Hero Image

College of Justice, Safety & Military Science

College of Justice, Safety & Military Science

Join the Public Safety Professionals Essential to the Well-Being of our Communities

Prepare for a rewarding career and to enhance the quality of life in your community

The College of Justice, Safety and Military Science at Eastern Kentucky University is one of the largest of its type in the United States and is one of the six colleges that comprise the academic structure of the University. Within the College of Justice, Safety and Military Science is the School of Justice Studies, the School of Safety, Security, and Emergency Management, and the Department of Military Science and Leadership (Army ROTC). Faculty in the College are nationally and internationally known for their teaching, research, and service.

Learn More


Loading…

Discover Our Facilities

The College of Justice, Safety, and Military Science is housed in the Stratton Building in the Robert R. Martin Complex. The Advising Center can help you with all your degree planning options, and Posey Auditorium is the perfect venue for student spotlight events, guest speakers, and awards ceremonies. Enjoy a meal from the Stratton Café on the patio, schedule a study session in the Student Hub, or use one of the computers located in the Commonwealth Credit Union Lounge.

The Emergency Medical Care Lab is located on the first floor of the Stratton Building, where students participate in hands-on training. The lab features the latest medical equipment and an ambulance simulation lab.

The Fire and Safety Program is housed in the Ashland, Inc. Fire and Safety Lab. The Ashland Building is home to a fire protection system lab, fire extinguisher service lab, and a multipurpose high bay lab. The newest addition to the lab and classroom space is a seven-room test burn facility.

The Richard H. Bogard Fire Protection System lab currently houses 24 sprinkler risers. The lab also holds a hydrant, PIV valve, and other water supply testing equipment that is used as part of the sprinklers and hydraulics class. Also used in this course and housed in the lab are operating systems and cut-away components.

The program purchased a new Pumper Truck from Sutphen Manufacturing in 2009. This truck is housed in the Ashland Building and is used as a training and educational tool for our students.

The center aligns faculty experts and resources across the university to support inter-disciplinary programs in wilderness medicine, wildland firefighting, conservation law enforcement, search and rescue, and wilderness risk management.

The center also delivers certification courses, available to the public, in Wilderness First Aid and Wilderness First Responder, as well as specialized wilderness EMS training for EMTs, Paramedics, Nurses, Physicians, Athletic Trainers, and advanced practice providers in other healthcare disciplines.

Custom training courses are also available. For inquiries, contact center director David Fifer at david.fifer@eku.edu.

Student Stories & Features


Message from Dean Derek Paulsen

Welcome to the College of Justice, Safety and Military Science at Eastern Kentucky University. We hope you will take a few minutes to explore our academic programs, course offerings, faculty profiles, and research institutes.

The School of Justice Studies and the School of Safety, Security, and Emergency Management brings together an exceptional and diverse collection of scholars of justice and safety whose life work is devoted to outstanding teaching, high-quality research, and meaningful service.

Our faculty are recognized both nationally and internationally for their accomplishments in the arena of justice and safety, and our graduates hold leadership positions in every field of justice and safety throughout the world.

Professional photo of Derek Paulsen

If you are serious about the studies and practices of justice and safety, we invite you to join this remarkable collection of scholars.

– Derek Paulsen, Dean of the College of Justice, Safety and Military Science


Upcoming Events

March 2025
MoTuWeThFrSaSu
242526272812
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31123456
Calendars
Venues
Days of the Week
Time of Day
List
Grid
Plain
Thu
13

2025 EKU Living with Animals Conference

March 13, 2025 at 8:00 am – March 15, 2025 at 5:00 pmcalendar-multiday
Thu
13

Feel Better Fast! Weekly Drop-in Workshops to Improve Mood

at recurcalendar-day
Fri
14
Fri
14

Feel Better Fast! Weekly Drop-in Workshops to Improve Mood

at recurcalendar-day

News & Updates

Students Take Their Research to Harvard, Representing EKU at the National Level

In January, six Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) students traveled to Harvard University and presented their research at the National Collegiate Research Conference (NCRC). This marked the second time students from EKU attended the conference, following recommendations from faculty mentors. “Our students being accepted to showcase their research at the NCRC—at Harvard—shows the massive potential of […]

Aviation Careers Beyond the Cockpit: EKU Graduates Soar in Aerospace Management

Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) isn’t just preparing students to pilot planes—it’s launching them into high-powered careers managing some of Kentucky’s most critical aviation hubs. From strategic innovation to airport operations, EKU aviation alumni are proving that aerospace management offers dynamic, impactful career paths. Hannah Meredith, ’15, leads innovation initiatives as the senior manager of strategic […]

Sky’s the Limit with EKU’s Innovative UAS Program

Controller in hand, the drone lifts off the ground and rises steadily and effortlessly into the sky. Under the operator’s control, it soars through the landscape transmitting valuable data and information for a variety of applications. Learning how to operate an unmanned aircraft system, or drone, as well as mission planning and execution are some […]

Contact Information

College of Justice, Safety & Military Science

Stratton Building
Room 354

4453 Kit Carson Drive
Richmond, KY 40475

859-622-3565
jus.dean@eku.edu