- Budgeting
- Communications & Media Relations
- Contemporary Policing
- Critical Incidents
- Decision Making
- Employee Relations
- Employment Law
- Evaluating Products & Services
- Executive Image
- Grant Writing
- Human Resources & Employee Discipline
Prepare to Lead
School of Police Staff & Command (SPSC) offers an unparalleled education in public safety leadership and management that helps experienced law enforcement professionals succeed in senior command positions.
Since 1983, SPSC has graduated more than 565 classes — more than 21,000 students — consisting of the some of the best and brightest professionals in the field.
The SPSC Advantage
"[The grant] never would have happened if it weren’t for the training that I received at NUCPS, where I learned where to locate such grants and then in turn how to write them. This was my first time writing a grant . . .. It's really opened so much." — SPSC #535 Graduate & Shaker Heights (OH) Police Dept. Commander Daniel Grispino on obtaining a $400,000 grant for his agency
Since its inception 40 years ago, law enforcement agencies throughout the U.S. and around the globe have recognized the important impact SPSC makes on their leadership and management teams.
Students who successfully complete SPSC are better prepared to:
- Think globally rather than remain task-oriented;
- Deliver services effectively and efficiently;
- Successfully accomplish team-oriented projects and tasks;
- Analyze the environment;
- Mitigate legal exposure; and,
- Develop systems of accountability.
SPSC Curriculum
The School of Police Staff and Command (SPSC) is the most academically rigorous program available for experienced mid- and upper-level supervisory personnel. Through an innovative combination of academic principles blended with practical applications, our intensive curriculum focuses on areas critical to successful senior law enforcement leadership and management. In addition to lectures, our curriculum is designed for practical application of academic principles plus course activities that encourage class members to learn from one another’s experiences. Participating students should have at least two years of supervisory experience.
Students in the on-ground and online programs study the same SPSC curriculum, which includes the following topics:
- Leadership Principles
- Officer Wellness
- Organizational Behavior
- Strategic Planning & Policies
- Performance Appraisals & Job Design
- Project Management
- Recruiting
- Resource Allocation
- Statistics
- Traffic
University-Level Work
Students should be prepared to complete university-level course work. This means that they are able to:
- Write an annotated research paper.
- Perform mathematic operations and understand elementary algebraic notation.
- Read, comprehend, and retain assigned materials based on textbooks, professional journals, trade magazines, and other sources.
- Schedule time to complete out-of-class reading and writing assignments and study.
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 final study can be put to use immediately.
Please note: Students who enroll in our 10-week, on-ground course should be released from their regular job responsibilities to ensure that they have sufficient time to attend class, complete homework assignments, and study for unit tests.
Download a printable, detailed PDF about the SPSC Curriculum.
Select On-Ground or Online
Prospective students can select an on-ground or online experience. The curriculum is the same no matter which format a student chooses.
SPSC On-Ground
SPSC On-Ground students are in the classroom for a total of 10 weeks. To ensure that students have sufficient time to attend class and to complete college-level reading and writing assignments, they should be released from normal job responsibilities during their 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
SPSC Online (SPSCO) provides the same curriculum as our on-ground SPSC program but with the added benefits of a longer time frame, the ability 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 and instructor led, meaning that there are no specific times at which students must login to the course site; however, consistent participation is expected. Students also must complete course assignments by set due dates. SPSC Online students should expect to dedicate 20 to 30 hours per week on this course to complete assignments and maintain participation requirements. Click here to learn more about NUCPS Online Learning.
Tuition, Prerequisites & University Credit
On-Ground Tuition: $4400+ (varies by location) | Online Tuition: $4,200
Prerequisites: 2 years of supervisory experience; completion of Supervision of Police Personnel is highly recommended. 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.
Northwestern University credit: 6 units of credit under the Northwestern University quarter system.
Expert Instructors
Our carefully selected SPSC course directors, adjunct instructors, and guest lecturers are experts in their fields. 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.SPSC News & Resources
