Courses and Programs
Executive Leadership Program, Washington, D.C.
The Executive Leadership Program is heading to Washington, D.C. for the Summer 2026 cohort
The Executive Leadership Program (ELP) provides senior leaders with a 21st century approach to public safety by adopting a multidisciplinary and “whole-of-community” methodology. The program is a one-week course, with site visits, intended to challenge international public safety leaders and enhance their analysis, coordination, and response capabilities to the evolving threats to public safety. Structured specifically for public sector professionals and policymakers, it employs an interdisciplinary academic and experiential learning environment. Participants strengthen their cross-functional skills through immersion in key issues and best practices presented by world-class researchers, policy experts, and practitioners in public safety. The ELP is intended for senior leaders from the United States and abroad.
The program course topics are divided into four modules:
- Leadership – Collaborative Governance; Values-Driven Leadership; Crisis Management; Decision making and Metrics; Negotiation Strategies
- Emerging Threats – Violent Crimes; Hate Crimes and Incidents; Cyber Warfare
- Technology – Social Media; Drones Technology
- Community Engagement – Violence Reduction Strategies; Gang/Community Intervention
Next Course Offering: June 1-5, 2026 (8:00AM – 5:00PM)
Location: University of Southern California Capital Campus, 1771 N St NW, Washington, DC 20036
Admission Requirements
PSI invites applications from senior leaders with executive or command-level responsibilities from public safety backgrounds, including law enforcement, fire, health, social work, government and education. Admission is selective and based on professional achievement and organizational responsibility.
Registration deadline: May 15, 2026
Program Cost: $3,500
Please email [email protected] if you have any questions.
Public Safety Leadership Certificate Program
Public safety in the 21st century requires a holistic approach. Effective leadership and collaboration between public safety disciplines is essential to meet the complex challenges facing society today.
The Public Safety Leadership Certificate Program provides students with a solutions-centered approach to public safety by adopting a multidisciplinary and “whole-of-community” methodology.
The PSLP course is divided into four modules:
- Community Engagement – Mental health, homelessness, civil rights/liberties, working with marginalized groups, community/gang intervention and outreach strategies.
- Leadership – Collaborative leadership, negotiation, ethics, conflict resolution, governance, metrics, employee wellness, emergency management, crisis communication and case studies.
- Global Threats – Terrorism, gangs, human/sex trafficking, drug cartels, intelligence, emerging threats and hate crimes.
- Technology – Cybersecurity and open-source intelligence, social media, cyber-crimes, drones, and artificial intelligence.
Next Course Offering: Spring 2026
- Orientation: Wednesday, January 21 (8am – 12pm)
- Session 1: Thursday, January 29 & Friday, January 30
- Session 2: Thursday, February 19 & Friday, February 20
- Session 3: Thursday, March 19 & Friday, March 20
- Session 4: Thursday, April 16 & Friday, April 17
- Session 5: Thursday, May 7 & Friday, May 8
- Certificate Ceremony Lunch will be held on Friday, May 8, 2026
DEADLINE TO APPLY: Friday, December 19, 2025
Admission Requirements
PSI invites applications from students with public safety backgrounds, including law enforcement, fire, EMS, health, social work, and education, as well as from local, state, and federal agencies. Admission is selective and based on professional achievement and organizational responsibility. Applying to this program requires completion of an online application. The cost to attend in person is $5,500 per student. The program fee covers tuition, parking, breakfast and materials.
For questions, please e-mail [email protected].
Safe School Climate Certificate Program
University of Southern California Sol Price School of Public Policy, Public Safety Initiatives (PSI), offers a Trainer Certification Course (TCC) for K-12 School leaders who are interested in receiving a Safe School Climate Certificate (SSCC). The Safe School Climate Certificate program will engage participants with critical insight on emerging trends impacting a safe learning environment. The SSCC prepares educational leaders with the knowledge base, technical skills and program development methods needed to effectively establish a safe and supportive school climate for all students and staff. This comprehensive certification program goes beyond just building capacity in educational leaders, it will equip participants with the essential tools and proven strategies to increase engagement in students and effectively build a safe school climate.
The program course topics are divided into these modules:
- Threat Assessment Planning
- School Safety Plans
- Youth Participatory Action Research (Student Voice)
- Mental Health and Violence Prevention
- Restorative Practices
- Multi-tiered System of Support (MTSS)
- Data Integration
Participants of safe school climate certificate program will learn how to:
- Target core campus issues impacting a Safe School Climate, using sources of quantitative and qualitative data to implement effective interventions.
