Effective Leadership in Modern Public Safety

What percentage of law enforcement leaders are women?

Just 3% of executive-level positions in law enforcement are held by women.

The benefits of women in law enforcement are many, and there are steps agencies can take to increase the number of women in senior-level roles. Our guide, The Importance of Promoting Women in Law Enforcement Leadership provides an in-depth analysis, including key insight from Lt. Julie Rodriguez of the LAPD.

How can agencies encourage more women to seek leadership positions?

Women should feel like valued members of the team, and they should be supported at work, especially if they intend to pursue a leadership position. Agencies can create mentorship programs and publicize women who have been promoted. They can also provide funding for women to attend training, conferences or programs on leadership.

Why is it beneficial for women in law enforcement to be in positions of leadership?

It’s important to have a diverse group of professionals leading an agency. Women bring collaboration, transparency and empathy to the table, and representation within an agency matters. Having more women in leadership roles demonstrates the career possibilities for police officers or recruits and shows the public that an agency reflects the community they are sworn to protect.

If I submit my essay and application before the deadline will I be notified earlier?

You will be notified of your admission decision within a few days of applying. However, you will not be notified of your scholarship decision until the week of February 28.

When will I be notified if I have been awarded a scholarship?

You will be notified the week of February 28 by email, whether or not you were selected to receive scholarship funds.

What happens after I apply for the program and submit my scholarship essay?

We review applications as soon as they are complete and all supporting documents (official transcripts, letters of recommendation, etc) are received. You will be notified of our admission decision by your enrollment counselor, and this generally happens within three days.

The scholarship award process follows a different timeline. All scholarship essays will be reviewed by a selection committee in February, and you will receive an email notification directly from the Academic Director the week of February 28.

I don’t know if I can apply for the Summer term. Will there be a scholarship available in the Fall?

We don’t know from term to term what funding will be available for scholarships. Currently, the funds available for the merit scholarship are designated for new students starting the Summer 2022 term only. Future merit scholarships, if available, may vary in amount as well as selection criteria.

How can I learn more about the MS-LEPSL program?

Designed for current law enforcement professionals who want to grow and lead, this 100% online, leadership-focused master’s degree program supports rapid career advancement by providing immediately practical skills and developing your management acumen. The program is ranked as one of the top online criminal justice master’s degrees in the country.

In just 5 semesters (20 months), you’ll learn organizational leadership, analytical skills, critical thinking strategies, legal awareness, financial and budgetary acumen, and superb communication abilities – all in a flexible online format that is focused on current issues pertaining to law enforcement.

• Program overview
• Classes/curriculum
• Meet our faculty of experienced criminal justice leaders
• Read student testimonials
• See the agencies represented in the program

If I am awarded a scholarship, how will I receive the money?

Your scholarship award will be deposited directly into your student account so that you can apply them toward your first term’s tuition.

If I submit my essay and application before the deadline will I be notified earlier?

You will be notified of your admission decision within a few days of applying. However, you will not be notified of your scholarship decision until the week of November 1.

How much does the program cost if I don’t receive the scholarship?

The full LEPSL program tuition runs just over $21k, which is based on 31 units at $699/unit. If you are a member of a union or law enforcement association (for example a POA, DSA or PPL, or the IACP, FBINAA or FOP), you will receive a law enforcement discount that brings the total tuition to $20,119. The same discount applies to active duty military, honorably discharged veterans, and their spouses.

If you have graduated from FBINA, California Command College, Sherman Block SLI, FBI-LEEDA Trilogy or San Diego Regional Leadership Institute, you will also be eligible to receive transfer credit toward your master’s degree, further reducing your out-of-pocket costs.

Finally, please check with your department and your union/association to see if they provide any tuition assistance to further offset your tuition cost, whether you receive a scholarship or not.

When will I be notified if I have been awarded a scholarship?

You will be notified the week of November 1 by email, whether or not you were selected to receive scholarship funds.

