Law Enforcement Officers: Get Started & Register
- If you're interested in the criminal justice (law enforcement) program, follow the steps below and email the CJLE program if you have any questions.
- If you're interested in a different program, complete a request information form below.
- If you're an non-sworn employee, spouse, or dependent, follow the instructions specific for those roles to receive your tuition discount and app fee waiver.
1
Apply for admission to UMGC: Complete the online application for admission. It typically takes about 10 minutes. Be sure to select the criminal justice bachelor's degree with the law enforcement track (CJLE). A student portal will be created for you with “to do” items.
2
Complete required documents: Complete the admission documents required in your portal. In addition, a CJLE eligibility form will be sent to you for completion to verify your eligibility for the course of study.
3
Earn credit for your experience: Upon receipt of the CJLE eligibility form, UMGC will email you to connect you with the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commission (MPCTC) and help you send your MPCTC records to UMGC. Records must come from MPCTC to UMGC directly.
4
Register for classes: Once you're admitted to UMGC, you will receive a student ID (EmplID) so you can register for courses online using the MyUMGC Student Portal.
Explore UMGC's Career-Focused Program Portfolio
UMGC offers more than 135 degrees and certificates in high-demand fields like criminal justice, homeland security, cybersecurity, and more. Explore some of our degree and certificate programs below or view our entire list of programs. Most of our programs are available entirely online and are taught by experienced scholar-practitioners who can help you make an impact in your career right away.
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FAQs
Get answers to frequently asked questions about UMGC's criminal justice bachelor's degree with the law enforcement track.
There are four components that must be satisfied before you can become eligible for admission into the criminal justice bachelor's degree program's law enforcement track.
- You must have graduated from a qualifying law enforcement academy.
- You must have gone on to be employed as a full-time certified law enforcement officer with arrest powers in a U.S. state or political subdivision of a U.S state.
- You must have completed all post-academy field training required by the state or political subdivision. Please note that field training is not required by every state and political subdivision.
- You must be currently or recently employed as a certified law enforcement officer with arrest powers in a U.S. state or political subdivision of a U.S state.
For purposes of this program, a "qualifying" police academy is one that is recognized by a U.S. state or political subdivision of a state as providing training that is or was, at the time of the applicant’s graduation, a sufficient credential for an individual to be certified as a law enforcement officer with arrest powers in the state or political subdivision of the state.*
*This description envisions an applicant who has gained an understanding of broad criminal justice principles by being trained to assume the role of a police officer with broad law enforcement duties. If it appears from a review of the documentation that the applicant’s training was designed for or sufficient only for assuming a narrow role in law enforcement, UMGC reserves the right to reject the applicant’s training as suitable for receiving the college credits.
Generally, part-time or reserve employment as a police officer does not qualify you for admission to this program. However, program staff can review the your training and employment record to determine your suitability for admission into the program.
To be eligible for the program, you must be separated from employment as a certified law enforcement officer with arrest powers no more than the period allowed by the certifying body associated with your original or most current law enforcement employer.
You must be eligible for re-employment as a certified law enforcement officer by your original or most recent law enforcement employer without the requirement that you attend another entrance level police academy.
States and political subdivisions vary on the length of time a once certified law enforcement officer may be separated from employment as a law enforcement officer before they would be required to complete another entrance level police academy. As an example, Maryland allows a law enforcement officer to be separated from employment as a law enforcement officer for up to three years before requiring the individual to attend another police academy to be recertified.
These articulated credits are added to your transcript after you complete 3 credits in the law enforcement track as a law enforcement track student. Courses completed prior to admission into the law enforcement track will not be accepted for this purpose.
Because all courses (including general education and elective courses) are outlined in the law enforcement track, only courses deemed substantially similar to a prescribed course will be considered for transfer.
Yes. Each course that makes up the remaining 60 credits of this bachelor's degree program (including general education and elective courses) is specifically outlined for law enforcement track students.
* The tuition discount will not be applied to the following graduate programs and related courses: Master of Business Administration; Master of Science in data analytics; Master of Science in digital forensics and cyber investigation; Master of Science in cybersecurity management and policy; Master of Science in cybersecurity technology; graduate certificates in business analytics, cybersecurity management and policy, cybersecurity technology, digital forensics and cyber investigation, and teaching cybersecurity; all doctoral programs; and select legacy programs. The tuition discount will apply beginning in the term in which you notify UMGC of your eligibility. Tuition discounts will not be applied to previous terms.
Additional discounts may be available for Federal employees and their spouses and eligible dependents. Undergraduate and standard graduate program tuition for students who meet the criteria for Maryland residency will be the applicable in-state rate. Tuition for active-duty military; members of the Selected Reserves, National Guard, and the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and the spouses and dependents of these student groups will be the applicable military or specialty rate. If you are a student using Post 9/11 benefits, please contact an advisor at 800-939-8682 to determine if you can apply both benefits.