Upgrading That Law Enforcement Services Degree

Northern Arizona University (NAU) is one of the state's three major state universities, alongside the University of Arizona and Arizona State. Their Extended Campuses program has developed an interesting niche offering of online education programs that provide government employees an opportunity to expand and polish their educational credentials in order to move into management positions.

Many young people interested in law enforcement go through a corrections officer training program at the associate's level in order to qualify for entry level status in a sheriff's department or police agency. After several years on the beat or in the courtroom as a bailiff, many officers return to school in order to meet requirements for rising through the ranks; requirements which are often written into civil service codes.

At NAU, a law enforcement professional can turn an associate's degree or certificate into a bachelor's degree in administration of justice. Many of the private online institutions offer similar programs, provided that credits from the associate's program are transferable to a bachelor's degree program for corrections officers.

The same is true with entry level positions for the vast Homeland Security Agency, which encompasses many of the nation's federal law enforcement agencies including the FBI, Secret Service, Customs and Immigration, and those governing general internal security oversight. Many homeland security degrees offered online provide instruction in police procedures, in security operations and in the patrol functions that federal domestic law enforcement agencies require.

NAU has developed an online bachelor's program both for Public Management and for Public Agency Administration that provide the management skills needed to advance within one of the many Homeland Security Agencies. According to the Tri-Valley Central these degree programs are being offered not only as bachelor's degree programs for new incoming students, but as continuing education for those who wish to extend their careers.

Many young people enter the law enforcement field for job security and for the benefits associated with government work. After several years priorities change, and a lower level employee may want to work through the civil service system to a management position. NAU and many of the private online schools offer opportunities to earn a bachelor's degree relatively quickly applying previous credits. The Northern Arizona University program, however, was designed to a great degree to fill those gaps in an associate's degree or a certification program, and to do so as speedily as possible.