The baccalaureate program provides a full complement of Criminal Justice courses. Additional course work is taken in Sociology, Psychology, and Political Science. Each year in the spring the Criminal Justice program sponsors a Job Fair where representatives from various Criminal Justice agencies and occupations from a number of different states set up booths and interview students for possible employment.

• Bachelor of Arts Degree Course Checklist
• Bachelor of Arts Degree Course Descriptions
• Bachelor of Arts Degree Course Rotation

Pre-law and Paralegal Studies Concentration: The purpose of the PLPS concentration is to establish a pre-law and paralegal studies focus of concentration within the criminal justice program and to offer the entire program in an online forum. The Concentration offered in Pre-law and Paralegal Studies at NSU provides a well-rounded liberal arts degree with a legal focus of study. Those who successfully complete this Concentration will be better able to transition into post graduate legal study or for the student desiring to move directly into the legal field in a support position in paralegal employment.

Pre-law and Paralegal Studies Concentration Requirements: The NSU Pre-law and Paralegal Studies Concentration is a seven-course, 21-hour focused concentration of pre-law study within the B.A. degree in Criminal Justice. Students completing this concentration and degree requirements will graduate with a B.A. Criminal Justice, with a Concentration in Pre-law and Paralegal Studies. Students desiring to add this concentration may do so by contacting the Registrar’s office to make this change in their curriculum.

Pre-law and Paralegal Studies (250B): (21 semester hours) to include 15 semester hours from PLPS 3020, 3030, 3040, 3050, and 3070, and (6) six semester hours of PLPS electives selected from PLPS 3010, 3060, and 3080. (PLPS 3050 is substituted in place of C3350; PLPS 3070 is substituted in place of CJ4250.)

• Pre-Law and Paralegal Studies Minor
• Pre-Law and Paralegal Concentration
• Pre-law & Paralegal Studies Course Descriptions
• Pre-law & Paralegal Studies Course Rotations

The current Occupational Outlook Handbook clearly demonstrates the need for not only more UPSA professionals, but for better-prepared applicants. NSU can help you prepare for entry into federal, state and local agencies.

The very dangerous, continually increasing and evolving threats to homeland security and cybercrime have mandated a new need for public safety professionals. The now very vocal, urgent demand is for specialized interpersonal and analytical skills, and contemporary, state-of-the-art perspectives on the scientific, social, and informational concentrations involved in efficient and effective intelligence gathering, policing, fire services and emergency medical services, correctional analysis, hazardous materials handling, emergency management, proactive planning, security services, and other public safety arenas. The UPSA Degree provides the skills necessary to meet the demands of the future.

The objective of this program is to provide students with an opportunity to acquire a broad quality-based education and the specific conceptual and research knowledge necessary to be productive practitioners in the Unified Public Safety Administration field.

The UPSA degree has four concentrations:

• Fire and Emergency Medical Service Administration
• Law Enforcement Administration
• Emergency Management Administration
• Public Facilities Management

• UPSA Course Checklist
• UPSA Course Descriptions
• UPSA Concentrations and Curriculum
• UPSA Course Rotation

The Northwestern State University Master of Science degree is designed to provide our graduates with the capabilities to analyze and understand the emerging challenges of evolving security conditions on the domestic and international stage. From the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to the current National Security Strategy, students will gain a distinct appreciation for the complexities of homeland security organizations, leadership, policies, ethics, and challenges, through the review of pertinent literature, critical thinking, research, and reflective analysis and evaluation. The Master’s Degree in Homeland Security is unique in that it pushes students to develop plausible solutions to the inexorable national, international, and transnational, threats currently challenging global security through the innovative delivery of transformative student learning experiences which prepare our graduates for life and career success in this ever growing occupational field.

• Master of Science in Homeland Security Course Descriptions
• Master of Science in Homeland Security Course Rotation
• Master of Science in Homeland Security Program Options

The Master of Arts in Adult Education is designed as a mid-career or career transition program for the design, management, and delivery of adult learning in community, industrial, or educational settings. This program began in 1994 as a 15-hour concentration within the Master of Education degree, and became a Master of Arts degree in 2005. The proposal at hand maintains the core of adult learning and development while allowing a structured flexiblity for mid-career learners to concentrate in one of three areas: continuing education, homeland security, or technology administration.

• MA In Adult Education Homeland Security Concentration Course Checklist

History describes, interprets, and explains the past actions and experiences of individuals, groups, and societies to better understand the present. The undergraduate major and minor in History seek to broaden and deepen a student’s understanding of the past and present from a multi-cultural perspective. Besides mandatory coursework to strengthen skills and provide background, students may elect to take a wide variety of European, American, and non-Western surveys and specialized topics courses. A degree in History prepares a student for a variety of career options including government, business, law, education, library and archives, and local history as well as advanced study in graduate school.

• Course Descriptions
• Course Rotation
• Program Checksheet
• Degree Requirements

Pre-law and Paralegal Certificate of Completion Program: The NSU Pre-law and Paralegal Studies Certificate Program is an eight-course, 24-hour course of study designed to be completed in two years. Students may enroll at the beginning of any semester and the courses need not be taken in order. The courses are taught by attorneys and will prepare the students to work in most legal venues. Enrollment is open to anyone with a high school diploma. ACT scores are not necessary. Students completing the program will receive a Certificate signifying their completion of the program.

• Pre-law & Paralegal Studies Course Descriptions
• PLPS Planned Course Rotation 2021-25

Northwestern State University’s Post Graduate Certificate in Global Security and Intelligence (GSI) is a comprehensive program designed to enhance the education obtained at the Graduate level. The Certification program is designed to build on the background achieved at the graduate level and capitalize on the work experience of the student.

All classes involve the mandated development and mastering of analytical thinking, problem-solving, questions of rationality, and a broad understanding of challenging, fundamental and advanced, homeland security and program issues, ultimately applied to real world scenarios.

• Global Security and Intelligence Course Descriptions
• Global Security and Intelligence Course Rotation