Walden University Launches Criminal Justice Specialization in Master’s, PhD in Public Administration Degrees

Minneapolis—May 23, 2006—Recent heightened concern for public safety and homeland security has created a need for highly skilled and educated managers in the law enforcement industry. In response, Walden University, an accredited online institution, has created a Criminal Justice specialization within its Master of Public Administration (MPA) and PhD in Public Policy and Administration degree programs.

“Walden’s graduate-level Criminal Justice specialization is designed to advance our students’ understanding of law enforcement at the management level,” said Marion P. Angelica, PhD, dean of the School of Public Policy and Administration at Walden. “Students who would benefit from pursuing this specialization would be those at the federal, state and local levels in the criminal justice profession who are looking for career advancement in supervision and management.”

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment within the law enforcement and security industry is expected to grow by more than 15 percent by 2014. MPA and PhD degrees in criminal justice will prepare students for leadership roles within state and federal agencies and police departments, or help them move out of traditional police work and into areas such as community/urban development.

Walden University’s School of Public Policy and Administration, the first fully online public administration school in the nation, has developed curricula that address an urgent need to develop a larger pool of professionals who have enhanced their critical-thinking, problem-solving skills and cultural competence.

“Effective public policy initiatives often intersect with a need for understanding law enforcement support at the management level,” said Paula E. Peinovich, PhD, president and provost of Walden University. “This new Criminal Justice specialization gives our students both the academic and real-world applications they need to lead and manage law enforcement entities, and is an outstanding example of the Walden University mission of social change in action.”

About Walden University
Since 1970, Walden University has offered working professionals the opportunity to earn advanced degrees through distance learning. Today, this comprehensive, accredited online university offers master’s and doctoral degrees in education, psychology, management, public policy and administration, and health and human services, as well as master’s programs in engineering and IT and bachelor’s completion programs in business. For more information, visit www.WaldenU.edu.

Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association, www.hlcommission.org; 312-263-0456.