A cohort of 43 students will begin their journey toward attaining a baccalaureate degree in Public Safety Management this fall at San Diego Miramar College. The College is the latest two-year public institution in California to offer a 4-year degree after receiving approval from the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office in October of 2023.

Since gaining approval, Miramar College has been hard at work creating a curriculum to offer high quality upper division 300 and 400 level courses. The College will provide two clear tracks for students, one in emergency management and another in law enforcement.

“I want to commend our faculty and staff for all their tireless efforts in making this a reality,” said Dr. Wes Lundburg, president of San Diego Miramar College. “Our folks had a short time to put together a program and they did it.” Lundburg went on to say, “This is great news for local students and current public safety employees looking to obtain a degree in the public safety sector. Since 1969, Miramar College has been home to the San Diego Regional Public Safety Institute, which has provided training for most of the region’s first responders. This bachelor’s degree will not only strengthen the community’s trust in us, but it will allow for first responders to be in line for promotions and salary advancements that come with obtaining a 4-year degree.”

Nearly all of the currently enrolled students are working professionals in fire service, law enforcement, lifeguard operations, or emergency medical response. The program’s 22 upper division options range from Contemporary Public Safety Practices and Ethics in Public Safety to Strategic Planning in Public Safety Management and Advanced Criminal Investigation for Law Enforcement. The inaugural baccalaureate cohort concludes with a semester-long, research project in the spring of 2027.

The structure of the Miramar College degree program will also allow for credit for prior learning, thus accelerating the pathway to degree completion. “First responders often attend a magnitude of training and education from a variety of institutions,” said Darren Hall, program director for the Miramar College Fire Technology Program. “This degree leverages credit for prior learning, ensuring the most direct pathway for students pursuing higher education opportunities”

Miramar College is perfectly suited to house such a program as its School of Public Safety already offers 10 associate of science degrees, 13 certificates of achievement, 10 certificates of performance and hosts the Regional Public Safety Training Institute. 

The California Community College System is the single largest provider of public safety education and training within the state servicing more than 33,500 full time equivalent students annually with public safety and services jobs comprising over 14.5% of the state’s entire workforce. San Diego Miramar College is the ideal location for a Bachelor of Science in Public Safety Management given workforce partnerships, industry accreditation and natural scaffolding from existing associate of science degrees in public safety programs, especially given the identified need for future emergency management director and public safety management positions forecasted for employment in California.

According to the California Community College’s Chancellor’s Office, research has shown that community college baccalaureate programs excel at providing affordable, flexible higher education opportunities to students who are often nontraditional, low-income and place bound. By serving a racially diverse student population, community college baccalaureate programs also play a crucial role in closing equity gaps, which aligns with the goals of Vision 2030. San Diego Miramar College’s program in Public Safety Management will help graduates qualify for high-wage positions in their region, bolster their upward mobility, and strengthen their communities. 

Miramar College will now join its fellow San Diego Community College District institutions in offering a bachelor’s degree as part of California’s Community College Baccalaureate program. Mesa College’s Health Information Management program is celebrating its 10^th anniversary this year. City College’s Cyber Defense and Analysis program was launched in 2024 and will graduate its first class of students next May. Students can earn a four-year degree for $10,500, allowing them to begin their careers with little to no debt.