“My favorite aspect of ���Ĵ�ý is that you can get a top notch degree and still experience the benefit of developing personal and genuine relationships with your professors. I still see and occasionally interact with many of the professors I had almost 40 years ago. I love the fact that the staff and faculty are part of the Danville community and that they still make me feel like I’m part of the ���Ĵ�ý Family.” – Dean Hairston, BFA’84

Dean Hairston graduated from ���Ĵ�ý in 1984 with Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree. Dean’s undergraduate degree laid the educational foundation for a life-long and continued learning experience for him. It provided the structure he needed to be successful in the business sector, and provided important social skills to effectively communicate with those in his community and career.

Deputy Chief Hairston’s degree not only gave him the foundation for his law enforcement career, but allowed him to excel in it as well. Dean has received numerous awards and honors throughout his career. However, his achievements do not stop there. He has had the privilege of speaking on Capitol Hill, C-SPAN, PBS, CBS, and the History Channel. Also, he has been invited to the White House on three different occasions as a Subject Matter Expert on Police Intelligence and Communications. Dean has also graduated from the FBI National Academy Class #246 in 2011; where he was invited back to teach grant writing.

Dean’s advice to students is to “Focus on learning everything you can, but most of all; Enjoy the Journey! You will never have another networking opportunity like the academic process, so make the most of it!”

Learn more about ���Ĵ�ý’s Criminal Justice & Sociology Programs!

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Linda’s story started in 1992, when she graduated from the Henrico County Police Training Academy. After working almost three decades as a patrol officer, public information officer, recruiter, criminal investigator and inspection officer, she made history in May by being the first woman promoted to lieutenant colonel of the Henrico County Police Division. In an interview with WWBT television in Richmond, Linda summed up what her promotion means to other women. “For me, if one young person sees this, and she happens to be female, and she says wow, maybe that’s a job that I can do, then that’s absolutely worth it.”

Melissa is also an inspiration to women with dreams of being in law enforcement. Like Linda’s, her career journey began in 1992, when she joined the University of Virginia (UVA) as a security officer. She was promoted to police officer in 1993, sergeant in 1998, lieutenant in 2007 and captain in 2015. And, like Linda, she made history this spring by becoming UVA’s first woman deputy chief of police.

More and more police departments see the value of hiring women. The National Center for Women & Policing published an entire guide dedicated to helping law enforcement administrators recruit and retain women officers. This Mother’s Day, the Richmond Police Department released a showing officers going around the city to recruit women. Clearly, there’s a movement underway and women with Master of Science in Criminal Justice degrees stand to benefit. Just ask Linda and Melissa!

Learn about ���Ĵ�ý’s Criminal Justice programs.

¹Gender distribution of full-time law enforcement employees in the United States in 2017, Statista.

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���Ĵ�ý salutes these fine training academies and the work they do to keep us safe!

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An ���Ĵ�ý admissions counselor can tell you more about all our education partnerships and how to transfer credits. We’re here to help!

Apply to ���Ĵ�ý today.

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���Ĵ�ý’s MSCJ program is perfect for people entering or moving up in administration and leadership positions in a law enforcement agency or private company. It takes intense study, but with hard work and an attentive instructor, it’s possible to complete your degree in less than two years. Many ���Ĵ�ý graduates go on to enjoy rewarding, financially lucrative careers. Wondering about the possibilities? Here are a few jobs that could be in your future:

1. Criminal profilers analyze crime scene evidence and use various methods to help investigators focus on and apprehend the most likely suspects. They provide important insights into possible motivations for a crime and hypothesize on offenders’ characteristics, such as age, education, appearance and the probability of them committing another crime
2. Police and detective supervisors schedule, train, motivate and evaluate officers, detectives and sometimes clerks and technicians. They ensure their staff follows departmental policies and they often assist in investigations.
3. Correctional officer supervisors manage staffs in correctional institutions or parole departments. They assign tasks and caseloads, focusing on the safety and wellbeing of their officers, offenders and the public.
4. Emergency management directors develop emergency plans for local, state and federal law enforcement and public protection agencies. They coordinate the emergency response between agencies when disasters strike and assist private businesses and organizations in emergency and disaster preparation and response.
5. Forensic psychologists work in the legal system to assess suspected or convicted criminals and promote mental health treatment services. They may determine whether an accused person is fit to stand trial, evaluate the accused’s sanity, testify at trials, recommend sentencing and perform other tasks to help ensure public safety.
6. District attorney investigators investigate crimes, do undercover work, serve warrants, collaborate with other law enforcement agencies and testify in civil and criminal court. At the federal level, attorney general investigators are classified as special agents who may work on projects related to tax and government fraud.
7. Criminologists study crime and its causes and make policy recommendations to law enforcement. They use insights and theories from disciplines such as psychology, sociology and environmental science to learn about crime in the context of society as a whole. They may work in the field or in traditional research settings gathering information, compiling interviews and creating statistical reports to understand crime and develop ways to address it.
8. Supervisory criminal investigators assign cases to investigators and detectives and help develop and implement departmental policies. They ensure patrol officers and investigators collect all possible evidence and complete investigations accurately and thoroughly. Field supervisors often determine when evidence technicians and other support personnel should be called to a crime scene.
9. Forensic examiners analyze evidence from or related to a crime scene to help law enforcement officials reconstruct events. They may work in the laboratory, as consultants in the courtroom or in a combination of settings to support a case, but rarely in the field.
10. Private security managers work for security management firms or as consultants to protect public utilities, nuclear power plants, private company data servers, social events, high-profile persons and other assets. Their focus is typically on preventing, rather than responding to, crime.

