FDU and Law Enforcement — Perfect TogetherThe University has a long history of helping people in law enforcement earn their degrees, says Kenneth Vehrkens, dean of the Anthony J. Petrocelli College of Continuing Studies. The following highlights FDU’s involvement with those who serve and protect.
FDU established a relationship with the Bergen County Police and Fire Academy, now the Bergen County Law and Public Safety Institute, in 1996. The University has both undergraduate degree-completion programs and advanced courses at the institute’s Mahwah facility.
In 1998, FDU established a degree-completion program with the New Jersey State Police. Officers with AA degrees, police-academy credits and work experience can apply those credits to the completion of a bachelor of arts in individualized studies degree. Courses are offered at five State Police headquarters as well as online.
Following the loss of its facilities at the World Trade Center, the Port Authority Police Academy was housed at the University’ Metropolitan Campus for two years, and more than 500 officers were trained there.
Law-enforcement officials who want to go into management or move ahead in their careers have enrolled in FDU’s master of administrative science (MAS) and master of public administration (MPA) programs, offered through Petrocelli College’s School of Administrative Science and Public Administration Institute. A combined degree program pairs the BA in criminal justice with the MPA.
In response to the high number of law-enforcement personnel interested in the MPA and MAS programs, 12- to 15-credit graduate certificates have been developed in computer security and forensic administration, correctional administration and leadership, emergency management administration, global security and terrorism studies, law and public safety administration, legal environment administration, and school security and safety administration.
In addition, the U.S. Department of Defense has granted $2 million toward the development of online certificate programs in global security and terrorism studies, emergency management administration, computer security and forensic administration, and transit safety and security.
Federal grants totaling $800,000 will go toward the development of a research and training center in cyber crime. “Given our contacts,” says Vehrkens, “we can provide a center for research in this area that will be a leader in the state of New Jersey and in the entire region.”
Death Penalty | Domestic Spying | Police Profiling
USA Patriot Act | Excessive Force | War on Drugs
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