Bachelor's Completion Program for Public Safety Professionals

UVA's Bachelor Degree Completion Program Offers a Unique Program

A bachelor's degree from University of Virginia is within your reach. Our online Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Degree program is designed for working professionals: it offers the flexibility you need to take classes while managing personal and professional responsibilities. Through core courses and a wide range of electives, you will build communication, critical-thinking, decision-making and analytical skills that immediately improve your workplace performance. In the Public Safety Management concentration, you will gain foundational knowledge and competencies in the field in addition to gaining confidence in yourself and in your ability to lead others.

Courses required in the Public Safety Management Concentration include:

• ISBU 3610 Organizational Behavior
• ISSS 3149 Foundations of Public Safety Management
• ISSS 3760 Issues in Leadership
• ISSS 4432 Theories of Interpersonal Communications
• ISSS 4670 Organizational Change and Development
• SEC 3010 Securing the Cyber World

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Affordable Education

With opportunities for financial aid and scholarships, coordination with many employer education benefits, and an in-state tuition rate regardless of where you live, completing your degree is more affordable than ever. UVA stands as the #1 ranked top college in Virginia by Forbes magazine (2024-2025) and #3 ranked Best Value Public University by the Princeton Review (2024). 

Accessible Education 

The path to finishing a bachelor's degree looks different for every person. Begin the program with as few as 36 transferable credits or as many as 60. Our transfer credit advisers are here to review your education history, help you understand which credits will transfer, and create a personalized plan for your education journey. 

Achievable Education

We understand you are balancing personal and professional demands. From enrollment through the day you walk the UVA Lawn at graduation, you will find resources to help make learning possible at every step of the way. Our program brings UVA's School of Continuing and Professional Studies' long history of developing high quality education programs for working adults to UVA's Center for Public Safety and Justice for public safety professionals. It's a winning formula. 

Transcript of Christopher Easton Video

My name is Christopher Easton. I am assistant chief of police here at the University of Virginia Police Department, uh, rank of major. For a long time I wanted to have a degree. I wanted to go to college. I wanted to especially go to college at UVA. Um, I didn't think that I was UVA material. I didn't think that I was smart enough. I didn't think I was worthy. I didn't think that I was, uh, it was for me. I had the opportunity to go to the Criminal Justice Command College and. Actually did very well and I learned that uh UVA uh oversees the curriculum for the command college and when I put those two together, the UVA oversees that curriculum and that I did very well, it kinda clicked for me that. I might be able to do this. I applied and uh um got accepted. When I got that letter and was looking at that letter, I thought, oh my gosh, here it is. I can't believe I just got accepted to UVA. So that's what led me to uh the BIS program. I was nervous going into it. I didn't know what to expect. I thought, uh, this is gonna be tough, this is gonna be hard, uh, I'm not again still had that, that mental block that I'm not smart enough. Got in there, realized. Everybody has that feeling. I'm, I'm in there with a lot of other people at my age that are that are professionals in the same place I'm at, and it wasn't that hard. Um, as long as you set your mind straight, have your head in it, and, um, it's what you wanna do, you'll succeed. It, it's, it's a great thing. It's a great place. They're like-minded people, parents, working adults, uh, it, it, it's a good time. In the BIS program I learned how to read more efficiently. uh, I learned how to write a lot better the professors were extremely helpful. They were there when I needed them. They, uh, they were open to questions at any time. It's a, it's a very personal experience and. And they are very helpful. They're there. They want you to succeed. They're very proud of this program. They're very proud of adult learners. I got my BIS degree for myself. It was a personal goal. As a result, it's helped get me to where I am career wise uh to the assistant chief. I. Wouldn't have attained this position without uh without my BIS degree. Don't ever stop surprising yourself. That, that's what I did. I surprised myself, you know, don't. Don't ever stop, you know, just, it's, uh, it's not that hard. It, it's not as hard as I thought it was gonna be as long as you get your head in it and, and, uh, and really decide it's what you wanna do. There's no looking back.

How It Works

• Classes are taught online and students attend classes together at the same time. Classes also offer an asynchronous option, which can be completed on your own time. This structure allows for students to prioritize engagement and class discussion alongside their needs for flexibility.
• Students typically take one or two courses per term, including the summer.
• Depending on your pace and the credits you need, the degree can be completed within three years.
• Students may decide to continue their education by applying to receive a master's degree with UVA's online Master of Public Safety program

Application Dates

• To begin in the fall (August): application must be submitted by May 15
• To begin in the spring (January): application must be submitted by November 1