Public Safety

The Bachelor of Science in Social Science, Public Safety, is designed to prepare students for employment in professional careers or graduate school. The degree is tailored to adult learners who may or may not be working in the field of public safety and provides students the opportunity for service-based learning. The program will provide students a strong foundation of knowledge regarding the various public safety entities including: law enforcement, corrections, the courts, homeland security and emergency response. The Public Safety department is made up of faculty who specialize in public safety, homeland security, corrections, sociology, public administration, psychology, law, and social science.

Our program offers personal attention to every student through small class sizes and individualized advisement. The mission of the public safety program at Mercer University is to give the student an appreciation of critical thinking, ethics in public safety, professionalism, and life long learning. Students are also provided a basic understanding of the philosophical, theoretical, and structural aspects of the public safety field. The coursework assists students in understanding how science and technological advances have aided in the detection and apprehension of deviants and in the development of critical thinking and leadership skills as well as to communicate effectively and efficiently in various high-risk situations. In addition, students are offered field experience in which they can explore the various entities of public safety.

Student Comments

As a young person, I always believed that I would go to college some day, but after starting a family very young, it seemed that furthering my education might be a dream that might never materialize. I was the mother of one and carrying my middle child when I graduated from high school, the Honor Graduate for my class. I served as a Family Support Group Coordinator for the US Army and was nominated for a Civilian Meritorious Service Medal. When my oldest graduated from high school and applied to college, I tentatively applied too. The receipt of my acceptance letter was one of the proudest days of my life. Obtaining my BS in Social Science with a concentration in Criminal Justice from Mercer University has enabled me to experience life at another level. I have worked in the fields of probation and for the State of Georgia as a Child Support Enforcement Agent. I have collaborated with local sheriff's departments to provide the residents of Georgia valuable information on public television, and I have mentored teens in the community as a result of the knowledge obtained from Mercer University's professional and skilled faculty. Mercer University respected my time and life experiences and provided me with the education to make the most of both.

Angela “Angie” Hurst
Child Support Enforcement Agent, State of Georgia

I have been a police officer for over twenty seven years and have slowly moved up through the ranks to Major. I work for the Gwinnett County Police Department. I may be a bit biased, but I believe GCPD is the most professional and progressive law enforcement agency in the Southeastern United States. Our Chief of Police, Charles Walters strongly supports education and training. He made this abundantly clear when he took office in 2004. One of his first orders of business was to start a leadership succession program that prepared personnel to advance within the agency. He believes that future leaders should be “home grown,” not brought in from the outside. The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners supported this effort by offering pay incentives for higher education and tuition reimbursement to help cover the cost of advancing one’s education. Chief Walters put teeth in his program by informing officers that no one would be promoted to the rank of Major or above without having a bachelor’s degree; he further stated that current Majors that did not already have a degree must make significant progress towards attaining one, or risk demotion. It certainly cultivated commitment, so I started my search for what college I would attend.

I did not want to simply obtain a degree from some on-line college. I was not looking for the easy way out; I wanted to actually learn the necessary skills to become a better human being and also advance in my profession. I wanted my degree to foster respect and carry name recognition; in other words, I wanted it to mean something. Mercer University more than met my requirements. It is highly respected in the academic community; Mercer is recognized as one of the finest universities in the country. A degree from Mercer carries substance; it means that you have prepared for advancement; you want to be a contributor to your community, and to be an ethical professional in whatever field of study you chose. The journey was not easy; the academic standards at Mercer are high. However, it is a nurturing environment. The professors are all committed to helping their students achieve their degrees. Help is always available; one has only to ask.

Receiving my degree was one of the proudest moments of my life. It made all the study and sacrifice worth it. My confidence level went way up; my experience coupled with the excellent education I received at Mercer has prepared me for the future. Whenever I am with a group of my peers and the subject of education comes up, I do not have to make excuses anymore, I am a Mercer University graduate. That carries with it the reputation and prestige of a long line of very successful people. My university is respected, because it turns out future leaders. I encourage anyone looking for a real education and not just a piece of paper to consider Mercer University.

Harrell “Bart” Hulsey:
Gwinnett Co. Police Department, Major

I became a Mercer student in the fall of 2003 after having received a two-year degree at a state school in 1994. My original reasons for enrolling in the CCPS at the Henry campus were convenience, location, and the reputation of Mercer. When I first enrolled I had no idea just how much my life would be changed for the better by completing my Bachelor's degree at Mercer University. I began attending college part-time in Criminal Justice while working as a police officer for a metro Atlanta department. Over the years I have worked at different locations and jobs and am currently a security supervisor for a national corporation. Over the years, it was difficult to complete my degree while dealing with rotating work schedules and the like, but the innovative way Mercer schedules classes enabled me to do so. Mercer's accelerated nights and weekend classes at CCPS were a great help in my quest to obtain a degree, but I learned that a Mercer education goes far beyond just convenience. Being a Mercer student helped me to become well rounded and whole as a person, and in turn, that process has helped me in daily work and social settings. I know that my education has better equipped me to deal with issues on my job and has given me a greater chance for advancement in my company. As a student I can say that Mercer University fosters a sense of community among all involved. While a student may be just a number at a state school, at Mercer you are a part of a family. And as a family member you are supported by other students who genuinely want to learn, by caring teachers who realize most of their CCPS students work outside of school, and by friendly support staff and administrators who all work hard to ensure valuable learning takes place. There is a sense of purpose among the student body at Mercer and I always felt as if I could depend on other students for support when I needed help. Classes at Mercer are varied and interesting. I remember one semester taking a course that used a scientific approach to explore the pathways to human violence, only to follow up with another class the next semester that taught Christian social ethics; an experience which exemplifies a dichotomy that reflects how I often think of my Mercer experience: learning the skills needed in my profession while being able to apply them in a socially responsible way. Thanks to Mercer, at the age of 52, I am considering graduate school in either law or counseling, and there is no doubt that being a Mercer graduate has better prepared the way.

Charles Randall “Randy” Chaffin
Ford Motor Company, Security Supervisor