Great Bay Community College Launches Criminal Justice Leadership Program

PORTSMOUTH, NH — Great Bay Community College in Portsmouth is launching a new Criminal Justice Leadership certificate this fall at its Pease Tradeport campus, creating a new option for students seeking leadership roles in law enforcement agencies.

The 16- to 17-credit program is open to current and aspiring criminal justice professionals and is designed to build critical thinking skills and leadership competencies.

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The new offering comes as demand for law enforcement supervisors is projected to increase in New Hampshire.

According to New Hampshire Employment Security's Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau, employment for first-line supervisors of police and detectives in the state is projected to grow 8 percent from 2022 to 2032. That compares with a roughly 3 percent national growth rate projected for the same occupation over a comparable 10-year period.

Great Bay said the curriculum is grounded in advanced leadership theory, research methods and a hands-on capstone experience. Students in the program will assess organizational behavior, ethical decision-making, policy analysis and evidence-based practices as part of their coursework.

"Criminal justice leadership demands more than experience," Eric Kulberg, department chairman and professor of GBCC's Criminal Justice Program, said. "It demands the ability to think critically, lead ethically and adapt to an ever-changing landscape. This certificate gives working professionals and aspiring leaders a structured pathway to develop those skills while applying them directly to the real-world challenges they face."

After completing the certificate, students will be prepared to develop strategies for team building and personnel management while using research methodologies to inform policy and evidence-based decision-making, according to the college. The program ends with a capstone project in which students apply what they have learned to a current issue facing a criminal justice agency.

The certificate is built around three core courses: Criminal Justice Leadership, Criminal Justice Research Methods and Criminal Justice Leadership Capstone. All three courses will be available this fall semester. Students also choose two electives from areas including Organizational Behavior, Crisis Planning and Management, Victim Rights & Advocacy, and Critical Thinking in the Humanities.

Great Bay Community College is based in Portsmouth and is part of the Community College System of New Hampshire, a public higher education system with seven colleges statewide. More information about the new certificate and registration is available at GreatBay.edu/Program/Criminal-Justice-Leadership.