Certificate Programs Banner

CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS

The School of Criminal Justice offers graduate level certificate programs for students seeking continued education in the field of criminal justice and for those who may wish to eventually pursue a master’s degree in Criminal Justice at MSU.

Each certificate program consists of three 3-credit courses, with the exception of Judicial Administration, which requires four 3-credit courses. Participants who are admitted to the master’s program may use the graduate level credits toward elective requirements.

To complete the certificate program as a Lifelong Education student, please submit a Lifelong Education application here.

CONSERVATION CRIMINOLOGY

Conservation criminology is an approach to research, teaching and outreach currently under development at MSU. With the goal of improving evidence-based practices related to environmental crimes and risks, conservation criminology offers a conceptual framework that integrates criminology and criminal justice, conservation and natural resource management and risk and decision science. Research projects examining a diverse set of crimes and risks created by multiple actors are being used to refine the conceptual model.

A Master’s level certificate program that examines the practical and theoretical implications of the conservation criminology framework is currently available to traditional and professional students. It consists of three online courses that examine environmental crimes and risks at the individual, corporate and global levels. The program is jointly offered by Michigan State University's Department of Fisheries & Wildlife, the School of Criminal Justice, and Environmental Science & Policy Program

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

-Back to Top

HOMELAND SECURITY

Michigan State University 's School of Criminal Justice, in collaboration with colleges across campus, has created a three-course online certificate program that allows working professionals and graduate students to add a focus in homeland security to their career or academic plans.

This innovative and challenging program from one of the nation's top schools of criminal justice is meant for practitioners and others interested in updating their skills.

Courses include:

  • Homeland Security
  • Terrorism
  • Public-Private Partnerships in Emergency Preparedness and Homeland Security

Certificates in information security, food security and related areas are currently being developed.

Participants can apply class credit toward a degree program at MSU or at another institution, or toward a Certificate in Homeland Security Studies offered by the MSU School of Criminal Justice.

The School of Criminal Justice is a national leader in criminal justice scholarship, integrating security and public safety issues with an understanding of the legal system

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

-Back to Top

CERTIFICATE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT INTELLIGENCE AND ANALYSIS (LEIA)

Each class in the certificate program is 3 semester credits, which translates to 45 contact hours per semester. Each class will explore 10 – 15 different explicit topics.

Students may choose three of the following four classes to help provide some degree of focus for each individual’s interest as well as to add some flexibility for the enrollment schedule.

Courses are available to:

  • Current MSU graduate students who are enrolled in on campus or online programs
  • Practitioners and others who wish to earn credits toward a related degree program at MSU or another institution (Lifelong Education)
  • Anyone who wishes to earn a certificate for professional development and career enhancement (Lifelong Education)

CJ 433 Law Enforcement Intelligence Operations

This provides an overview of the intelligence process including current issues and trends. The course examines intelligence as a tool for law enforcement management as well as relationship to operational responsibilities. It is designed as a broad-ranging course to provide the student with comprehensive knowledge about different aspects of the law enforcement intelligence function.

CJ 809 Public/Private Partnerships for Emergency Preparedness and Homeland Security

This particular class is driven largely by the mandate of Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD) 8 and the National Preparedness Goal, both of which mandate the ability to have mechanisms in police to prevent and recover from terrorist attacks. In addition, the concept of Intelligence-Led Policing, the National Criminal Intelligence Sharing Plan, and the Office of Domestic Preparedness Guidelines for Homeland Security all express the need to establish effective public-private relationships as a means to counter terrorism. The course examines the issues, opportunities, and processes to accomplish this.

CJ 837 Counterterrorism and Intelligence

The intent of intelligence is to prevent crime and terrorism. Thus, the goal of this class is to integrate knowledge about both intelligence and terrorism and examine what strategies – both tactical and strategic – can be used to counter the different types of terrorism. Included is an examination of the nexus between terrorism and organized crime; challenges of counterterrorism initiatives; and threat assessment.

CJ 838 Terrorism

The course examines the meaning of terrorism, its effects, the different types of terrorism, and the motivating factors in various international and domestic terrorism ideologies. The course is designed to provide the student with the motives, methods and targets of different ideological groups.

-Back to Top

ENROLLMENT

Students who are not already enrolled in a degree program at MSU will need to fill out the Lifelong Education application. Lifelong Education students may need assistance enrolling, and can contact Peg Mohr at 517-353-5272 or mmohr@msu.edu for help.

-Back to Top

PROGRAM COSTS

Tuition rates and billing information may be found at the Controller's Office website under Online Program Rates

-Back to Top

MINIMUM EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS

To participate in the certificate program, students must have access to and be comfortable with a computer with an Internet connection. See the Virtual University Home Page and the appropriate course previews for current minimum equipment requirements for specific courses.

At a minimum, each student needs access to:

  • A browser that meets the ANGEL minimum requirements.
  • Minimum screen resolution of 800x600 (1024x768 recommended).
  • 56K modem or direct connection to the Internet. A broadband (high-speed) Internet connection is recommended (and required for some courses).
  • Adequate responsiveness and performance from your computer. Most computers manufactured within the last four years will meet your needs.

