Police Executive Leadership Development (CERT)
Offered through UofL’s Southern Police Institute, this 12-credit certificate includes courses in police administration, organizational performance, trauma-informed policing and criminal justice leadership. Curriculum is regularly updated to meet professional standards. Students gain practical, career-ready skills for leadership positions in law enforcement, with at least 3 credit hours completed on campus.
This program was approved for students entering the university in the Summer 2024–Spring 2025 catalog year. For more information about catalog year, go to Catalog Year Information.
Certificate in Police Executive Leadership Development
Unit: College of Arts and Sciences (AS)
Department: Criminal Justice
Academic Plan Code(s): PEDCPED
The Certificate in Police Executive Leadership Development curriculum is designed to prepare agency sponsored officers for administrative careers in law enforcement. The courses offered have been approved by the University of Louisville and evaluated by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Content of the individual courses as well as the overall content of the program is evaluated periodically and changes made if necessary to meet the needs of the law enforcement community.
Successful applicants are accepted to the Southern Police Institute's Administrative Officers Course and enroll as full-time students in the University of Louisville's College of Arts & Sciences. Applicants who have a baccalaureate degree earned from a regionally accredited institution are enrolled in the graduate certificate option outlined in the Graduate Catalog.
Program Requirements
The curriculum of the Administrative Officers Course (AOC) of the Southern Police Institute is chosen from the following courses and may be taken only by students regularly enrolled in the Institute.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CJ 471 | Police Administration | 3 |
| CJ 576 | Managing Organizational Performance | 3 |
| CJ 577 | Trauma Informed Policing | 3 |
| CJ 578 | Criminal Justice Leadership - WR | 3 |
| Minimum Total Hours | 12 | |
At least three (3) semester hours of the requirements for a certificate must be successfully completed while enrolled in the University of Louisville.