There are those born to serve their communities on the front lines and those born to lead behind the scenes. The criminal justice system needs both. Great leaders help police officers, detectives, and other branches of law enforcement do great work. They're a vital element in every aspect of the profession. SNHU's Bachelor of Science (BS) in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Police Administration and Operations can help you become the kind of leader the law enforcement field needs today and tomorrow. You'll explore the demands, functions, and evolving state of the modern police force. You'll learn the many roles of police agencies across the country. And you'll gain a foundation in criminal justice principles as you dive deep into psychology, American politics, and criminal law. At the root of every career in the criminal justice system is a desire to help. As a leader in criminal justice education, SNHU is committed to helping you learn how you can help. Earning your online law enforcement degree is the first step.

Learn how to:

- Analyze crimes using advanced tools and techniques

- Balance real-world demands with tight budgets

- Develop performance evaluations and set goals

- Think critically, solve problems and communicate effectively

- Shape and set expectations for community policing

- Work behind the scenes to make a police agency succeed

Members of law enforcement hold a unique role in society. Every traffic stop or knocks on the door carries with it an enormous responsibility. It also highlights the need for strong communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, along with cultural competency and emotional intelligence. Maria Daniel with text Maria DanielCommunity policing is a core component of SNHUs law enforcement degree. María Daniel, who practices law in Philadelphia and teaches in SNHU's criminal justice program, addressed this topic on a recent panel of criminal justice experts for SNHUs Contemporary Justice Series. She stressed that the issues facing the criminal justice system go beyond the nation's police departments to inequities in the treatment of minorities.

"I think that all of us have an obligation to be the change, Daniel said. We have to be the light in the darkness, whatever our role in the criminal justice system. We have to treat people as humans first, and we have to be transparent in our shortcomings and say, I can do better. In recent years, SNHU worked with faculty and subject matter experts to rethink our whole criminal justice curriculum. Our law enforcement degree reflects that work."

"It also reinforces our commitment to provide the skills and experiences you'll need to bring to the workforce. We have a bigger responsibility than just delivering content, said Dr. Jeff Czarnec, associate dean of SNHUs criminal justice and social science programs. Our biggest responsibility is to add value to the program by looking to develop culturally competent public safety people. As a criminal justice student, you'll see this focus on cultural competency in both your online law enforcement electives and your core courses."

You'll gain a solid foundation in cultural awareness, communication, discretion, problem-solving, and other essential criminal justice principles. You'll also learn how to align best practices for managing police operations with public safety goals. The law enforcement degree program also integrates new learning resources that build a criminal justice communication certificate a bonus if you want to move up the ranks. Designed to develop the knowledge, attitudes, and skills to communicate effectively with a range of communities, the certificate focuses on enhancing your ability to accurately convey essential information.

The online law enforcement degree concentration covers topics ranging from crime analysis to policy development and consists of these 4 courses:

- Crime Analysis and Effective Police Service. Explore the assets and tools of progressive crime analysis techniques and their relationship to the delivery of effective police services. Learn to apply theory, data collection methods, and basic use of statistics to various goals of policing.

- Crisis Intervention for Police. Study crisis theory, intervention, and strategies required for first responders. Learn how to recognize threat levels, listen actively, and conduct effective mediation and negotiations in situations like attempted suicides, hostage-taking, and barricaded subjects.

- Effective Patrol and Community Policing. Examine the principles and effective practices of police patrol and operations. Discuss and analyze how to prepare and set expectations for patrol officers. Study the fundamental aspects and best practices of community policing.

- Leadership and Management in Criminal Justice Organizations. Learn how to lead and manage in the criminal justice workplace. Explore the traits and characteristics of criminal justice professionals at work. Develop performance evaluations and goals. SNHUs online criminal justice degree core and specialized courses are taught by highly regarded, accomplished faculty with years of real-world, hands-on experience. Our online faculty reflect the advanced academic qualifications and practical experience of a top-ranked, accredited university.

Our criminal justice faculty have experience working for major law enforcement agencies, including:

- Atlanta Police Department

- Chicago Police Department

- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

- Homeland Security

- Houston Police Department

- Miami Police Department

- New York City Police Department (NYPD)

Expanding access to quality higher education means removing the barriers that may stand between you and your degree. That's why you can apply at any time and get a decision within days of submitting all required materials:

- Completed free undergraduate application

- Prior transcripts, which we can retrieve at no cost to you

- Test scores are not required as part of your application Acceptance decisions are made on a rolling basis throughout the year for our 6 (8-week) undergraduate terms.

$150 Graduation Fee, Course Materials ($ varies by course)