Public Safety Academy (PSA)
Interested in a Career in Public Safety?
The Department of Criminal Justice's Public Safety Academy provides Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (P.O.S.T.) basic law enforcement certification to students who declare a major in criminal justice and meet all P.O.S.T. mandates and requirements for acceptance into the P.O.S.T. program from the baccalaureate program on UNG's Dahlonega campus.
- Students must submit a separate application to enter the academy. Carefully review the Requirements and Application Process webpage for more information.
- This is a four-year program. Students wishing to apply to the Public Safety Academy must not have more than 29 credit hours.
- This program is only offered on the Dahlonega Campus. Transient and Transfer students are not eligible for the program.
Got Questions?
Contact us by phone or email. We are happy to answer any questions you may have regarding our program!
Dr. Butch Newkirk, Director
butch.newkirk@ung.edu
706-867-2671
Sallie Parker, Coordinator
sallie.parker@ung.edu
706-867-2853
Kevin French, PSA Instructor
kevin.french@ung.edu
706-867-2840
Trent McGuffey, PSA Instructor
trent.mcguffey@ung.edu
470-533-6981
Rusty Myers, PSA Instructor
rusty.myers@ung.edu
470-239-3138
How Does This Prepare Me to Go Into Public Safety?
Certification through the Public Safety Academy at UNG ensures you will be "job-ready" at graduation. Our academy integrates the full 809 hours as required by the Georgia Peace Officer and Standards Training Council into the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with P.O.S.T. and Forensics degree.
The following certifications are included:
Basic Certification
- Firearms and advanced shooting skills, patrol rifle, shotgun familiarization
- Emergency Vehicle Operations with PIT maneuver
- Officer Survival
- ALERRT (Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training)
- Resiliency
- Crisis Intervention Training (CIT)
- Speed Detection (Radar/Lidar)
- Standardized Field Sobriety Training
- Judgmental Simulator and Scenario Training
- Tactical Athlete
Additional Certifications
- Taser
- Pepper Spray
...it gives you more training than just the regular police academy. It gives you more time in the classroom, more time with the firearms, more time with instructors, basically just overall more training that gets you prepared."
Alexis Sutton, '19
Student, career goal to become an FBI homicide detective
What Can I Do With a Career in Public Safety?
Federal Agencies
“The University of North Georgia’s Public Safety Academy is Georgia’s first program for integrating university education and professional law enforcement training. Through the founding and mentorship of Dr. Butch Newkirk, The University of North Georgia continues to prepare its undergraduates to excel in academic advancement and law enforcement professionalism with POST certification. Graduates of this program continue to be among the most sought-after recruits throughout local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. Georgia POST is proud to work with The University of North Georgia to continue to elevate law enforcement education and training for all Georgia peace officers.”
Chris Harvey, Executive Director
Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council
