The University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s Master of Science Criminal Justice (MSCJ) program has reached a credit transfer agreement with Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff and Command (SPSC). The partnership allows graduates of the police management program to transfer specific completed course credits to UW-Platteville’s MSCJ degree program.

The UW-Platteville master’s in criminal justice program already has transfer agreements with the American Military University Homeland Security, UW-Madison, U.S. Department of Defense and Fox Valley Technical College Criminal Justice Executive Development Institute.  

For more information, see the full press release. For a list of MSCJ transfer agreements, visit http://www.uwplatt.edu/disted/criminal-justice-transferring-credits.html#life.

Beginning in fall 2011, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville will offer a new Child Advocacy Studies certificate to graduate students as part of the online Master of Science in Criminal Justice degree program. The CAST certificate, which is designed to prepare students for the realities of child protection and serve the needs of learners who are specifically interested in professions that work directly with or among maltreated children, meets the mission of the National Child Protection Training Center, a program funded by the U.S. Department of Justice to end child abuse in the United States.

The CAST certificate, which is earned upon the successful completion of nine graduate credits through the Perspectives on Child Maltreatment and Child Advocacy, Victimology, and internship or independent study courses, is specifically tailored for students who intend to pursue careers in law enforcement and as child protection professionals, victim workers, lawyers, witness workers, school social workers and treatment providers.

“I am elated that learners pursuing the CAST certificate will have an opportunity to analyze current practices, explore best practice options, dissect cases, debate controversial topics and address related child maltreatment issues," says Cheryl Banachowski-Fuller, MSPM program coordinator.

In recognition of UW-Platteville students’ contribution to their mission, the NCPTC will recognize the UW-Platteville CASTcertificate on their website and will also sign, and include their logo on, each awarded UW-Platteville CAST certificate.

To read more more, check out the full press release. For more information about the certificate, contact Banachowski-Fuller at 608.342.1652 or banachoc@uwplatt.edu.

If your answer is yes, then you are ready to make a jumpstart on your career and educational goals. UW Platteville is hosting its annual Criminal Justice Career Day in the Williams Fieldhouse on March 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and you are invited. It is an opportunity for you to speak with recruiters from various organizations as well as to obtain information for future educational goals through the online BSCJ and MSCJ degree programs. The benefits you reap by attending events such as Criminal Justice Career Day are the networking opportunities that it provides for you. It will give you the opportunity to meet representatives that will share information about specific careers, career-related questions, and immediate and future employment opportunities with their company. You also have the chance to meet distance learning staff who can answer questions about being admitted and getting registered in online courses that might better suit your future educational needs.

Now that you are aware of the advantages that await you, the next question to ask yourself is how to prepare for the employment opportunities inherent in this event. In order to best prepare, ask yourself "How can I market myself?" Remember that first impressions are very important!! With this in mind, here are 8 tips to keep in mind as you prepare for this event:

1. Familiarize yourself with the employers who will be attending.

2. Do some research to see the hiring needs of particular companies of interest.

3. Develop well thought out career-related questions to ask recruiters.

4. Prepare yourself for any immediate interviews that could occur.

5. Remember you're there to market yourself, so don't dress casually.

6. Bring many copies of your resume with you to give and pass out to recruiters.

7. Approach the recruiters with a smile, and demonstrate confidence, enthusiasm, and maturity.

8. If you want to be ahead of the game come EARLY before the peak time so that you can have more opportunities open to you.