Graduate Certificate in Criminal Justice Leadership

Credit Hours

Month Completion

Class Type

100% onlineSee state availability

Next Start Date

Jan 6, 2025

Placement Tests

GMAT/GRE not required for admission

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Home / Microcredentials & Certificates / Graduate Certificates / Criminal Justice Leadership

Enhance your leadership skillset

From community policing and crime prevention to prison overcrowding and reentry, solutions to reform the criminal justice system for the 21st century will require forward-thinking leadership.

Earning a certificate in Criminal Justice Leadership equips you with an in-field credential that prepares you to build specialized knowledge quickly so that you can be a change agent in the dynamic field of criminal justice. The accelerated, convenient format means you can complete your coursework in as few as six months without taking time away from your job.

Program Availability

Online

On Site

Program Overview

Spearhead systematic change

Taught by seasoned professionals within the criminal justice industry, the certificate curriculum provides you with a holistic view of criminal justice systems – from how policy is made to the impact of laws and how they are enforced. Recognized for excellence in online instruction, courses are embedded with interactive learning tools and emphasize on-the-job challenges to facilitate learning.

Build the knowledge you need for advancement

Get practical insight to help you stand out and be recognized. Real world examples – like a pill mill case study – will illustrate how the entire criminal justice system operates – including the roles of a judge, prosecutor, witnesses and the application of the RICO statute. And if you think teaching may be in your future, completing this certificate could help satisfy the educational requirements needed to become a criminal justice instructor.

Dig deep into relevant issues & strategies impacting law enforcement

Learn to create new strategies by examining and evaluating trending topics in the Criminal Justice field from data-driven and evidence-based practice perspectives. Prosecutorial discretion, use of force, intelligence-led policing, community partnerships and behavior analysis are just some of the subjects you’ll study when forming new strategic approaches. You will also learn to employ problem-based learning to explore ethical leadership principles and their relationship to legal and regulatory issues within criminal justice.

Earn a certificate created & taught by industry experts

You’ll benefit by learning from instructors who are successful professionals with robust experience in Criminal Justice-related fields, including law enforcement. And because our curriculum is reviewed by a highly-accomplished advisory board, you can be sure the Criminal Justice Leadership Certificate is designed to align with industry standards.

Get a head start on your master’s degree at Franklin

All 16 credits earned as part of the Criminal Justice Leadership certificate transfer toward the credits required for the M.A. in Criminal Justice Administration. This is a great way for you to become familiar with graduate-level courses and see if a master’s degree is right for you without committing to a whole program of study right away. Moreover, because there’s no GRE requirement with a GPA of 2.75 or higher, you can get started right away.

Finish your criminal justice certificate online in six months

Quickly learn what you need to build your knowledge and position yourself for success. Franklin University specializes in meeting the educational needs of ambitious professionals, so our entire program is designed to be completed online in six months so you don't need to re-arrange your life around your education. Furthermore, if you’ve completed the Certified Law Enforcement Executive Program (CLEE), you can transfer in four credits toward your certificate requirements and finish even faster.

Curriculum & Course Descriptions

16 Semester Hours

Major Area Required

CJAD 700 - Effective Administration of Justice (4)

Within the scope of the foundations of justice and administration and social, financial, legal and political opportunities and challenges, students will apply strategic decision making strategies to analyze the communicative structures, practices, and performance of organizations in the administration of justice. Specific goals, challenges, and leadership theories will be holistically summarized and synthesized to develop solutions within the courts, law enforcement, and corrections, in both not-for-profit and for-profit organizations. Applied perspectives in ethical leadership functions that respond to organizational problems and objectives through best-practices will also be addressed. As future leaders, students will, moreover, demonstrate fluency in employee rights and issues and apply budgeting strategies to maximize agency goals. Additional outcomes will address program planning, implementation, and evaluation, as well as appraisal of new technological advancements utilizing articulated and relevant criteria.

CJAD 710 - Adult & Juvenile Systems of Justice (4)

As a student in this course, you will analyze complex and multi-systemic adult and juvenile systems of justice and social control mechanisms on both a micro and macro level. Attention will be given to innovative initiatives and best-practices from across the nation with a view toward positive social change. Technology for effective cross-system collaboration will also be addressed, as will the role of constitutional protections and constraints on arrest, prosecution, conviction, and incarceration.

