CCU's Groundbreaking Program Addresses Mass Violence
New emphasis and certificate equip public safety professionals to better understand and prevent incidents of mass violence.
Colorado Christian University, the flagship Christian university in the Rocky Mountain region, launched a groundbreaking Master of Science in Criminal Justice with an emphasis in Campus, Event, and Organizational Safety to address the alarming trend of mass shootings in America.
The new program directly addresses the mass violence in our culture through a worldview that supports the sanctity of life and a biblical view of human nature. The courses may be completed as an optional emphasis in the master’s in Criminal Justice program or as a stand-alone graduate certificate. The program is designed for working professionals and can be taken 100% online through the University’s College of Adult and Graduate Studies.
“The program is designed to help law enforcement and event and venue operators outthink perpetrators and counter the scourge of mass shootings in America,” said Dr. David Murphy, dean of the School of Behavioral and Social Sciences. “After the reprehensible Uvalde, Texas school shooting, we determined to take on the epidemic of mass violence. Through this program, CCU will be on the leading edge of protecting against mass violence and addressing the problem from a Christian perspective based on biblical truth.”
Students will acquire theoretical and practical expertise on this ever-worsening issue of violence in American society. At the same time, they will be equipped to offer best-practice preventive and response measures to maximize public safety. Those already in professional roles who complete the courses may receive advancement opportunities or criminal justice and public safety consulting roles.
“We all agree there is a problem with mass violence in this country, but Christ can work through the worst of human experiences,” said Dr. Shane Stone, associate professor in the Criminal Justice graduate program. “This program directly addresses the epidemic with timely, focused courses that reach the foundation of the issue.”
The Campus, Event, and Organizational Safety emphasis can be taken in conjunction with the Master of Science in Criminal Justice degree or as a stand-alone graduate certificate. Courses include Psychology of the Mass Shooter, Campus Safety and Mass Violence, Event Safety and Mass Violence, and Organizational Safety and Mass Violence.
Informing all of CCU's Criminal Justice programs is a specifically Christian understanding of justice. The University believes true justice is grounded in the very character of God. He is holy, just, righteous, merciful, and loving. Therefore, justice, based upon such attributes, unashamedly recognizes and upholds good and right standards of behavior in individual and corporate contexts.