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Law Enforcement, Homeland Security and Public Safety Certificate (Undergraduate)

Law Enforcement, Homeland Security and Public Safety Certificate (Undergraduate)

Broaden your knowledge of law enforcement and how the field is changing to better meet the needs of U.S. communities today with the Certificate in Law Enforcement, Homeland Security and Public Safety in Temple University’s College of Liberal Arts. This 12-credit program is offered by the Criminal Justice Department and is available to Temple undergraduate students in all majors. 

The Certificate in Law Enforcement, Homeland Security and Public Safety examines the roles of law enforcement agencies, the challenges of policing in the U.S. and the issues raised by critics working to improve policing. Students in the program explore a breadth of specialized topics based on today’s societal needs, including terrorism, transnational crime, global security, criminal gangs, hate crimes, cybersecurity and evidence-based policing. They also learn about the contributions of criminological theory to the development of law enforcement policy, up-to-date research on the relationship between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve, current issues in law enforcement, and efforts to protect police officers’ physical and psychological well-being.  

Why study Law Enforcement, Homeland Security and Public Safety at Temple?

  • Comprehensive curriculum: Through its all-encompassing curriculum, the certificate program ensures an understanding of law enforcement at the local, state and federal levels, and the relationship between law enforcement agencies and the national Homeland Security enterprise. Courses focus on how law enforcement has developed and how the field is changing in the United States in the 21st century, such as how it has evolved to address ever-changing threats to public safety and national security.
  • Career advancement: This certificate program is designed for students interested in municipal, state and federal law enforcement careers. It can also benefit students interested in advancing careers related to the critical analysis of law enforcement agencies and those interested in pursuing graduate study related to police and policing.
  • Expert faculty: The faculty in the College of Liberal Arts’ undergraduate Criminal Justice Department have spent years working in criminal justice and related fields and bring their research and experience into the classroom. They also have a wide variety of contacts that translate into interesting guest speakers and networking opportunities with individuals who work in all facets of criminal justice.
Law enforcement professional speaks to a Temple student interested in entering the field.

Photo by Photo credit: Joseph V. Labolito

Program Format & Curriculum

Students pursuing the Certificate in Law Enforcement, Homeland Security and Public Safety will complete a program consisting of four courses. All students must take two core courses, Introduction to Law Enforcement and Homeland Security and Federal Law Enforcement, as well as two elective courses. 

Learn more about the required courses for the Certificate in Law Enforcement, Homeland Security and Public Safety.

Related Graduate Degrees

Related Graduate Certificate

Careers

The skills gained from the Law Enforcement, Homeland Security and Public Safety Certificate program are highly relevant in today’s rapidly evolving world. Apply the experience and knowledge acquired in the certificate program to your professional pursuits across many careers, organizations and industries. Some possible careers the Law Enforcement, Homeland Security and Public Safety Certificate prepares you for include the following.  

  • Law enforcement officer 
  • Intelligence analyst/criminal research specialist 
  • Policing policy analyst  
  • Advocate for policing reform 

Tuition & Fees

The tuition for this Certificate Program is based on school or college of your major, program degree level (undergraduate or graduate), course load (full- or part-time), in-state or out-of-state residency, and more. You can view the full Cost of Attendance breakdown on the Student Financial Services website. You can also view the 2025–2026 tuition rates.

Our Academic Advisors

Advising support is provided by the College of Liberal Arts Center for Academic Advising. You can find more information on the CLA Academic Advising webpage (https://liberalarts.temple.edu/students/academic-advising).

Joyce K. Salzberg Center for Professional Development

Dedicated advisors at the Joyce K. Salzberg Center for Professional Development in the College of Liberal Arts are available to guide students through their academic careers and with their career paths beyond Temple. They can help you choose a major, navigate your curriculum, identify internship opportunities, explore career opportunities and determine your post-graduation plans. Learn more about the center.

Program Contact

For questions regarding admission to the Law Enforcement, Homeland Security and Public Safety Certificate (Undergraduate) program, contact the following faculty member.

Kim Campanese
Email
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Student Life

Students enrolled in the Law Enforcement, Homeland Security and Public Safety Certificate can benefit from the vibrant student life offered by Temple University’s Criminal Justice Department. Engage in various student organizations, attend networking events and gain practical experience through internships and workshops. Learn more about student opportunities through the Criminal Justice Department in the College of Liberal Arts.

Accreditation

Temple University’s departments and programs are accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Additional Program Information