CJAD 720 - Criminology Theory & Solutions to Crime (4)

Students will evaluate contemporary criminology theories and apply them to formulate prevention, treatment, and crime control models, within a framework of cultural diversity. Crime data relationships and patterns will also be integrated with biological, psychological, and sociological theories of criminal behavior in a critical evaluation of contemporary criminological theories. Policy formation and implementation will also be addressed.

AND

CJAD 730 - Adult & Juvenile Penology (4)

Students evaluate contemporary prison and punishment models and theories of punishment. Students compare and contrast prison systems and develop solutions to penology challenges, such as overcrowding and the detrimental impacts of prison life. Finally, students analyze penal administration and accountability.

OR CJAD 740 - Strategic Policing & Contemporary Crime Control Strategies (4)

Students learn how criminal justice policy issues are framed, identify participants in the policy process, and discover how policy is made. Evaluating the impact of cultural and global criminal justice trends and challenges, students will assess various crime control models and develop proposals to address accreditation, white collar crime, public health and transnational challenges.

Keep the Momentum Going

Keep the momentum going and earn your master’s degree

Completion of the four courses required to earn the Graduate Certificate in Criminal Justice Leadership not only equips you with job-ready skills but also positions you just four classes away from completing Franklin’s M.A. in Criminal Justice Administration. Franklin’s Criminal Justice master's degree equips graduates with the knowledge to solve present-day challenges at the local, state, or federal levels. With certificate credits that apply directly to your master's degree, you’ll make the most of your time and your tuition.

Program Details

Tuition Costs

2024 - 2025 Tuition	Cost Per Credit
Standard tuition per credit hour	$670
Nursing programs MSN-FNP, MSN-PMHNP, MSN-AGPCNP, Post-Graduate FNP Certificate, Post-Graduate AGPCNP Certificate and Post-Graduate PMHNP Certificate	$670
MSN-Generalist, MSN-Nurse Administrator and MSN-Nurse Educator	$598
RN-MSN Pathway (NURS 500)	$298
Current service members	$536
Graduate Prerequisite Courses (500 level)	$398
Graduate Prerequisite Courses (500 level) - International Students	$526

Learn More

Program Outcomes

Certificate Requirements

The Graduate Academic Certificate and Post-Graduate Certificate programs are a graduate-level program of study that concentrates on a specific body of knowledge within a field of study. It is intended to prepare, upgrade, or retrain a person for immediate application of the knowledge learned. The credits earned as part of this program of study can be applied to a related degree program at Franklin University.

Graduate Academic Certificate Program Requirements

The program must have a minimum of fifteen (15) credit hours with at least twelve (12) of those credit hours earned at Franklin University
Students must adhere to the same admissions standards as those entering the graduate program
All applicable prerequisites must be taken prior to enrolling in the required certificate courses
Courses must be completed with a grade of “B-” or better (Nursing post-graduate and graduate certificates require a "B" or better in all courses)
A minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 is required to receive the certificate
Students seeking a certificate must attain the requirements for the graduate certificate within four years of the first trimester completed under a declared program. Thereafter, a student is bound by current Academic Catalog requirements.
Students should refer to the major programs section of the academic catalog that may outline additional requirements.

Application for Completion:

Every student in a certificate program must complete an application for completion in order for the certificate to be awarded. Please contact your Academic Advisor for the application.
Completed applications must be submitted to your Academic Advisor no later than 2 weeks prior to the end of the term of certificate completion.
There is a $25 fee due with your application. Franklin University will not issue certificates to students with unpaid balances.
Certificates will be mailed to the student’s home address at the end of the trimester of completion.

Admission Requirements

The admission process reflects Franklin University’s efforts to clearly identify the performance standards that can help predict student success in graduate level study. The selection criterion for Franklin’s graduate programs, as determined by faculty, emphasizes academic ability, contributory work experience, and personal qualities and characteristics.

Requirements for admission include having earned a bachelor's degree from an institution accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACCJC), Higher Learning Commission (HLC), Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), New England Commission on Higher Education (NECHE), Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), Southern Association of Colleges and School Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), or a Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)-recognized accrediting organization with a GPA of at least a 2.75 on a 4.0 scale.