I don’t know if I can apply for the Spring term. Will there be a scholarship available in the Spring?

We don’t know from term to term what funding will be available for scholarships. Currently, the funds available for the merit scholarship are designated for new students starting the Spring 2022 term only. Future merit scholarships, if available, may vary in amount as well as selection criteria.

Will everyone who applies for the scholarship by the deadline receive an award?

No, not everyone will receive the scholarship, although the odds are good! Historically, 25-50% of those who applied have received a scholarship.

Can I still apply if I don’t meet all of the admissions criteria?

Please work with your enrollment advisor if you are interested but do not meet all published admissions requirements. The two most important and least flexible criteria are that you must have completed your bachelor’s degree and you must have at least two years of experience working professionally in law enforcement. Military experience may also be considered. Beyond that, if your bachelor’s GPA falls short, or if you earned your undergraduate degree from a nationally accredited school rather one that is regionally accredited, we encourage you to speak to an enrollment advisor about your specific circumstances. Sometimes a low undergraduate GPA can be offset by exceptional experience and/or the completion of prestigious leadership training programs like the FBI National Academy. Alternately, you may be given the opportunity to write an additional graduate-level essay to demonstrate your readiness to take on the writing demands of a rigorous master’s degree program.

What is the online course format?

Coursework is taken year-round, with three 14-week semesters each year (Fall classes start in September, Spring classes start in January, and Summer classes start in May.) Each 14-week semester consists of two courses running for seven weeks each back to back, allowing you to focus on one course at a time. Each class is broken into week-long modules, and students can log in and complete their assignments anytime within the week. This is what’s referred to as asynchronous learning because you will not be required to join class on a specific day and time each week.

What is the cost of tuition for the MS-LEPSL program?

Tuition for the MS-LEPSL program is $729 per unit. Members of law enforcement and public safety associations or unions are eligible for a reduced tuition rate of $679 per credit hour. Active duty military and veterans are also eligible for this discount.

Is there any requirement to come to campus?

The MS-LEPSL program is 100% online. There is no on-campus requirement. However, we do hope you and your family can join us on campus for commencement. And if you are ever in the San Diego area we hope you’ll stop by for a tour of our beautiful campus.

What is your graduation rate?

More than 90% of the students who enroll in the LEPSL program graduate. This is far above the national standard and a true testament to the quality of the program and the commitment to student success shared by our faculty and staff. This is a unique hallmark of USD. You will never be a number here. We value our relationship with each student and alumnus, and we truly care about helping you reach your goals.

Who teaches the MS-LEPSL program?

We often say our faculty is our secret sauce. Students appreciate the extensive criminal justice and leadership experience of our accomplished practitioner faculty, who collectively have a diversity of professional experience in law enforcement and military leadership. Please view our faculty page for complete profiles.

How long will it take me to complete my degree program?

The MS-LEPSL is a 31-unit program designed to be completed in 5 semesters (20 months). If you need to take a break from your coursework for any reason your path to graduation will be delayed.

Do you accept transfer credit from professional leadership training programs?

Yes! USD has entered into formal partnerships with several law enforcement training and professional development organizations to make it easier for graduates of those programs to seamlessly transition into the LEPSL program. Current transfer credit opportunities include:

• FBI National Academy (up to 12 units)
• FBI-LEEDA’s Trilogy (6 units)
• PERF’s Senior Management Institute for Police – SMIP (6 units)
• California POST’s Command College (12 units)
• California POST’s Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute (6 units)
• San Diego County Regional Leadership Institute (6 units)
• Marine Corps University’s Command and Staff College – CSCDEP (6 units)

We are constantly evaluating new partnerships – check the transfer credit page on this website for more details.

Does the program have to be completed within 20 months?

The curriculum schedule functions on a carousel system, meaning that if you miss a course you will have to wait for the rotation to complete before jumping back in. Each course is offered once every five semesters. We encourage you to speak with an enrollment advisor or your program coordinator if you think you might need to take a leave of absence.