Register By: August 31
Classes Start: September 2
Stand Among Law Enforcement's Finest with a Specialized Law Enforcement Degree Online
Explore the demands, functions, goals and leadership positions of the modern police agency by earning your Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Police Administration & Operations online at Southern New Hampshire University.
Why choose a concentration in police administration and operations at SNHU?
- Median annual salary of $63,380 for police and detectives*
- Focus your studies and specialize your criminal justice skill set
- One of the lowest tuition rates in the nation – $320 per credit
- Transfer up to 90 credits toward an undergraduate degree
- Earn credit for what you already know, including basic law enforcement training
While pursuing your law enforcement degree online, you'll gain a thorough understanding of the many roles police agencies assume throughout the United States. Experienced, knowledgeable faculty will help you chart your course toward a professional career in security and law enforcement.
Get Credit for Law Enforcement Training
If you have completed a basic police, corrections or probation and parole academy training, you may receive up to 12 credits toward your criminal justice degree at SNHU.
See Yourself Succeed in Police Administration
The concentration in police administration and operations gives you a foundation in essential criminal justice principles. Your college courses in this highly focused online law enforcement degree program will take you deep into the realms of psychology, American politics and criminal law.
As a private, nonprofit university, SNHU has one mission – to help you see yourself succeed. Benefits of earning your criminal justice degree with a concentration in police administration and operations online at SNHU include:
- Affordability. Take advantage of some of the most affordable tuition rates in the nation.
- Convenience. Access your coursework when and where you want – our online classroom is available 24/7.
- Efficiency and flexibility. Complete your undergraduate degree at your own pace, over six 8-week terms throughout the academic year.
- Expert instruction. Learn from instructors with relevant, real-world experience.
- Networking. Tap into our nationwide network of alumni for internship and career opportunities.
- Simple application process. Just fill out an online undergraduate application, and we'll retrieve U.S. transcripts from your previous institutions and automatically complete an official credit evaluation. Plus, there's no application fee.
- Student support. Count on the ongoing support of dedicated academic and career advisors specialized in your area of study.
- Transfer-friendly enrollment. Transfer up to 90 credits toward an undergraduate degree.
Career Outlook
SNHU's concentration in police administration and operations was created to help graduates prepare for positions in private security and law enforcement, as well as other positions in criminal justice and related fields. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics puts growth for police and detective positions at 7% through 2026.*
Law enforcement positions may involve additional training and eligibility requirements.
Curriculum
Take your criminal justice degree to the next level with specialized knowledge and skills related to police administration and operations. In this online law enforcement degree program, students will analyze best practices in leadership of police administration and operations for managing personnel and resources that meet public safety goals.
This criminal justice degree concentration covers topics including:
- Crime analysis
- Crisis intervention
- Deployment of patrol assets
- Policy development
Jobs in the criminal justice field demand critical thinkers with tip-top communication skills. That’s why SNHU’s bachelor’s in criminal justice program includes an embedded communication certificate. Built to prepare learners with the knowledge, attitudes and skills to communicate effectively, the certificate gives students resources to improve their ability to collect and convey field-related information.
Courses To Prepare You For Your Career
SNHU's bachelor's in police administration and operations program includes:
- General education
- Degree-specific courses
General Education Program
Our programs are designed to equip you with the skills and insights you need to move forward. In recent years, employers have stressed the need for graduates with higher order skills - the skills that go beyond technical knowledge - such as:
- Writing
- Communication
- Analysis
- Problem solving
All bachelor's students are required to take general education classes. Through foundation, exploration and integration courses, students learn to think critically, creatively and collaboratively, giving you the edge employers are looking for.
View Full Curriculum in the Catalog
Courses May Include
CJ
330
Leadership and Management in Criminal Justice Organizations
This course will cover the vital and progressive information concerning workplace performance in the criminal justice profession. It will entail a discussion and analysis of the traits and characteristics of criminal justice professionals at work, along with analysis and development of performance evaluations, assessment and desired objectives for the practitioner.
CJ
331
Effective Patrol and Community Policing
This course will cover the principles and effective practices of police patrol and operations. It will analyze and discuss the preparation and the expectations of patrol and how to effectively perform all duties and functions. In addition, the course will entail an awareness and understanding of the fundamental aspects and best practices of community policing.
CJ
332
Crisis Intervention for Police
This course will introduce the student to crisis theory, concepts, intervention and strategies required for the first responder. The student will learn how to be personally effective, recognize threat levels, active listening, conduct effective mediation and negotiation for application to situations such suicidal persons, hostage taking and barricaded subjects to cite but a few.
CJ
400
Crime Analysis and Effective Police Service
This course provides the student with the assets and tools of progressive crime analysis techniques and the intrinsic relation to the delivery of effective police services. Theory, data collection methods and basic use of statistics will be introduced and applied to various goals of policing.
Program Outcomes
- Analyze best practices in leadership of police administration and operations for managing personnel and resources that meet public safety goals
- Apply various criminological theories of human behavior to the analysis of crime causation, including biological, sociological, and psychological factors and influences
- Apply principles of criminal law to promote ethical policing strategies and protect the rights and freedoms of citizens
- Apply criminological scientific methods of inquiry to arrive at reasoned decisions regarding professional practice, problem-solving, sound operational decisions, and critical evaluations
- Analyze how organizational culture, behavioral theory, planning and community relations impact and inform criminal justice leadership strategies and practice
- Evaluate the impact of emerging technologies as a tool for criminal enterprise, investigation, and on the operations of criminal justice agencies
- Evaluate transnational criminal enterprises and the impact globalization of crime has upon policing in the United States
Tuition & Fees
Tuition rates for SNHU's online degree programs are among the lowest in the nation. We offer financial aid packages to those who qualify, plus a 30% tuition discount for U.S. service members, both full and part time, and the spouses of those on active duty.
|
Online Undergraduate Programs
|
Per Course*
|
Per Credit Hour*
|
|
Degree/Certificates
|
$960 |
$320 |
Degree/Certificates
(U.S. service members, both full and part time, and the spouses of those on active duty)
|
$675 |
$225 |
*Tuition Rates are subject to change and are reviewed annually.
Additional Costs
No Application Fee, $150 Graduation Fee, Course Materials ($ varies by course)
University Accreditation
Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit institution accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education as well as several other accrediting bodies. More...
*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, on the Internet, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/protective-service/police-and-detectives.htm (viewed online May 30, 2019). Cited projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.