Applicants who earned at least a 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale in their earned bachelor’s degree will automatically be granted conditional enrollment status. Applicants who earned lower than a 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale in their earned bachelor’s degree can petition for conditional enrollment status to the program chair by submitting an essay detailing other criteria that the applicant believes should be considered to demonstrate their ability to be successful in a graduate program. This petition could include details on the applicant’s work experience, work ethic, level of professionalism, personality characteristics, level of difficulty of program of study previously completed, etc.

Conditional enrollment requires students to achieve a final grade of “B” (3.0 GPA) or better in the first graduate-level course of their program. If the terms of the conditional enrollment are not met, the student will not be allowed to advance in their program and will be unable to earn this graduate degree from Franklin University.

English Language Testing & TOEFL IELTS

Prospective students must demonstrate English Language Proficiency. The requirement is met through any of the following:

The applicant is a citizen of a country where English is the official language.*
The applicant has received a bachelor’s degree (or higher) from an institution located in an English-speaking country in which the courses were taught in English.*
The applicant has earned appropriate scores on language proficiency exams taken within the last two years, as listed in the Academic Catalog.

*For more information about English proficiency, including a list of English-speaking nations, please visit our International Students section.

Career Opportunities

Law Enforcement Officer

Law Enforcement Officers prevent, detect, and investigate criminal activity, apprehending violators, making arrests, and responding to emergencies.

Corrections Manager

Corrections Managers direct and coordinate activities within correctional facilities, maintain security, and ensure the safety of staff, prisoners and visitors.

Court Administrator

Court Administrators assist in managing daily operations of a courthouse, including records and jury management, fines collection, budgets, and court personnel.

Juvenile Corrections Administrator

Juvenile Corrections Administrators enforce and ensure discipline in juvenile detention facilities, maintaining the safety and security of detained and convicted youth.

Employment Outlook

From 2023-2033, jobs in Criminal Justice & Public Safety are expected to increase by 9%

Occupation

Median Salary (2023)

Job Postings (2023)

Projected Growth (2023-2033)

Occupation

First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers

$86,216

3,751

First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers

Median Salary: $86,216
Job Postings: 3,751
Projected Growth: 8%

Occupation

Job Titles

Skills

Industry

Description

First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers directly supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in firefighting and fire prevention and control.

Projected Growth

Job Title	Job Postings	% of Job Postings
Fire Chiefs	709	19%
Fire Marshals	614	16%
Fire Captains	569	15%
Deputy Fire Marshals	330	9%
Deputy Fire Chiefs	342	9%
Assistant Fire Chiefs	216	6%
Assistant Fire Marshals	202	5%
Deputy State Fire Marshals	107	3%
Fire Battalion Chiefs	150	4%
Crew Chiefs	182	5%
Division Chiefs	43	1%
Battalion Chiefs	33	1%
Wildland Firefighters	62	2%
Fire Specialists	35	1%
Captains	42	1%
Assistant Chiefs of Operations	32	1%
Deputy Chiefs of Operations	29	1%
Deputy Chiefs	13	0%
Firefighters	23	1%
Assistant Chiefs of Training	18	1%

Skill	Job Postings	% of Total Postings
Fire Prevention	1,022	45%
Firefighting	1,021	45%
Fire Suppression Systems	740	33%
Fire Service	722	32%
Fire Science	692	31%
Emergency Medical Services	612	27%
Fire Protection	595	26%
Fire Safety	560	25%
Incident Command Systems	550	24%
Fire Investigation	500	22%
NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) Codes	441	19%
Emergency Management	430	19%
Emergency Response	429	19%
Public Administration	351	15%
Construction	350	15%
Fire And Life Safety	337	15%
National Incident Management Systems	314	14%
Performance Appraisal	257	11%
Fire Alarm Systems	256	11%
Code Enforcement	213	9%

	Industry	% of Occupation in Industry
	Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals		92%
	Other Support Services		3%
	State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals		2%
	Federal Government, Civilian		2%
	Investigation and Security Services		0%
	Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services		0%
	Other		0%

Emergency Management Directors

$83,970

12,489

Emergency Management Directors

Median Salary: $83,970
Job Postings: 12,489
Projected Growth: 7%

Occupation

Job Titles

Skills

Industry

Description

Emergency Management Directors plan and direct disaster response or crisis management activities, provide disaster preparedness training, and prepare emergency plans and procedures for natural (e.g., hurricanes, floods, earthquakes), wartime, or technological (e.g., nuclear power plant emergencies or hazardous materials spills) disasters or hostage situations.

