See answers to frequently asked questions about our National Criminal Justice Command College Hybrid format.
- Are there prerequisites to apply for admission to the National Criminal Justice Command College?
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A high school diploma or equivalent is needed to apply to the undergraduate certificate, and an undergraduate degree is required to apply to the graduate certificate.
- I'm not currently working in law enforcement, but am interested in changing careers. Am I eligible to apply to the certificate program?
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You need to be in the field of law enforcement, security, corrections, criminal justice, or a related field to be admitted into the program.
- Explain the breakdown between in-person and hybrid classes
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Students will take five courses in a hybrid model. The breakdown includes:
- Two eight-week virtual courses
- Three in-residence sessions, two of which will be hosted by a state police organization, with the final session held in-person in the DC area for the first week and at UVA for the second. For the All Agency Program, all in-person sessions will have classroom instruction at UVA. Each of the in-residences will be held in a different region of the country to ensure accessibility and a range of contexts:
- West Coast: foundational leadership, innovation, and organizational strategy
- Central U.S.: interagency coordination, change management, critical incident command, and systems-based approaches
- East Coast: executive decision-making, emerging technologies, and public accountability
- Will I receive Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) credit?
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Yes. You will receive 4 hours legal, 34 hours career development, and 2 hours cultural diversity for 40 total hours.
- Can I transfer credit into this program from another institution?
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Transfer courses are not accepted for this certificate program.
- Does UVA have a degree program that accepts these credits for transfer?
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Yes, graduate-level credits may be applied to the elective requirements of the Master of Public Safety program. Undergraduate-level credits may be applied to the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies Program.
- Is the National Criminal Justice Command College a certificate or degree program?
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The National Criminal Justice Command College is a certificate program. Certificate programs are designed to be stand-along programs. Select courses, however, may be eligible for transfer by colleges and universities, but these decisions are made independently by the receiving institution.
The Command College program demonstrates evidence of a specialized educational achievement and is recognized on a University of Virginia transcript. Upon completion of this certificate program, students earn University of Virginia credits which may be applied to the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies or Master of Public Safety Program.
- What is the difference between earning a certificate and gaining certification?
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Earning a certificate is a way for you to earn credits in a structured, discipline-specific way. A certificate can prepare you to advance in your career, or to gain the extra knowledge needed to stay competitive and up-to-date in your field. There are many fields, however, that have professional certifications that may be recommended or required (ex. certified financial planning, project management, accounting). A certificate program does not lead to a professional certification. Yes, the courses you take in a certificate program could help you prepare to earn a professional field-specific certification, but earning a certificate is not the same as becoming certified.
- What is the advantage to earning a certificate vs. a degree?
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Students like to earn certificates because they are affordable, they take less time to complete than a full-fledged degree, and they are practical. Often the knowledge gained in the classroom can be put to use the very next day. In the competitive job market, a certificate can provide the crucial margin needed for individuals to change careers, qualify for a promotion, or qualify for professional accreditation.