School of Police Staff & Command
The School of Police Staff & Command (SPSC) is an intensive leadership and management education program that helps prepare experienced law enforcement professionals for success in senior command positions.
Since its inception in 1983, law enforcement agencies throughout the U.S. and around the globe have recognized the important impact SPSC makes on their leadership and management teams. Through an innovative combination of academic principles with practical applications, the SPSC curriculum focuses on such critical areas as planning and policies, media relations, organizational behavior, budgeting and resource allocation, human resources, contemporary policing, and more.
Students who successfully complete SPSC are better prepared to:
Research is a key component of SPSC, and all students are required to write an objective, well-documented staff study addressing a problem or issue currently affecting the student’s organization. Because the student’s research project originates from a timely and critical issue facing that student’s agency, the new knowledge can be put to use immediately.
SPSC adjunct instructors and guest lecturers are experts in their respective SPSC units. They enhance the program's learning experience by not only teaching critical concepts and strategies — but also how to effectively implement the concepts, apply the strategies, and lead situations where the problems are real and agency outcomes are critical.
Fellow students are experienced public safety professionals, and course activities are designed to allow for class members to learn from one another’s experiences and to build relationships and networks that will last long after graduation. SPSC is not appropriate for entry-level officers, deputies, or troopers. We recommend Supervision of Police Personnel for those recently appointed to their first supervisory position.
Prospective students can select an on-ground or online experience. The curriculum is the same no matter which format a student chooses.
Those who register for SPSC On-Ground will be in the classroom for a total of 10 weeks. To ensure that students have sufficient time to attend class and complete out-of-class reading and writing assignments, they should be released from normal job responsibilities during the course.
Different course locations may offer schedule variations, with weeks off for holidays or between units. Specific weekly schedules are posted on the registration page for each individual SPSC class.
SPSC Online (SPSCO) provides students with the same curriculum as our on-ground SPSC program but with the added benefits of a longer time frame, being able to remain on the job while completing the course, and the convenience of studying and participating from home, office, or wherever else life takes you.
SPSCO is asynchronous, meaning that there are no specific times at which students must login to the course site; however, consistent participation is expected and students must complete course assignments by set due dates. SPSC Online students should expect to dedicate 20 to 30 hours per week on this course and receive course deadlines and participation requirements to maintain each week. Click here to learn more about NUCPS Online Learning.
On-Ground Tuition: $4,400+ (varies by location) | Online Tuition: $4,200
Prerequisites: 2 years of supervisory experience; completion of Supervision of Police Personnel is highly recommended.
Northwestern University credit: 6 units of credit under the Northwestern University quarter system.
Students who successfully complete NUCPS' three core leadership and management courses — Supervision of Police Personnel, School of Police Staff & Command, and the Executive Management Program) are eligible to apply for the NUCPS Executive Leadership Award. Learn more . . .