Projected Growth

Job Title	Job Postings	% of Job Postings
Directors of Emergency Services	3,618	29%
Emergency Management Specialists	1,757	14%
Emergency Managers	833	7%
Emergency Management Coordinators	653	5%
Emergency Services Managers	576	5%
Emergency Response Managers	856	7%
Emergency Preparedness Managers	570	5%
Emergency Preparedness Coordinators	440	4%
Emergency Management Directors	300	2%
Emergency Preparedness Specialists	356	3%
Emergency Response Teams	422	3%
Emergency Response Specialists	314	3%
Emergency Management Planners	340	3%
Emergency Management Analysts	196	2%
Supervisory Emergency Management Specialists	294	2%
Emergency Response Coordinators	243	2%
Emergency Coordinators	199	2%
Emergency Management Program Managers	211	2%
Management Coordinators	103	1%
Crisis Managers	208	2%

Skill	Job Postings	% of Total Postings
Emergency Management	4,117	45%
Emergency Response	3,190	35%
Emergency Preparedness	2,506	27%
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)	1,497	16%
Incident Command Systems	1,439	16%
Project Management	1,434	16%
National Incident Management Systems	1,274	14%
Nursing	1,167	13%
Emergency Departments	907	10%
Public Administration	852	9%
Law Enforcement	751	8%
Crisis Management	676	7%
Disaster Response	665	7%
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)	624	7%
Disaster Recovery	615	7%
Emergency Medical Services	608	7%
Disaster Preparedness	561	6%
Risk Analysis	559	6%
Mental Health	558	6%
Emergency Response Planning	553	6%

	Industry	% of Occupation in Industry
	Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals		52%
	State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals		15%
	Federal Government, Military		12%
	General Medical and Surgical Hospitals		3%
	Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services		2%
	Education and Hospitals (State Government)		2%
	Other		13%

Compliance Officers

$75,670

62,959

Compliance Officers

Median Salary: $75,670
Job Postings: 62,959
Projected Growth: 9%

Occupation

Job Titles

Skills

Industry

Description

Compliance Officers examine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis activities not classified elsewhere.

Projected Growth

Job Title	Job Postings	% of Job Postings
Compliance Analysts	9,227	15%
Compliance Officers	8,387	13%
Compliance Specialists	7,563	12%
Regulatory Affairs Specialists	7,211	12%
Compliance Coordinators	5,427	9%
Customs and Border Patrol Agents	2,115	3%
Regulatory Specialists	3,581	6%
Environmental Compliance Specialists	2,437	4%
Compliance Professionals	1,718	3%
Regulatory Analysts	1,605	3%
Cargo Agents	2,088	3%
Risk and Compliance Analysts	1,410	2%
Compliance Associates	1,796	3%
Regulatory Affairs Associates	1,452	2%
IT Compliance Analysts	1,232	2%
Regulatory Compliance Analysts	1,542	2%
Compliance Consultants	1,062	2%
Trade Compliance Specialists	770	1%
Security Compliance Analysts	1,067	2%
Regulatory Compliance Specialists	1,269	2%

Skill	Job Postings	% of Total Postings
Auditing	23,732	30%
Regulatory Compliance	14,782	19%
Project Management	11,870	15%
Regulatory Affairs	8,455	11%
Finance	7,250	9%
Accounting	7,206	9%
Risk Management	6,620	8%
Data Analysis	6,301	8%
Risk Analysis	6,152	8%
Marketing	5,804	7%
Process Improvement	5,591	7%
Internal Auditing	4,912	6%
Financial Services	4,410	6%
Compliance Risk	4,393	6%
External Auditing	4,093	5%
New Product Development	3,760	5%
Compliance Management	3,614	5%
Internal Controls	3,471	4%
Pharmaceuticals	3,428	4%
Workflow Management	3,403	4%

	Industry	% of Occupation in Industry
	Federal Government, Civilian		18%
	State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals		11%
	Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals		9%
	Management of Companies and Enterprises		5%
	Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services		3%
	Depository Credit Intermediation		3%
	Other		51%

Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists

$61,797

15,514

Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists

Median Salary: $61,797
Job Postings: 15,514
Projected Growth: 6%

Occupation

Job Titles

Skills

Industry

Description

Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists provide social services to assist in rehabilitation of law offenders in custody or on probation or parole. Make recommendations for actions involving formulation of rehabilitation plan and treatment of offender, including conditional release and education and employment stipulations.