This list is just the start of what an MSCJ degree from ���Ĵ�ý can lead to. The broad range of possibilities lets you choose the path best suited to your strengths and won’t lock you in for the future.

Learn more about ���Ĵ�ý’s MSCJ program.

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Hello, everyone. My name is Tyler Jordan Pace and I am about to finish my junior year here at ���Ĵ�ý. I am currently majoring in Sociology/Criminal Justice and after my studies are complete here at ���Ĵ�ý, I plan to attend law school and earn my Juris Doctor Degree (J.D.) and become a defense attorney.

I am currently majoring in Sociology/Criminal Justice and after my studies are complete here at ���Ĵ�ý, I plan to attend law school and earn my Juris Doctor Degree (J.D.) and become a defense attorney.

What is your motivation for obtaining your degree here at ���Ĵ�ý?

I love helping people and I always want to speak up for individuals who may not feel comfortable doing so themselves.

What keeps you motivated while in your degree program?
My family and personal desires help keep me motivated in pursuing my academic goals here at ���Ĵ�ý, and it will be a very big honor to not only myself, but also to my friends and family who have helped me along my academic career.

What advice would you share for current and incoming students in ���Ĵ�ý’s GPS Program?
My advice to upcoming students and current students at ���Ĵ�ý is to stay steady and to not get overwhelmed when things may not go your way. Keep yourselves motivated and everything will fall into place. I have really enjoyed my short time here and I cannot wait to see what my future holds.

What is your anticipated date of graduation?
I am anticipated to graduate in May 2020!

Learn about our Criminal Justice & Sociology Programs

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���Ĵ�ý salutes these dedicated professionals and anyone who is pursuing or thinking about a career in criminal justice. We’re proud of the many graduates of our criminal justice degree programs who have gone on to be catalysts of positive change in the community, in the nation and in the world. Thank you for your service!

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Name: Victoria Dillard

Current Occupation: Actively seeking employment

Start Date at AU: 3/4/19

Program of Study: Masters in Criminal Justice

Why did you decide to pursue your MSCJ?

I am a fast learner and pretty much self-taught. I felt like ���Ĵ�ý would provide me with the best possible outcome. ���Ĵ�ý is in my hometown and has been established for a long time. I really felt like this was home.

Week 1:

I’m always nervous until I have a class or two, but my first week of class was pretty laid back. It was the introduction to ���Ĵ�ý and the workload was less than with a traditional online course. The technology was easy to use and the layout was easy to follow. It’s always better when you don’t have to fight with technology! I know if I stay on top of my work and read ahead, I’ll be successful at ���Ĵ�ý. I feel I held my own the first week and will have the grades to prove I did well.

I feel right at home at ���Ĵ�ý!

Week 2:                                                                                                                                               

My second week was great. My online courses are not as stressful as going to class and I’m free to show my own perspective. I’m building good professional bonds with the other students, and the ���Ĵ�ý staff is fun and reliable. Overall, I am handling everything relatively well. I may be starting a new job soon, but I think I can still achieve my goals at ���Ĵ�ý.

So far, I have been impressed with how much ���Ĵ�ý and the professors care. I love the environment and feel genuinely at home. I am a Cougar! Here is my little cougar cheering me on. His name is Tiger.

Week 3:                                                                                                                                               

It’s already my third week! Classes are going smoothly. I learned that I passed my intro class with an A and so far I have an A in my current class. I like the setup and the confidence inspired by my classmates and the professor. I hope to use some of what I’ve learned in an upcoming job interview.

The atmosphere is great, and I’m enjoying my working relationships with other students and the professor. The curriculum is great, too. It’s more of what I am used to coming out of a bachelor’s program and going into my master’s.

I think everyone should go back to school because it broadens the mind and spirit. It can be a little stressful, but after the first class, you know what to expect. I feel right at home at ���Ĵ�ý!

Learn about our MSCJ program

Learn How to Apply

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My name is Haley Morrison. I have been working as a full time Security Officer for Securitas Security Services Inc. in the Radial Holdings facilities since October 2016. I live with my stepmom, dad, and grandparents along with 2 dogs, 2 cats, a bearded dragon, and a fish. I love to attend hard rock/metal concerts and festivals and reptile conventions. I love to read, listen to music, and learn about and use my essential oils.

