Getting your criminal justice degree does not have to be a four-year commitment. If you have a background in military police, your work experience may be able to transfer into a degree program as college credits to speed you toward a faster graduation. Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota offers an online FastTrack 90™ bachelor’s degree program in Criminal Justice Leadership that gives you a head start toward career advancement. Here, we explore how this 90 credit bachelor’s degree can use your previous military police experience to shorten your program length.
Key Takeaways
- A criminal justice leadership degree provides communication, organizational, and critical thinking skills to equip you for leadership positions in law enforcement.
- Earning your criminal justice leadership degree can fast-track you toward promotion or make you a competitive hire when transferring to state or local law enforcement.
- You can use a Joint Services Transcript (JST), American Council on Education (ACE), or a Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) to translate job experience into college credits.
Why Choose a Career in Criminal Justice Leadership After Serving in the Military Police?
After several years in military law enforcement, you may be looking for opportunities to take your career to the next level. Earning your criminal justice leadership degree can help you streamline your advancement. A college degree builds upon your existing law enforcement skills and expands them in new directions. Through your degree program, you will develop skills in areas that include:
- Ethical leadership
- Team communication
- Organizational management
- Critical thinking
- Inclusion and respect for diversity
- Systemic decision-making
- Self-evaluation
Your degree coursework will equip you for leadership roles and higher levels of responsibility. At the same time, it demonstrates your competency and commitment to promoting authorities. Earning your degree can be a valuable tool for advancement within the military or make you a competitive hire for leadership positions in state or local law enforcement.
From Military Police to Criminal Justice Leadership
As military police personnel, you already have skills that are valuable for criminal justice leadership. Your previous training and job experience have equipped you with fundamental law enforcement competencies, including:
- Extensive knowledge of law and order
- Decision-making while under pressure
- Problem-solving in complex situations
- Gathering and evaluating evidence
- Communicating and cooperating with a team
- De-escalating and resolving conflicts
- Maintaining physical fitness
- Effective time management
- Technical forensics and cybersecurity knowledge
- Understanding of law enforcement ethics
These skills can be transferred into criminal justice coursework. Rather than spending time relearning topics that you have already mastered, you can skip past the fundamentals and focus on developing new skills to further your career. This may let you shorten your program by a significant amount, cutting down the amount of time required to earn a degree and qualify for new career opportunities.
How to Transfer Law Enforcement Credits
While your military police experience can be translated into college credits, it is largely gained outside of a traditional classroom. Therefore, getting transfer credits is more complicated than simply requesting a transcript. There are three primary methods for translating military training and experience into civilian-language college credits. These include:
Joint Services Transcript
First, you should request and evaluate your Joint Services Transcript (JST). A JST is an official government document recording your military training, education, and experience. It translates this record into credit recommendations for colleges and universities.
ACE-Recommended Credits
Similar to the Joint Services Transcript (JST), the American Council on Education (ACE) produces credit recommendations. ACE recommendations are based on an evaluation that tests your training and job experience, translating non-traditional learning experiences into college credits.
Prior Learning Assessments
A Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) is a process that evaluates skills learned outside of a classroom. Through this process, you can potentially earn college credits for the knowledge and expertise you gained through your military training or on-the-job experience.
Enroll Today in the Online Fast-Track Bachelor’s Degree Program at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
Turn your military police experience into an online fast-track bachelor’s degree with 90-credit online programs at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. Designed for working adult learners, our programs are an innovative new model that allows students to earn their degrees in less time. We also accept JST, ACE, and PLA credits, helping you save time while preparing for career advancement. Request information to learn more about upcoming opportunities.
FAQ About Criminal Justice Leadership Degrees
Do College Level Examination Program (CLEP) or DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST) exams apply?
Yes, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota accepts CLEP and DSST exams as additional ways to earn college credits outside of the classroom.
How many ACE credits can transfer?
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota accepts up to 66 transfer credits in this 90 credit bachelor’s degree program, including ACE credits.
How do I submit my Joint Services Transcript?
You can submit your transcripts, including your Joint Services Transcript (JST), to Saint Mary’s online.