Projected Growth

Job Title	Job Postings	% of Job Postings
Probation Officers	2,875	19%
Probation and Parole Officers	2,041	13%
Juvenile Probation Officers	1,678	11%
Juvenile Justice Specialists	1,114	7%
Correctional Counselors	919	6%
Parole Officers	651	4%
Adult Probation Officers	500	3%
Corrections Specialists	406	3%
Community Corrections Specialists	1,388	9%
Correctional Treatment Specialist Case Managers	415	3%
Correctional Probation Officers	379	2%
Parole/Probation Specialists	347	2%
Juvenile Counselors	308	2%
Correctional Clinical Associates	476	3%
Juvenile Specialists	377	2%
Juvenile Officers	311	2%
Juvenile Detention Specialists	285	2%
Adult Probation and Parole Officers	416	3%
Classification Officers	438	3%
Deputy Probation Officers	190	1%

Skill	Job Postings	% of Total Postings
Probation	6,432	49%
Social Work	5,601	43%
Psychology	4,185	32%
Criminal Corrections	3,958	30%
Case Management	3,295	25%
Sociology	3,094	24%
Law Enforcement	2,805	21%
Juvenile Justice	2,687	20%
Legal Hearings	2,561	19%
Mental Health	2,338	18%
Substance Abuse	1,828	14%
Rehabilitation	1,801	14%
Human Services	1,772	13%
Behavioral Science	1,663	13%
Risk Analysis	1,307	10%
Social Sciences	1,305	10%
Criminology	1,300	10%
Treatment Planning	1,284	10%
Crisis Intervention	1,278	10%
Juvenile Delinquency	1,164	9%

	Industry	% of Occupation in Industry
	State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals		52%
	Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals		45%
	Individual and Family Services		1%
	Facilities Support Services		1%
	Other Residential Care Facilities		0%
	Social Advocacy Organizations		0%
	Other		0%

Source: Employment Outlook data is provided by Lightcast. Franklin University cannot guarantee employment placement, salary level, or career advancement.

Franklin University Founded in 1902, Franklin is an accredited nonprofit university offering flexible college degrees online and at locations in Ohio and the Midwest.

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Columbus, OH 43215

Local: (614) 797-4700
Toll Free: (877) 341-6300
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Franklin University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440) and authorized by the Ohio Department of Higher Education.

Franklin University is committed to being an inclusive community free from all forms of discrimination and harassment.

Class Type

Next Start Date

Placement Tests

Enhance your leadership skillset

Program Overview

Spearhead systematic change

Build the knowledge you need for advancement

Dig deep into relevant issues & strategies impacting law enforcement

Earn a certificate created & taught by industry experts

Get a head start on your master’s degree at Franklin

Finish your criminal justice certificate online in six months

Curriculum & Course Descriptions

Keep the Momentum Going

Keep the momentum going and earn your master’s degree

Program Details

Know the Total Cost of Your Master’s from Day One

Program Prerequisites

English Language Testing & TOEFL IELTS

Career Opportunities

Law Enforcement Officer

Corrections Manager

Court Administrator

Juvenile Corrections Administrator

Employment Outlook

From 2023-2033, jobs in Criminal Justice & Public Safety are expected to increase by 9%

Description

Projected Growth

Description

Projected Growth

Description

Projected Growth

Description

Projected Growth

I AM A:

SHORTCUTS:

Associated Sites

Class Type

Next Start Date

About Start Dates

Summer 2025

Fall 2025

Spring 2026

Summer 2026

Fall 2026

Placement Tests

Placement Information

Enhance your leadership skillset

Spearhead systematic change

Build the knowledge you need for advancement

Dig deep into relevant issues & strategies impacting law enforcement

Earn a certificate created & taught by industry experts

Get a head start on your master’s degree at Franklin

Finish your criminal justice certificate online in six months

Keep the momentum going and earn your master’s degree

Know the Total Cost of Your Master’s from Day One

Program Prerequisites

English Language Testing & TOEFL IELTS

Law Enforcement Officer

Corrections Manager

Court Administrator

Juvenile Corrections Administrator

From 2023-2033, jobs in Criminal Justice & Public Safety are expected to increase by 9%

Description

Projected Growth

Description

Projected Growth

Description

Projected Growth

Description

Projected Growth

I AM A:

SHORTCUTS:

Associated Sites