What is your motivation for obtaining your degree here at ���Ĵ�ý?

My motivation for obtaining my degree at ���Ĵ�ý is my aspiration to be a correctional treatment specialist or a correctional officer.

Why did you choose ���Ĵ�ý’s Graduate & Professional Studies program?

I chose ���Ĵ�ý’s Graduate and Professional Studies Program as they were able to accept all of my credits from Patrick Henry Community College and the ���Ĵ�ý GPS program online is amazing in that I am able to continue working full time and also spend time with my boyfriend, family, and friends. Before I became an ���Ĵ�ý Cougar, I was terrified of going back to college to obtain my Bachelor’s Degree as I thought that any online program was going to be too strenuous to continue working and spending time with loved ones.

How has your degree from ���Ĵ�ý University assisted you in your career?

My degree in Criminal Justice and Sociology from ���Ĵ�ý has assisted me in my career in that I am now more observant of the associates and their behaviors and know how to escalate situations a lot better than what I used to.

What advice would you share for current and incoming students in ���Ĵ�ý’s GPS Program?

The advice I’d share for current and incoming students in ���Ĵ�ý’s GPS program is to never give up no matter how hard the situation. Always have perseverance! Never be afraid to ask questions about assignments or ask for help.

The ���Ĵ�ý GPS program online is amazing in that I am able to continue working full time and also spend time with my boyfriend, family, and friends.

What keeps you motivated while in your degree program?

What keeps me motivated while in my degree program is knowing how many opportunities I will have in the field of Criminal Justice and Sociology after obtaining my degree.

What is your anticipated date of graduation?

2021

Learn about our Criminal Justice & Sociology Programs

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Hello, my name is John Wilt.

Career–police science and AJ program coordinator with the University of Alaska and Maui Community College for 26 years (combined); retired full professor from Maui CC; ADJ Program Coordinator at Danville CC for 16 years; retired professor emeritus from DCC and retired from USAFR’s Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI); reserve police officer with the Maui Police Department–11 years; social worker in Fairbanks, Alaska; chapter advisor of AU’s Alpha Upsilon Lambda chapter and advisor to AU’s Criminal Justice Club; Star Member with American Criminal Justice Association-Lambda Alpha Epsilon (ACJA-LAE).

Family–married; 3 children and 3 grandchildren

Hobbies–runner and crooner … marathoner with 82 marathons in 30 states with a goal of 100 marathons in 50 states; 7 ultra-marathons (up Haleakala Crater for 37 miles); performed 10 one-man shows featuring Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett classic songs; March 24 and March 26, 2019 one-man shows at Gretna Theater will feature 32 classic Dean Martin songs (benefit for Gretna Little Theater); entertainer at 7 of Danville’s assisted living facilities; A.G.T. auditions for 14 consecutive seasons.

Why did you choose ���Ĵ�ý’s Graduate & Professional Studies program?

Convenient and offers administration of justice master’s level topics.

… do not procrastinate and do not wait until mid-week for assignments due Thursday at 11:59!

How has your degree from ���Ĵ�ý assisted you in your career?

Degree assistance in career–more in-depth understanding of “hot topics” in criminal justice, learn new, emerging technology in the criminal justice field, observation of current instructional methodology from several PhD professors; sharpen research skills.

What advice would you share for current and incoming students in ���Ĵ�ý’s GPS Program?

My advice is to make sure you are ready for a time-consuming challenge … put any major projects or anticipated projects on hold … be prepared for contingencies … anticipate spending 20-30 hours per week for each six-week class … do not procrastinate and do not wait until mid-week for assignments due Thursday at 11:59!

What keeps you motivated while in your degree program?

Desire to learn new ideas and face challenging assignments; will assist me in becoming a better GPS adjunct instructor; lend support to the importance of lifelong learning.

What is your anticipated date of graduation?

May 2020

Learn about our Criminal Justice Programs

Download BSCJ Requirements

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You can minor in Homeland Security by taking six courses for 18 credit hours in topics like criminal justice, terrorism and legal and constitutional issues in homeland security. Like other law enforcement fields of study, it will give you a solid foundation for a career where you can make a positive impact in the community and on people’s lives.

If technology is your thing, you might want to consider AU’s Cyber Security and Computer Forensics minor. Courses you can take to accumulate 18 credit hours include digital forensics analysis, computer and network security and IT infrastructure. This is another hot job market, so having these extra credentials could give you an edge over other candidates.

Like we said, a minor is a great way to expand your skills to make yourself more attractive to employers. But those aren’t the only benefits. Getting a minor shows discipline, rewards your willingness to put in extra work to get ahead and positions you for new opportunities down the road. Now that’s major.

Schedule an appointment to get started toward a new you today!

Schedule Appointment

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