���Ĵ�ý is a good benchmark. We’ve provided adult educational programs for more than 150 years and we continually evolve and update to meet our students’ needs. Our technology is state-of-the-art, yet we maintain the personal connections between students and instructors that make the learning experience so meaningful. Our classes are small, our curricula are practical and relevant to today’s workplace and our instructors are highly-credentialed.

We think ���Ĵ�ý’s full slate of undergraduate and graduate courses is among the best online, but we don’t expect you to take our word for it. That’s why we put together a 14-point checklist to help you evaluate online degree programs and decide if they’re a good fit for you. Still not sure? Click here to watch a short video, chat now or call us for more information. Choosing an online degree program is a big decision. Make the right one.

Download the 14-point checklist.

The post Decisions, Decisions. How to Choose an Online Degree Program. appeared first on ���Ĵ�ý Online.

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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Not all accreditation is the same
Accreditation is a big word for making sure educational institutions meet and maintain rigorous quality standards. Schools voluntarily work with private accrediting agencies who do regular peer assessments to determine if schools meet their criteria. The U.S. Department of Education publishes a they deem to be reliable authorities on higher education quality.

There are two kinds of accreditation: regional and national. While national sounds more impressive, it’s not necessarily better. Here are some important differences between the two:

For-profit vs. not-for-profit
You may not think about schools as business ventures, but many are. Their owners and shareholders want to make a profit, which means they must balance quality education with good financial returns. The problem is, 88 percent of the 1,200+ campuses that closed in the last five years were operated by for-profit colleges.² Accreditation problems and falling enrollment were among the culprits.Not-for-profit schools are publicly owned, usually managed by a board of trustees and receive federal, state and private funding. Most not-for-profit colleges’ sole purpose is to create a learning environment that serves students’ interests. At ���Ĵ�ý, our mission is to prepare students to serve and lead as catalysts for positive change. Our not-for-profit status helps us keep students’ costs lower than 80 percent of other private colleges in Virginia.

Now what?
Once you’ve checked the boxes on a school’s accreditation and not-for-profit status, the next step is to find out more about their online program offerings, resources, staff and how to apply. ���Ĵ�ý sets the standard in Virginia with up-to-date, practical curriculum; highly-credentialed instructors; and a variety of bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. We have a staff member for every 19 students and our average class size is 15, so you get lots of personal attention in and out of the classroom. We make it super easy to apply in just three steps, and our admissions and financial aid staff are available to help and answer questions. With the option to earn your degree online or on campus in Danville, Roanoke, or Quantico, we’ve got you covered.

Read more about reasons to choose ���Ĵ�ý.

¹Regional Accreditation vs National Accreditation for Online Colleges, geteducated.com
² Vasquez, M., Bauman, D. “How America’s College-Closure Crisis Leaves Families Devastated,” The Chronicle of Higher Education, April 4, 2019

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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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My name is Alana Rogers and I am a Registered Nurse at SOVAH Health Martinsville. I began my career at Martinsville as an Emergency Department Nurse and I have recently started a new journey as a Clinical Educator. My role is to help educate staff, coordinate a new graduate residency program and preceptor program. My hobbies revolve around my family, friends, and pets. I love being outside, hiking, fishing, and playing with my dogs and cat Asher, Mieka, and Tank. I come from a small town called Stuart, VA with my amazing parents Lonnie & Darlene Rogers and the best big sister Lindsey Rogers. My grandparents, parents, sister, and family/friends are the most important pieces of my life.

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

My motivation behind getting my MBA is to help drive my career and grow professionally and personally. My family has always strived for me to pursue my dreams and be the best version of myself as I can be. They taught me to never stop learning. I hope to one day be in upper management in the nursing field.

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

I chose ���Ĵ�ý because of the positivity that my advisors and teachers provided to me during my BSN with ���Ĵ�ý. I chose to continue my path with the people that have continued to motivate and inspire me.

I chose ���Ĵ�ý because of the positivity that my advisors and teachers provided to me during my BSN with ���Ĵ�ý. I chose to continue my path with the people that have continued to motivate and inspire me.

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

My degree has allowed me to see nursing from different points of view. It has allowed me to see all the aspects of nursing and not just one view.

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

My advice for all looking into a GPS program at ���Ĵ�ý is, jump in! Make the commitment with a university who cares about you growth professionally and personally! ���Ĵ�ý has always continued to provide me with all the resources I need to be successful.

What keeps you motivated while in your degree program?

WI owe my motivation to my fiancé and family who continually support me in my journey!

What is your anticipated date of graduation?

My anticipated graduation date is Spring of 2020!!

Learn about our MBA Programs

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Earning a college degree takes perseverance, a strong desire to succeed and a lot of hard work. You did it, overcoming obstacles big and small to achieve your goal and set yourself up for even greater accomplishments in the future. You exemplify what ���Ĵ�ý is all about: unique individuals who want to lead, serve and be catalysts of positive change.

As an ���Ĵ�ý graduate, you have access to a whole new world of opportunities. Your ���Ĵ�ý Family will be cheering you on as you transform your future and discover what’s yours. Congratulations again!

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1. Make new semester goals. Push yourself to up your grades, log more study time or take procrastination out of your vocabulary.
2. Buy what you need. Check your class description to see what supplies, books and materials you’ll need. Stock up before day one.
3. Refresh your study space. A change of scenery can be a real motivator. Rearrange the furniture, hang a new picture or change your screensaver to give your study space a new look.
4. Do a little maintenance on you. Get your flu shot, plan a new workout or meal routine or tweak your sleep schedule to take better care of your health.
5. Tune your technology. Take care of aggravations like slow Internet speed or a touchy mouse that can distract you from your schoolwork.
6. Vow to connect. Plan to connect with fellow students and ���Ĵ�ý faculty to get the support you need and build a network that can benefit you for years to come.
7. Look ahead. We know it’s early, but if you think now about what happens at the end of the semester, it’s more likely to happen. Pencil in a vacation, start updating your resume or make a list of post-graduation dream jobs.

Just about every ���Ĵ�ý student will tell you planning ahead is one piece of advice you can’t ignore. Start now for next semester; we promise you’ll be glad you did!

LEARN HOW TO APPLY.

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My name is Quitin Ellis. I am from Monroe, Louisiana, but currently live in Hampton, Virginia. I enjoy spending time with my family. I have a wife and three wonderful children. I am currently in the US Navy and have been in for 14 years. Looking forward to doing at least 20 years of service to this fine nation. In the Navy, I work in Retail and Services. This have given me some knowledge about how businesses are ran but not as much to open my own.

I am working towards receiving my degree in Bachelor of Business Administration. I plan to start a business very soon. I know this degree path will assist me in doing so.

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

I am working towards receiving my degree in Bachelor of Business Administration. I plan to start a business very soon. I know this degree path will assist me in doing so.

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

I have started taking classes in the past but never finished. I know this time will be different and I know I will finish. I am hoping this degree will give me the knowledge that I can put in place to assist me and my wife in making our businesses successful.

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

When taking college and other knowledge courses, the military gives extra incentive with evaluations and career advancements.

What keeps you motivated while in your degree program?
My family and my future keeps me focused and motivated while getting my degree.

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

The advice I would share with current and incoming students is once you start, continue to stay focused on your goal. Also, make time to complete you course work early to ensure you have it done on time.

What is your anticipated date of graduation?

My anticipated date of graduation is May 2022.

Learn about our BBA programs

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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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