Public Safety Academy (PSA)

What Can I Do with a Career in Public Safety?

How Does This Program 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 also provides extensive training including in-service that exceeds far beyond the basic certification requirements. The following certifications are included:

Basic Certification

Basic law enforcement mandate certification (including First Aid/CPR, emergency vehicle operations, and firearms, pepper spray) at the time of graduation with a Bachelor's of Science in Criminal Justice.

Additional Certifications Included in UNG's Academy

Taser certification
ASP baton certification
Patrol rifle familiarization
Standardized field sobriety
Radar/Lidar

"... 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

Where Could This Program Lead You?

Where Our Students Have Interned

Georgia Bureau of Investigation
Georgia State Patrol
U.S. Marshall Service
Federal Bureau of Investigation
U.S. Secret Service
Enotah District Attorney's Office
Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office
Roswell Police Department
Alpharetta Police Department
Gwinnett Police Department
Hall County Sheriff’s Office
Atlanta Police Department
Georgia Department of Supervision
Georgia Department of Natural Resources

Where Our Grads Have Found Jobs

Georgia Bureau of Investigation
Georgia State Patrol
U.S. Secret Service
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Victim Witness Assistance Program, Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office
Lumpkin County Sheriff's Office
Lumpkin County District Attorney's Office
Hall County Distric Attorney's Office
Dunwoody Police Department
Forsyth County Sheriff's Office
Johns Creek Police Department
Roswell Police Department
Alpharetta Police Department
Roswell Police Department
Gwinnett Police Department
Georgia Department of Community Supervision
Georgia Department of Natural Resources
Department of Corrections
State Board of Pardons and Paroles
UNG Department of Public Safety
Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council
Georgia Probation Management

Where Our Grads Have Gone to Grad School

University of North Georgia
University of South Carolina
University of Georgia
Georgia State University
Florida State University
University of Florida

P.O.S.T.

"The Peace Officers Standards and Training Council (P.O.S.T.) is delighted to have had a hand in establishing this unique and dynamic program at the University of North Georgia to train the best and brightest law enforcement officers in Georgia and beyond. With a college degree, P.O.S.T. certification, and your good work ethic and enthusiasm you will be putting yourself on a fast track with any local, state, or federal law enforcement agency."

Ken Vance, Executive Director
Georgia Peace Officers Standards and Training Council

Public Safety Academy Students in Action

Firing Range
Defensive Tactics
Emergency Vehicle Operator's Course
Simulation Lab
Night Fire
Speed Detection Certification
Misdemeanor Traffic Stops
Pepper Spray Certification

Find out more about the Public Safety Academy at UNG!

Questions?

Be sure to check out "Requirements and Application Process" for how to enroll in our program.

You can also reach us by phone or email. We'd be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding our program!

PSA Contact Info

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