Post Master’s Certificate in Public Service

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100% Online Certificate in Public Service

Complete your studies on your own time.

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Start your first course when it’s convenient for you.

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10 months to your Certificate in Public Service

Finish your certificate in just 6 courses.

Home » Programs » Post Master’s Certificate in Public Service

Program Overview

Take your public service skills to the next level with the 100% online Post-Master’s Certificate in Public Service at National University. Through NU’s public service certificate, you’ll be prepared to further your career, get a taste for doctoral-level coursework or even transition into a new profession.

You can tailor your NU online public service certificate to fit your career goals with one of these specializations: Criminal Justice or Homeland Security – Leadership & Policy.

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Course Details

Program Requirements

  • 6 courses; 18 credit hours

Criminal Justice Specialization

This course provides a comprehensive review of ethics and moral behavior in criminal justice. The theoretical foundations of ethics will be introduced and applied to criminal justice practice. You will evaluate the ethical challenges faced by criminal justice professionals and the policies and practices in place to prevent unethical behavior. The ethical obligations in crime scene investigation, evidence handling, and testimony in court will also be addressed in this course.

This course examines current management issues within the criminal justice field. You will explore concepts and skills needed to address issues and problems confronting the criminal justice system. Issues such as the societal and cultural changes affecting criminal justice agencies will be examined. In addition, you will gain in-depth exposure to the application of theoretical and administrative principles.

In this course, students will analyze the internal organizational structure, roles, and functions of criminal justice agencies. Students will apply administration and managerial concepts and theories to demonstrate competencies in this area. Students will also learn to formulate policies for coordination and control procedures.

Strategic planning is necessary for effectively planning both current and future organizational goals of a criminal justice organization. This course will allow you to examine the tools and skills needed in the strategic planning process while understanding the importance of the planning process. This course will also strengthen your ability to analyze, develop, and implement strategic plans to achieve criminal justice goals for an organization as well as to assess and manage improvements for an organization in a specific geographical location. Several criminal justice agencies will be examined within the course to provide you with the widest perspective possible before you begin developing your own strategic planning documents.

In this doctoral level course, students will examine public policy and criminal justice. Students will analyze the various significant policy models used in the criminal justice system. Students will assess how various participants such as politicians, the police, and the corrections sector impact criminal justice public policy. Students will specify how the media influence criminal justice public policy. Finally, students will evaluate how the courts shape criminal justice public policy.

Homeland Security – Leadership and Policy Specialization

This course serves as an introduction to the study of homeland security and will provide an overview of the practical discipline, including readings on the various government agencies involved in different aspects of homeland security. The course will also include an overview of the terrorist threat faced today and an examination of how that threat came into being.

In this course, students will analyze the operations and preparedness of local emergency management systems and their ability to respond to natural and manmade disasters. Students will learn how the National Incident Management System functions and use it to plan the use of emergency response organizations. Students will explain and assess local community capabilities to maintain the safety of their populations and the processes through which local emergency response agencies can request assistance.

In this course, students will closely examine transportation networks with regard to the security demands now required. The course assignments include the exploration of the threats to each industry and measures needed to secure the networks from a domestic and global perspective. Regulatory agencies, both domestic and international, will be subjects of study as well as national and international agreements.

In this course, students will take a critical look at the integration of intelligence operations and law enforcement in the realm of homeland security. Topics will also include the composition of the U.S. intelligence community, roles of various U.S. intelligence agencies, and issues facing the U.S. intelligence community. The course provides the knowledge necessary to utilize strategic intelligence effectively in the law enforcement and public safety realm.

In this course students will have an opportunity to gain a conceptual understanding of the meanings of strategy, national interests, elements of power, and asymmetric threats. Students also will explore the meaning of the concept of resiliency as well as how terrorists use fear to their advantage. An understanding of these concepts will aid any homeland security professional in performing their duties and protecting the populace.

Certificate Requirements

The University may accept a maximum of 3 semester credit hours from a graduate-level program to the University’s Post-Master’s certificate program. Coursework must have been completed at an accredited college or university within the last seven years with a grade of “B” or better. See the Transfer Credit Policy for additional information.

The Post-Master’s Certificate has the following graduation requirements:

  • Cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.0 (letter grade of “B”) or higher
  • Official documents on file for basis of admission: a conferred master’s level or higher degree from an accredited academic institution
  • Official transcripts on file for all transfer credit hours accepted by the University
  • All financial obligations must be met before the student will be issued their complimentary diploma

Admissions

Enrolling in a university is a big decision. That’s why our dedicated admissions team is here to guide you through the admissions process and help you find the right program for you and your career goals.

To that end, we’ve simplified and streamlined our application process, so you can get enrolled in your program right away. Because we accept and review applications year round, you can begin class as soon as next month, depending on your program and location of choice.

Learn more about undergraduate, graduate, military, and international student admissions, plus admissions information for transfer students. You can also learn more about our tuition rates and financial aid opportunities.

To speak with our admissions team, call (855) 355-6288 or request information and an advisor will contact you shortly. If you’re ready to apply, simply start your application today.

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Program Disclosure

Successful completion and attainment of National University degrees do not lead to automatic or immediate licensure, employment, or certification in any state/country. The University cannot guarantee that any professional organization or business will accept a graduate’s application to sit for any certification, licensure, or related exam for the purpose of professional certification.

Program availability varies by state. Many disciplines, professions, and jobs require disclosure of an individual’s criminal history, and a variety of states require background checks to apply to, or be eligible for, certain certificates, registrations, and licenses. Existence of a criminal history may also subject an individual to denial of an initial application for a certificate, registration, or license and/or result in the revocation or suspension of an existing certificate, registration, or license. Requirements can vary by state, occupation, and/or licensing authority.

NU graduates will be subject to additional requirements on a program, certification/licensure, employment, and state-by-state basis that can include one or more of the following items: internships, practicum experience, additional coursework, exams, tests, drug testing, earning an additional degree, and/or other training/education requirements.

All prospective students are advised to review employment, certification, and/or licensure requirements in their state, and to contact the certification/licensing body of the state and/or country where they intend to obtain certification/licensure to verify that these courses/programs qualify in that state/country, prior to enrolling. Prospective students are also advised to regularly review the state’s/country’s policies and procedures relating to certification/licensure, as those policies are subject to change.

National University degrees do not guarantee employment or salary of any kind. Prospective students are strongly encouraged to review desired job positions to review degrees, education, and/or training required to apply for desired positions. Prospective students should monitor these positions as requirements, salary, and other relevant factors can change over time.