School of Police Staff and Command
“The best leadership / management training I have attended in my 30-year career in law enforcement. I highly recommend this outstanding program to any law enforcement officer who desires to become a leader in their police department.” — Lt. Nelson Whitney (SPSC #426), Falls Township (PA) Police Department
Law enforcement management and leadership start at Northwestern University Center for Public Safety!
Whether completed in the classroom or online, School of Police Staff and Command (SPSC) prepares law enforcement leaders for success in senior positions.
In this internationally respected program our expert instructors not only teach the important topics, concepts and strategies necessary for leadership and managerial success — but also discuss how to effectively implement these strategies, apply the concepts, and lead situations where the problems are real and agency performance outcomes are critical.
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About SPSC
SPSC is an intensive 10-week program that prepares law enforcement managers for senior positions by uniquely combining academic principles with practical applications. Since SPSC launched in 1983, public safety executives and program alumni have enthusiastically endorsed the program.
In order to provide flexibility for departments, the SPSC is offered both online and at classroom locations throughout the US and around the world, including two sections each year at Northwestern's Evanston campus.
Program Outcomes
Improve Your Agency
Students who successfully complete SPSC are better prepared to:
- Think globally and strategically, rather than remain task-oriented
- Deliver services effectively and efficiently
- Get things done with their staff and in their community
- Analyze the environment
- Mitigate legal exposure
- Develop systems of accountability
Build Relationships
Student interaction is an important part of the SPSC experience. Fellow students are knowledgeable and experienced public safety professionals, and course activities are designed to allow students to learn from one another’s experiences, to build relationships, and to develop resources that will last long after the program has ended.
Earn College Credit
SPSC graduates are eligible to receive 6 units of credit under the Northwestern University quarter system.
Course Content
The SPSC course curriculum incorporates adult- and problem-based learning models and covers such critical topics as:
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Who Should Attend
SPSC is a dynamic police management program designed to prepare today's progressive public safety managers for senior command positions and is intended for mid- and upper-level supervisory personnel.
Participating students should have at least two years of supervisory experience and be prepared to complete upper-level (i.e., junior- and senior-level) university course work. This means that the student has the ability to:
- Write a research paper
- Perform arithmetic operations and understand elementary algebraic notation
- Read, comprehend, and retain assigned materials based on textbooks, professional journals, trade magazines, and other sources
- Complete out-of-class reading and writing assignments
SPSC is not appropriate for entry-level officers, deputies, or troopers. We recommend our course Supervision of Police Personnel for those recently appointed to their first supervisory position.
To ensure that SPSC students have sufficient time to attend class and complete out-of-class assignments, students should be released from their normal job responsibilities.
SPSC Instructors
NUCPS' expert instructors and adjunct instructors direct and teach the SPSC curricula. Most instructors are former law enforcement officers with an aggregate of more than 200 years of policing experience. Guest lecturers, including several former NUCPS students, supplement our staff and come from law enforcement agencies, educational institutions, and national organizations.
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