If you are interested in a career in criminal justice management, you will need specialized knowledge and skills to manage and engage with people of different backgrounds, understand policy and legislative changes and make difficult and stressful decisions. All these responsibilities require tremendous leadership.
Enrolling in a Master of Business Administration (MBA) program is one way to develop your leadership skills and acquire the knowledge you need as a criminal justice professional. In fact, Lamar University offers an MBA in Criminal Justice Management online program designed specifically for professionals pursuing leadership positions in the field.
Modern Law Enforcement
Traditional law enforcement is no longer sufficient for today’s criminal justice needs. Criminal justice leaders must now understand community needs and solve complex problems. The expectations of community members and other stakeholders are higher than ever, evidenced by ongoing calls for the restructuring and reform of criminal justice systems.
Today, citizens expect law enforcement professionals not only to apprehend criminals but also to prevent crime and resolve other societal problems in equitable, ethical ways. Political leaders and police administrators have also raised their standards for criminal justice management, placing higher expectations on leaders to bring about meaningful changes. To be effective and relevant, modern criminal justice leaders must develop advanced skills in organizational management, change management and transformational leadership.
Whether you already work in criminal justice or want to break into the field, an online MBA can enhance your knowledge and prepare you for greater responsibility. If you lack a background in business, you may need to take foundational courses in accounting, finance and business communication.
In Lamar University’s online MBA, you will take core courses in managerial accounting, economics, managerial decision-making, marketing, enterprise resource planning (ERP), international business and strategic management. Additionally, with a concentration in criminal justice, you will study theories of crime control, criminology law, criminal justice policy and leadership.
Working in Criminal Justice
If you already work in criminal justice, you may find that an MBA qualifies you for greater responsibility and seniority. Job settings in criminal justice include correctional facilities, juvenile detention centers, courthouses and local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. Criminal justice jobs are continuously in demand, and salaries for professionals in leadership positions are strong. For instance, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that first-line supervisors of police and detectives made a median annual salary of $99,330 in 2021.
If you want to further your criminal justice management career, you should consider an online MBA program with an emphasis on criminal justice. Through such a program, you may benefit from criminal justice courses and broader leadership and business training.
Learn more about Lamar University’s online MBA in Criminal Justice Management program.
