be taken at UNH

Minimum Cumulative GPA: 2.0 is required for conferral*

Core Curriculum Required: General Education Program

Major, Option and Elective Requirements as indicated.

*GPA: Major and any state certification GPA requirements may be higher and are indicated in program details.

A minimum grade of C- is required in all Major coursework. Some programs may have higher grade requirements for Major coursework as noted in the Major requirements section below. Students are allowed a maximum of two course overlaps. Overlaps can be used between Major, Minor, and General Education requirements with only 8 credits overlapped between the Major and Minor. Please note that Option requirements are considered part of the Major. Students must complete 16 upper-level credits in majors within the College of Professional Studies, Online.

General Education Program Requirements

A minimum grade of D- is required in all General Education coursework. Students are allowed a maximum of two course overlaps. Overlaps can be used between Major, Minor and General Education requirements with only 8 credits overlapped between the Major and Minor.

All General Education requirements must be taken prior to the capstone.

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
ENG 420	The Writing Process	4
COM 460	Interpersonal Communication and Group Dynamics	4
COM 480	Visual Communication	4
CRIT 501	Introduction to Critical Inquiry	4
Select one of the following:		4
MTH 402	Math for Our World
MTH 504	Statistics
MTH 510	Pre-Calculus
Knowledge of Human Behavior & Social Systems		4
Knowledge of the Physical & Natural World		4
Knowledge of Human Thought & Expression		4
CRIT 602	Advanced Critical Analysis and Strategic Thinking	4
IDIS 601A	Interdisciplinary Seminar: Being Happy	4
or IDIS 601B	Interdisciplinary Seminar: Business of Beer
or IDIS 601C	Interdisciplinary Seminar: Paranormal Activities
Total Credits		40

Writing Program Requirements

All bachelor's degree candidates are required to complete four writing intensive courses as part of the University Writing Program Requirements as follows:

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
ENG 420	The Writing Process
One Writing Intensive course in the Major
One Writing Intensive course at the 600-level or above
One Additional Writing Intensive Course

Writing Intensive courses are identified with the label "Writing Intensive Course" in the "Attributes" section of the course description and/or a W following the course number.

Major Requirements

A minimum of 40 semester credit hours is required in the major with at least sixteen credits at the upper level taken at the University of New Hampshire.

The IS degree provides a path for students who wish to build a major that combines various courses into a distinct area of study. The IS major must be distinct from any existing program offered at CPSO. Courses in the major must provide breadth and depth of study and form a cohesive program. Students will work closely with advisors and program directors to ensure their major has both academic rigor and alignment with their career and educational goals. Prospective Individualized Studies students must submit a proposal after consulting with their advisor and program director and will need to be approved by the appropriate subject matter faculty and director.

Prior to capstone enrollment, students are expected to complete the majority of their required major courses along with CRIT 602 Advanced Critical Analysis and Strategic Thinking and IDIS 601 . Students should consult with their advisor regarding specific major courses that may be completed with their capstone. Academic Advisor approval is required for registration to be processed.

Electives

Open electives are courses students will need to take in addition to their general education and major requirements in order to satisfy the remaining credit totals for their programs. Open electives are defined as any credit course offered by the College not already included in the student's general education, major, option or minor. Students will need 120 credits total to graduate with a bachelor's degree from the Online Division of the College of Professional Studies.

Student Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Demonstrate the ability to be a self-directed student by determining individual academic objectives and activities and evaluating the resulting learning.
Attain proficiency in the knowledge, theories, methods of inquiry, and use of information resources pertinent to a substantial and coherent area of study.
Develop knowledge and skills in a specific discipline or clearly articulated interdisciplinary area at the introductory through advanced level.
Use ongoing reflective learning to articulate the progression and integration of one’s learning in the selected area of study.

Individualized Studies Options

Focus Areas

Key Benefits of UNH CPS Online

Advantages

100% online courses – Learn from anywhere with flexible scheduling.
8-week terms – Move toward your goals faster.
Affordable tuition – Among the lowest in New England and nationwide.
Nationally ranked – Best Online Bachelor’s Programs and Best Online Bachelor’s for Veterans by U.S. News & World Report.
Regionally accredited – By the New England Commission on Higher Education (NECHE).
Generous transfer credit policy – About 89% of our students transfer in; we specialize in maximizing your previous college coursework and other college-level learning.
Credit for prior learning – Earn credit for relevant work experience, military training, and other learning outside the classroom.
Rolling admissions – Apply anytime and start in the term that works for you.
No GMAT or GRE required – Streamlined admissions process.
Expert faculty – Instructors are subject matter experts who share real-world experience to help you apply what you learn to your career goals.
Career advising for life – Available to all students, alumni, and even prospective students exploring their options.

Admissions Requirements

Completion of our free, online application for admission
High school diploma, completion of a high school education in a homeschool setting under state law, or demonstrate high school equivalency.
- Successful completion of one of the following exams will be required for demonstrating high school equivalency: the GED, HiSET, or TASC

Credit for What you Know

Your Prior Learning Counts

Many of our students can demonstrate college-level knowledge gained from military, workplace and volunteer-based training, and experiences. We are experts at helping students demonstrate learning and earning academic credit.

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