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16 Law Enforcement Technology May 2014 www.officer.com SPECIAL REPORT: CAREER DEVELOPMENT cational standards for promotion, more officers are entering law enforcement with a degree, making competition steep. Don't disadvantage yourself by being the candidate without a degree—more than ever departments are using education as a way to weed out applicants. Many officers think it makes sense to get a degree in criminal justice. However, even if you plan to spend your entire career in law enforcement, Hardiman recommends getting a degree that broadens your perspective. After all, you already have knowledge and experience about criminal justice, so use education to "fill the gap" on your resume and help make you a well-rounded candidate. Degrees to consider: ■ Public Administration A degree in public administration can give you experience in budgeting, planning, procurement and administrative law—the tools you need to know about hiring, firing and promotion. ■ Business Administration/ Management Especially if you plan to move into the private sector, business administration can teach you everything from organizational behavior and leadership styles to budgeting and HR practices. ■ Emergency and Disaster Management (EDM) As a police officer, you have likely participated in some aspect of EDM, whether through training or real-life scenarios. This field gives you a broader per- spective of how public safety depart- ments interact with municipalities and private businesses. ■ Homeland Security This degree can broaden your per- spective beyond law enforcement. Great for people who want to move into the government sector. For LEOs with a degree who want to demonstrate continued education: A good way to continue your education without committing to a full degree is to pursue a certificate program, which allows working law enforcement professionals to docu- ment accredited learning. Certificate programs can also be used to focus on a particular skill to complement a more general degree. As one example, a law enforcement executive who holds a master's degree in criminal justice may seek to enter a certificate program in emergency and disaster management. The certificate has more focus than the degree and demonstrates the develop- ment of specific skills. Some certificates can specifically help develop leadership competen- cies in law enforcement. For example, American Military University recently launched undergraduate and gradu- ate certificates in Executive Law Enforcement Leadership. This program includes six courses that help prepare law enforcement command personnel for advanced leadership roles, ranging from strategic planning to grant writ- ing classes. The university also recently launched a cohort for this certificate program so that participants can go through this program with the sup- port of other like-minded officers from around the country. Regardless of what approach you take to enhance education, it is impor- tant to be a dedicated lifelong learner. After all, the field of law enforcement is constantly changing, and education is a valuable way to improve the knowledge and skills needed to get ahead. ■ Leischen Stelter works with the public safety outreach team at American Military University and writes articles about issues and trends relevant to professionals in emer- gency management, law enforcement, fire services, and national security. She graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from Franklin & Marshall College and studied Journalism and Media Studies at the University of Southern Maine. Dr. James Reilly spent 13 years as an astronaut for NASA. During this time he learned teamwork was essential to the successes of high stakes missions. Many offcers think it makes sense to get a degree in criminal justice. However, even if you plan to spend your entire career in law enforcement, Hardiman recommends getting a degree that broadens your perspective. After all, you already have knowledge and experience about criminal justice, so use education to "fll the gap" on your resume... LET_14-16_LEVet0514.indd 16 4/18/14 3:28 PM