Police chief discovers shortcut to master’s degree

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Some law enforcement professionals find it very difficult to identify a cost effective, convenient, and legitimate advanced college degree program. But some are able to locate such a program after an intensive search. One of the more fortunate searchers is Chief Rob Hall of the La Crosse (Va) Police Department.

After two years of on again, off again detective work Chief Hall stumbled upon a new master’s degree program just announced by an online university. Hall said that he had a hard time finding what he was looking for a simple reason. It was only introduced in January 2008. He enrolled immediately.

“I was delighted to discover this new accelerated master’s degree program, Hall said. “I have served as chief, assistant chief or on the executive staff of small to medium-sized police departments, and I’ve always recognized that obtaining a master of science degree in criminal justice would greatly assist me in ‘breaking through’ to the next level of law enforcement agency.”

Don Kassner, president of Andrew Jackson University, the school that introduced the new accelerated master’s program, commented that his school’s advisory board suggested awarding college credit for police or sheriff’s command experience. This, they believed, would help those whose constraints included time and money. Chief Hall noted that being a ‘working chief’ in a small department meant that time is at a premium. Money is as well. Hall said, “I simply could not afford to spend huge sums for a valid degree, or economize and acquire a degree not worth the paper it’s printed on.”

Hall continued, “With Andrew Jackson University, I found the solution to all such obstacles. Their degree program is well accredited, the schedule is extremely flexible, and financially the best bargain out there. Furthermore, with their Leaders in Law Enforcement Accelerated Graduate Program, I was able to receive a significant amount of graduate credit for my command experience and training.”

College credit supposedly offered for law enforcement experience seems to be a sore point for some officers. As Hall points out, “With AJU, credit awarded is truly awarded - it’s not a ‘buy credit’ program in which you must pay for the credits you ‘receive’.”

Asked if he was happy to find this money saving shortcut to his master’s degree, Hall said, “Not only is the length of time to earn my degree significantly shortened, but the cost is reduced by about $2,000. I’m very glad I waited long enough to find AJU.”

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About Andrew Jackson University
Serving the world from Birmingham, Alabama, AJU is an accredited wholly-online university offering eleven degree programs including masters degrees in Criminal Justice, Public Administration and Business. www.aju.edu/amp

Contact Information

Don Kassner

President

Andrew Jackson University

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