- Utilize Student Voice as a source of program development that works alongside LCAP/ESSA, PBIS/MTSS, School Safety Plans and Mental Wellness planning for all students.
- Learn the fundamental strategies of developing threat assessment plans.
- Establish a Stakeholders network to increase community.
- Develop Site Specific School Safety Plans.
- Develop Activities that create lines of communication and build community amongst students and staff.
- School Safety planning and prevention strategies to address critical risk factors impacting safe school climate.
Objectives:
- The SSCC will delve into the mechanism of the school action plans to implement an evidence based Youth Participatory Action Research model on a school campus.
- This will include data integration, action planning and situational learning.
- Participants will learn how to develop school safety plans and align student engagement programs to serves as an extension of their MTSS/PBIS initiatives.
- Topic Specific Capacity Development – A diverse cross-section of content experts will build knowledge of specific safe school topics.
- These topics include Youth Participatory Action Research, School Safety Plans, Data Integration, Mental Health, PBIS/MTSS, Threat Assessment, School Law Enforcement Partnerships, and School Violence Prevention.
- Participants will learn the mechanism to utilize as part of the overall action plans.
Course Dates and Cost:
Spring 2026 dates:
February 28: In-person (8am – 5pm)
March 5, 12, 19, 26: Online (5pm – 7pm)
April 11: In-person (8am – 5pm)
April 9, 16, 30: Online (5pm – 7pm)
May 7: Online (5pm – 7pm)
May 9: In-person (8am – 5pm)
In-person dates will have one hour for lunch.
Cost: $5,995
Location: University of Southern California
Time: 8:30am to 4:30 pm Monday – Friday
Deadline: February 13, 2026
Student Testimonials
For more than 70 years, PSI has offered educational programs to public safety leaders and scholars. View the videos below to learn more about how PSI programs can help public safety professionals enhance their knowledge and advance their goals.
Byron Blair, Administrative Sergeant for Long Beach Chief of Police
Alisa Finsten, Director of Grants and Finance, Homeland Security & Public Safety, LA Mayor’s Office
Alisa Finsten and Byron Blair
ELP Testimonials
“I am grateful for how the Executive Leadership Program broadened my perspective as a law enforcement professional. The partnerships the program fosters, along with its emphasis on a whole-of-community approach to public safety, are invaluable for any leader. The balanced blend of real-life operational experience from seasoned leaders and insights from academic experts has enhanced the impact I can make within my own organization.”
Chief Mike Alvarez
California Highway Patrol
“The USC Executive Leadership Program has afforded me an invaluable career development curriculum in leadership, understanding emerging threats, leveraging technology, and community engagement to strategize violence and harm reduction. But beyond the course studies, the networking connections, whether in the public or private sector, are and continue to be the cornerstone and strength of the program. My ELP cohort consists of leaders who work collaboratively and effectively beyond one week of coursework and believe in a lifelong commitment to leadership development.”
Captain Alexander Chogyoji
Los Angeles Police Department
PSLP Testimonials
“Attending the USC Safe Communities Institute’s Public Safety Leadership Program was a transformative experience. The program offered invaluable insights into contemporary public safety challenges and innovative leadership strategies. The faculty’s expertise, coupled with engaging discussions and real-world case studies, provided a comprehensive understanding of effective community safety practices of law enforcement, fire and EMS. I left empowered to make a meaningful impact in my organization and community. Highly recommended for anyone looking to enhance, validate or update their leadership skills in public safety.”
Deputy Fire Chief Mike Inman
Los Angeles County Fire Department
“The USC Public Safety Leadership Certificate Program was an incredible experience that exceeded my expectations. I appreciated the opportunities to network and connect with a diverse group of passionate law enforcement and fire professionals across California. The small, cohort-style learning environment provided a platform for meaningful conversations and to exchange ideas and experiences. We addressed current public safety topics and had subject matter experts as guest speakers to share their valuable insights and best practices. This program deepened my knowledge base, strengthened my professional network and leadership skills, and left me better equipped to address the challenges in my role..”perience. I highly reccommend it to anyone looking for great digital marketing services!”
Eugenia Luu
UC Davis Police Department