-Back to Top

CLICK HERE FOR APPLICATION

-Back to Top

CERTIFICATE IN INTERNATIONAL FOCUS

The School of Criminal Justice has created a three-course online certificate program that allows working professionals and graduate students to enhance their knowledge base and further their career or academic plans.

Courses are offered entirely online, and are taught by the same faculty members that are involved in the on-campus program. A number of online support services are available to assist students.

Courses are available to:

  • Current MSU graduate students who are enrolled in on campus or online programs
  • Practitioners and others who wish to earn credits toward a related degree program at MSU or another institution (Lifelong Education)
  • Anyone who wishes to earn a certificate for professional development and career enhancement (Lifelong Education)

-Back to Top


Course Requirements

CJ 822 - Comparative Criminal Justice

Globalization, crime causation, measurement, and control in comparative and cross-national contexts. Nature of policing, courts, and corrections in select countries.


CJ 823 - Globalization of Crime


International crimes and organized crime. Trafficking in women, children, and body parts. Related problems such as firearm violence, money laundering, and corruption that transcend national boundaries.


One of the following:

CJ 809 - International Environmental Risk


Special issues in criminal justice research and management.


CJ 838 - Terrorism


An in-depth overview of terrorism, both domestic and international. The course will touch on the causes and motives that drive terrorists, their methods of operation, and the impact of terrorism on the United States and abroad.

-Back to Top


Program Costs

Tuition rates and billing information may be found at the Controller's Office website under Online Program Rates

-Back to Top


MINIMUM EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS

To participate in the certificate program, students must have access to and be comfortable with a computer with an Internet connection. See the Virtual University Home Page and the appropriate course previews for current minimum equipment requirements for specific courses.


At a minimum, each student needs access to:


  • A browser that meets the ANGEL minimum requirements.
  • Minimum screen resolution of 800x600 (1024x768 recommended).
  • 56K modem or direct connection to the Internet. A broadband (high-speed) Internet connection is recommended (and required for some courses).
  • Adequate responsiveness and performance from your computer. Most computers manufactured within the last four years will meet your needs.

-Back to Top


CLICK HERE FOR APPLICATION


-Back to Top


JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION

Judicial Administration at Michigan State University is a community of learners, scholars, and practitioners dedicated to the advancement of the missions, mandates, and purposes of judicial systems across the globe through expert management and timeless, steadfast leadership principles and practices.

Multiple educational options are available for judicial system professionals and those who aspire to have a career in local, state, or federal judicial systems. Distance learners will find the options particularly attractive. Judicial Administration at Michigan State University offers two certificate programs (credit bearing and noncredit bearing) and a criminal justice master's degree specialization.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

-Back to Top

SECURITY MANAGEMENT

Courses are offered entirely online, and are taught by the same faculty members that are involved in the on-campus program. A number of online support services are available to assist students.

Courses are available to:

  • Current MSU graduate students who are enrolled in on campus or online programs
  • Practitioners and others who wish to earn credits toward a related degree program at MSU or another institution (Lifelong Education)
  • Anyone who wishes to earn a certificate for professional development and career enhancement (Lifelong Education)

-Back to Top

Course Requirements

CJ 885 - Security Management

Organization and management of security operations in business, industry and government.

CJ 886 - Security Administration

Administrative and quantitative techniques for security operations. Statistical analysis. Analysis of financial statements. Operations research and computer techniques.

One of the following:

CJ 809 - Public/Private Partnerships in Emergency Preparedness and Homeland Security

Explores the interdependence between the public and private sectors in protecting communities and national security. Students will be exposed to specific guidelines and lessons learned for effective public and private partnerships, with emphasis on critical infrastructure protection, risk management, contingency planning, and supply-chain security.

CJ 890 - Independent Study

Please contact Dr. Mahesh Nalla at nalla@msu.edu.

-Back to Top

ENROLLMENT

Students who are not already enrolled in a degree program at MSU will need to fill out the Lifelong Education application. Lifelong Education students may need assistance enrolling, and can contact Peg Mohr at 517-353-5272 or mmohr@msu.edu for help.

-Back to Top

PROGRAM COSTS

Tuition rates and billing information may be found at the Controller's Office website under Online Program Rates

-Back to Top

MINIMUM EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS

To participate in the certificate program, students must have access to and be comfortable with a computer with an Internet connection. See the Virtual University Home Page and the appropriate course previews for current minimum equipment requirements for specific courses.

At a minimum, each student needs access to:

  • A browser that meets the ANGEL minimum requirements.
  • Minimum screen resolution of 800x600 (1024x768 recommended).
  • 56K modem or direct connection to the Internet. A broadband (high-speed) Internet connection is recommended (and required for some courses).
  • Adequate responsiveness and performance from your computer. Most computers manufactured within the last four years will meet your needs.

-Back to Top

CLICK HERE FOR APPLICATION

-Back to Top