In January 2026, Olivet Nazarene University will launch new cohorts for multiple of its graduate and continuing studies degrees and certificate programs, including the hybrid and fully-online Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Organizational Leadership (MOL) programs.
In addition to the five concentrations already offered with either degree, this spring, the University is pleased to announce the addition of a criminal justice concentration. The inaugural cohort will launch in summer 2026.
Adult learners who are interested in expanding their knowledge of business, organizational management and the criminal justice system will benefit from this offering. This unique concentration, which can be combined with Olivet’s signature MBA or MOL programs, is the only one offered by a university in the state of Illinois. Additionally, Olivet’s programs are priced very competitively — offering outstanding accredited education at an affordable price.
“We are excited about this concentration because it equips professionals with a rare combination of leadership, business and criminal justice expertise,” says program faculty member, Shelly Stroud, Ph.D. “These skills are in high demand across public safety, law enforcement, private security and federal agencies. Criminal Justice professionals — whether they are in law enforcement, courts, corrections, public safety, fire or a nonprofit advocacy — operate in environments that demand more than procedural knowledge.”
Due to the increasing complexity of crisis (natural, cyber, civil unrest) there is a growing demand for integrated leadership in government, cooperation and non-profit sectors requiring advanced credential leadership skills. This program was created with Olivet criminal justice students and alumni in mind, as well as mid-to upper-level law enforcement professionals who want to support their career experiences with enhanced leadership development and training. To ensure that students receive relevant field preparation, the curriculum for the new concentration has been designed in alignment with the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences. The faculty who will be teaching in the program bring a combined 71 years of criminal justice work and teaching experience.
“We are committed to developing the next generation of leaders and creating pathways that will shape and strengthen the future of criminal justice and public safety,” says Dr. Stroud. “They must navigate complex ethical dilemmas, exercise discretion with fairness, and respond with compassion and integrity. An [academic] foundation with a Christian purpose equips leaders with the moral grounding to balance accountability with fairness.”
The three courses that make up the 9-hour criminal justice concentration are:
- Cybercrime and Digital Justice
- Crisis Leadership in Disaster Preparedness
- Public Policy and Crime: Theory, Leadership and Strategy
For more information about this new concentration or the 20+ graduate degrees and certificate programs offered by Olivet, visit Olivet.edu/Academics/Graduate-Programs
