MS in Law Enforcement & Public Safety Leadership / Communication Skills for Law Enforcement Leaders

Communication Skills for Law Enforcement Leaders

Course Overview

Course Description

From interpersonal communication with colleagues and citizens to formal written reports to working with the media, this course studies all of the different ways law enforcement leaders need to communicate to be successful. The course introduces and develops a series of communication skills essential for someone leading a modern law enforcement department.

Course Highlights:

  • This course features a unit on social media best practices including using the various channels (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Next Door, etc.), dealing with comments, creating content that informs and engages the community, etc.
  • Another key project includes playing the role of the Public Information Officer (PIO). Students will create press releases, prepare a superior for a press conference, and practice transparency without compromising ongoing investigations.
  • The course is taught by faculty members who have hands-on experience interacting with regional and national media and representing their agencies on social media.

Student Comments:

“Every aspect of this course can be related to any career, there is something to take away from this for anyone.”
– Spring ’19 Student

“The content of this course was relevant and useful. I have experience in this area and this course provided me with new ideas and topics I will use.”
– Spring ’19 Student

“The entire course was helpful in contributing to my current career. The most prominent aspect was how to control conflict with all individuals I come in contact with such as supervisors, peers, suspects, etc.”
– Spring ’19 Student

“Communication is absolutely one of, if not the most important aspect of law enforcement, whether it’s the police officer on the street interacting with civilians or an administrator communicating with coworkers, other agencies, the community, etc. The concepts here were very relevant in today’s world and going forward.”
– Spring ’19 Student

“This class forced me to learn about areas I had avoided because I was unfamiliar with them.”
– Spring ’19 Student

“Every aspect of this course can be related to any career there is something to take away from this for anyone.”
– Spring ’19 Student

“Learning how to communicate with others whether in law enforcement or in my personal life is something that will help me in all facets of my life.”
– Spring ’19 Student

“The module 6 assignment had us look at our own agency’s social media outreach. I brought back a lot of lessons learned to our executive team and shared some of that insight. I learned through this process that our website lacked a “now hiring” hyperlink or any mention that we were hiring. We’ve been constantly hiring for a number of years and our executive team was unaware of this oversight!”
– Spring ’19 Student

“This class reinforced the belief that our profession needs to invest in the budget and structure for branding,
social media and emotional intelligence.”
– Spring ’19 Student

“The real-life encounters of police in the public were very practical. The videos of the officers in different encounters were very practical in applying course concepts.”
– Spring ’19 Student

“The section on social media required me to learn my agencies policy, how we post, what we post, and more about the social media team we have. It provided a lot of insight into an area I was unfamiliar with.”
– Spring ’19 Student

“I like the exercises where I look into my own organization for case examples. I really enjoyed
module 7 where we could choose a topic that was not covered in the course.”
– Spring ’19 Student

“The writing assignments made me take a deeper look into my department’s responses to incidents.”
– Spring ’19 Student

“I am really glad there was a strong focus on social media and internet interactions as these are becoming the norm and can make a huge difference in every aspect of law enforcement. I learned a lot about it that I will take back to my office.”
– Spring ’19 Student

“Every topic in the course is currently discussion topics in my department. The course allowed me to provide an educated perspective to our department discussion.”
– Spring ’19 Student

“Being exposed to so many police leaders from around the country is something I haven’t experienced since the FBINA.”
– Spring ’19 Student

Units

3 Units

Course Number

LEPS 510

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is my tuition?

Tuition for the MS-LEPSL program is $729 per unit.

With a total of 31 units, the full cost of tuition for the program is $22,599.

Tuition amounts shown on this website, or in other university publications or web pages, represent tuition and fees as currently approved. However, the University of San Diego reserves the right to increase or modify tuition and fees without prior notice and to make such modifications applicable to students enrolled at USD at that time as well as to incoming students. In addition, all tuition amounts and fees are subject to change at any time to correct errors. Please note that the displayed tuition covers only the cost of courses, and additional expenses such as books and other fees are not included.

What does inclusion mean in education?

Inclusion in an educational setting requires that each student, despite varying abilities, be provided the tools they need to meaningfully learn alongside their peers. Providing this model for students sets an early standard of equity.

 

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.

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?

Tuition for the MS-LEPSL program is $729 per unit, which is discounted to $679 per unit for members of a law enforcement association or union, military personnel and veterans (documentation is required at the time of enrollment). The total discounted tuition cost for the 31-unit program is $21,049.

Reduced tuition begins in the semester in which approval is granted and cannot be retroactively applied.

Tuition amounts shown on this website, or in other university publications or web pages, represent tuition and fees as currently approved. However, the University of San Diego reserves the right to increase or modify tuition and fees without prior notice and to make such modifications applicable to students enrolled at USD at that time as well as to incoming students. In addition, all tuition amounts and fees are subject to change at any time for correction of errors. Please note that the displayed tuition covers only the cost of courses, and additional expenses such as books and other fees are not included.

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, which is discounted to $679 per unit for members of a law enforcement association or union, military personnel and veterans (documentation is required at the time of enrollment). The total discounted tuition cost for the 31-unit program is $21,049.

Reduced tuition begins in the semester in which approval is granted and cannot be retroactively applied.

Tuition amounts shown on this website, or in other university publications or web pages, represent tuition and fees as currently approved. However, the University of San Diego reserves the right to increase or modify tuition and fees without prior notice and to make such modifications applicable to students enrolled at USD at that time as well as to incoming students. In addition, all tuition amounts and fees are subject to change at any time for correction of errors. Please note that the displayed tuition covers only the cost of courses, and additional expenses such as books and other fees are not included.

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.

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