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 2022-2032, jobs in Criminal Justice & Public Safety are expected to increase by 9%

Occupation

Median Salary (2022)

Job Postings (2022)

Projected Growth (2022-2032)

Occupation

First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers

$80,142

6,864

First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers

Median Salary: $80,142
Job Postings: 6,864
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	771	11%
Fire Marshals	909	13%
Incident Commanders	509	7%
Battalion Chiefs	393	6%
Prevention Coordinators	498	7%
Fire Suppression Technicians	452	7%
Deputy Fire Marshals	282	4%
Deputy Chiefs	276	4%
Chief Deputy Clerks	288	4%
Deputy Fire Chiefs	285	4%
Assistant Fire Chiefs	284	4%
Deputy Chiefs of Party	166	2%
Firefighters	202	3%
Bosses	382	6%
Deputy Chiefs of Operations	226	3%
Assistant Fire Marshals	167	2%
Fire Management Officers	141	2%
Section Leaders	178	3%
Dispatch Leads	309	5%
Deputy State Fire Marshals	146	2%

Skill	Job Postings	% of Total Postings

	Industry	% of Occupation in Industry
	Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals		92%
	Other Support Services		4%
	State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals		2%
	Federal Government, Civilian		2%
	Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services		0%
	Investigation and Security Services		0%
	Other		0%

Emergency Management Directors

$79,186

17,762

Emergency Management Directors

Median Salary: $79,186
Job Postings: 17,762
Projected Growth: 5%

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
Management Specialists	2,158	12%
Emergency Management Specialists	2,515	14%
Directors of Emergency Services	2,199	12%
Responders	1,675	9%
Emergency Preparedness Specialists	584	3%
Program Management Specialists	662	4%
Emergency Preparedness Coordinators	532	3%
Incident Responders	371	2%
Emergency Response Specialists	369	2%
Change Management Specialists	321	2%
Control Managers	3,093	17%
Emergency Response Managers	644	4%
Disaster Recovery Managers	310	2%
Emergency Response Coordinators	453	3%
Mitigation Specialists	331	2%
Fire Management Specialists	289	2%
Supervisory Emergency Management Specialists	329	2%
Traffic Management Specialists	265	2%
Disaster Recovery Specialists	271	2%
Emergency Coordinators	391	2%

Skill	Job Postings	% of Total Postings
Project Management	2,783	18%
Emergency Management	2,776	18%
Emergency Response	1,932	12%
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)	1,825	12%
Disaster Recovery	1,657	10%
Finance	1,388	9%
Emergency Preparedness	1,234	8%
Accounting	1,133	7%
Auditing	1,133	7%
Nursing	1,047	7%
Risk Analysis	872	6%
Data Analysis	853	5%
Program Development	840	5%
Hazard Mitigation	838	5%
Marketing	823	5%
Social Work	821	5%
Incident Management	793	5%
Risk Management	783	5%
Process Improvement	771	5%
Incident Command Systems	760	5%

	Industry	% of Occupation in Industry
	Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals		53%
	Federal Government, Military		15%
	State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals		14%
	General Medical and Surgical Hospitals		3%
	Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools		2%
	Education and Hospitals (State Government)		2%
	Other		11%

Compliance Officers

$71,698

119,086

10%

Compliance Officers

Median Salary: $71,698
Job Postings: 119,086
Projected Growth: 10%

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 Specialists	21,921	18%
Compliance Analysts	15,221	13%
Regulatory Affairs Specialists	12,178	10%
Compliance Officers	17,395	15%
Compliance Coordinators	8,135	7%
Regulatory Specialists	7,037	6%
Compliance Associates	5,467	5%
Regulatory Analysts	3,873	3%
Compliance Consultants	3,197	3%
Regulatory Affairs Associates	3,582	3%
Environmental Compliance Specialists	3,975	3%
Risk and Compliance Analysts	2,192	2%
Regulatory Compliance Specialists	2,773	2%
AML Compliance Analysts	2,546	2%
Regulatory Compliance Analysts	2,081	2%
Trade Compliance Specialists	1,529	1%
IT Compliance Specialists	1,341	1%
Grievance and Appeals Coordinators	1,801	2%
Global Regulatory Affairs Managers	1,077	1%
Compliance Assistants	1,765	2%

Skill	Job Postings	% of Total Postings
Auditing	35,333	36%
Regulatory Compliance	19,968	21%
Project Management	15,126	16%
Regulatory Affairs	11,498	12%
Finance	10,886	11%
Accounting	10,801	11%
Risk Management	10,311	11%
Risk Analysis	9,670	10%
Financial Services	8,531	9%
Data Analysis	8,342	9%
Process Improvement	8,330	9%
Compliance Risk	7,997	8%
Internal Auditing	7,678	8%
Marketing	7,067	7%
Anti Money Laundering	6,326	7%
Internal Controls	6,003	6%
External Auditing	5,951	6%
Compliance Management	5,835	6%
New Product Development	5,501	6%
Medical Devices	5,494	6%

	Industry	% of Occupation in Industry
	Federal Government, Civilian		19%
	State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals		11%
	Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals		8%
	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

$59,862

15,626

Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists

Median Salary: $59,862
Job Postings: 15,626
Projected Growth: 4%

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	5,647	36%
Probation and Parole Officers	2,212	14%
Juvenile Probation Officers	1,706	11%
Chief People Officers	1,240	8%
Correctional Probation Officers	627	4%
Parole Officers	447	3%
Adult Probation Officers	399	3%
Parole/Probation Specialists	343	2%
Attendance Officers	360	2%
Deputy Probation Officers	314	2%
Parole Agents	210	1%
Juvenile Supervision Officers	205	1%
Juvenile Probation Parole Specialists	230	2%
DCC Parole/Probation Officers	340	2%
Adult Probation and Parole Officers	461	3%
Classification Officers	161	1%
Deputy Juvenile Officers	155	1%
Community Supervision Officers	119	1%
Juvenile Probation Parole Officers	313	2%
Deputy Chief Probation Officers	137	1%

Skill	Job Postings	% of Total Postings
Probation	5,778	68%
Social Work	3,361	40%
Criminal Corrections	2,767	33%
Case Management	2,726	32%
Psychology	2,594	31%
Law Enforcement	2,035	24%
Sociology	1,948	23%
Legal Hearings	1,791	21%
Human Services	1,659	20%
Mental Health	1,549	18%
Evidence-Based Practice	1,446	17%
Substance Abuse	1,372	16%
Risk Analysis	1,292	15%
Data Analysis	1,102	13%
Juvenile Justice	1,089	13%
Criminology	1,074	13%
Behavioral Science	828	10%
Crisis Intervention	785	9%
Social Sciences	727	9%
Rehabilitation	674	8%

	Industry	% of Occupation in Industry
	State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals		51%
	Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals		47%
	Individual and Family Services		1%
	Facilities Support Services		1%
	Other Residential Care Facilities		0%
	Private Households		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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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 2022-2032, 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 2022-2032, 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