As the number of law enforcement professionals seek nontraditional ways to further their education as part of their career advancement, the demand for online education continues to increase. To meet the needs of working law enforcement professionals, The University of Olivet launched its new online Criminal Justice Professional Degree program on January 8. The program offers Michigan law enforcement professionals an accelerated pathway for completion of a bachelor’s degree.
The University of Olivet is proud to welcome 10 law enforcement professionals (police officers, sergeants and lieutenants) to the inaugural class. The men and women come from numerous counties including, Eaton, Barry, Calhoun, and Ingham.
DESIGNED FOR WORKING PROFESSIONALS
The program is designed for working professionals. Professional and life experience, including Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) training, may be applied toward completing the bachelor’s degree in just five semesters. With all classes taught online, students are required to attend just two class periods on campus. The online degree completion program allows students the flexibility and convenience to work at their own pace, while providing opportunities to work together during each semester.
“We are excited to launch this unique online education program for law enforcement professionals who desire to further their education,” said Jim Weidman, director of admissions. “The University of Olivet’s program explores the strategic procedures and leadership skills needed for managing local and government law enforcement resources.” By embedding the criminal justice courses with liberal arts courses, students gain critical thinking, complex problem solving, and written and oral communication skills, as well as applied knowledge in real-world settings.
The online learning environment provides the same quality learning experience students receive in a face-to-face setting.
Required courses include:
- Homeland Security
- Legal Issues
- Client Relations
- Creative Non-Fiction Writing
- Civilization Studies
- Nature, Technology and Humanity
- Social Issues in Criminal Justice
- Police Administration
- Statistics
- Professional Seminar
- Senior Seminar
The following courses are available as elective courses:
- Emergency Management
- Criminal Behavior
- Juvenile Delinquency
- Psycho-social Issues – Gender
- Report Writing
- Environmental Law
A TRUSTED LEADER
“The University of Olivet Criminal Justice Program is unlike others offered. The faculty is comprised of men and women who have had careers in law enforcement at the city, county or state level,” said Associate Professor Regina Armstrong, Ph.D., OC’s criminal justice director and correction officer academy director. “Instructors have years of experience working in law enforcement, making it easier for both instructor and student to relate to one another and work together toward the common goal of degree completion.” In addition, using actual crimes as learning tools prepares students to work in the criminal justice field. One example is the Cold Case course that allows students to work with local law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and the courts to solve crimes that have been unsolved for many years. The University of Olivet stands out from other criminal justice schools because of these types of hands-on learning opportunities.
“The University of Olivet Criminal Justice program is a trusted program throughout the state of Michigan,” Weidman added. “Its four-year graduates who go on to police training academies are routinely ranked number one and two in their class. In addition, 98 percent of students who major in corrections at The University of Olivet are employed after graduation. Law enforcement professionals who chose to complete their bachelor’s degree through the The University of Olivet online program will graduate undoubtedly ready and able to advance in their careers and become great leaders in their departments.”
TAKE YOUR LAW ENFORCEMENT CAREER TO THE NEXT LEVEL
Enrollment for the fall semester begins August 20. To learn more about the program, financial aid or to enroll, visit www.olivetcollege.edu/cjprofessional or contact Jim Weidman, director of admissions, at 269.749.6612 or jweidman@uolivet.edu.