Students across the state will now be able to study Criminal Justice in a program designed for busy adults, beginning March 2020 with Southern Nazarene University’s unique format.

“We are pleased to offer the criminal justice degree online so adults can access the program from a location that is convenient for them,” said SNU President Keith Newman. “This also allows the principles taught in this program to extend beyond our local reach.”

While SNU has locations in Bethany, Tulsa and Del City, a need for trained law enforcement officials statewide drove the decision to offer the Criminal Justice program online, said program director, Patrick Calhoun, who worked in law enforcement for 24 years. His experience in the field allowed him to keep current working adults in mind in the design of the online option.

“They don’t have to drop out of school because they get activated in the military or because they go through a shift change,” Calhoun said. “That is a unique characteristic, compared to all the criminal justice programs in Oklahoma.”

In addition to offering the online and in-person options concurrently, SNU-Tulsa has received praise from adult students for its unique program design. All classes take place one night a week and students take a single subject at a time before moving onto the next, making the degree easily accessible for busy, working adult students. They may also earn up to thirty hours of college credit for life and work experience, shortening the path to graduation.

While a degree isn’t required at all police departments, Calhoun shared police academy candidates who possess a bachelor’s degree may be more competitive applicants than those who don’t, as well as making them more qualified for leadership positions further along in their careers.

For information, visit pgs.snu.edu or call 888-SNU-GRAD.