Program Codes:
BACRJLE
Bachelor of Arts
Vision
The vision of the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice is to provide students with a liberal arts background that will enable them to live rich and fulfilling lives, with the capability of personal responsibility, professional development and civic responsibility.
Mission
The Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice is dedicated to developing critical thinking, diversity appreciation, civic responsibility, leadership and social justice in our undergraduate and graduate students. We prepare students for careers in the helping professions, for leadership in criminal justice and community affairs, and for the pursuit of advanced degrees. Engaging students in sustained and civil conversations about the relationship between individual and community well-being is both an objective and a means for realizing other objectives.
Goals and Objectives
The goals and objectives of the program are to provide students with a basic knowledge of the operation of the Criminal Justice System, including the necessary historical background, the legal aspects and ramifications, the sociological factors and issues, and the basic principles and skills needed for an entry-level career position.
Departmental Goals
Student Learning Outcomes
Criminal Justice Major (Bachelor of Arts)
The Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice offers major concentrations in Law Enforcement, Corrections, Criminology, Juvenile Justice, and Pre-Law. A minor is available to non-majors in all five areas.
Students who intend to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Law Enforcement, Corrections, Criminology, Juvenile Justice or Pre-Law must meet the regular degree requirements of the University as well as the requirements of the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice.
A Criminal Justice Major who wants to select two concentrations must complete all Criminal Justice core courses PLUS five separate courses for each concentration. Criminal Justice majors cannot declare a minor in a criminal justice offering.
A 3-credit internship can be completed in the junior or senior year in Law Enforcement, Corrections, Criminology, Juvenile Justice or Pre-Law in place of one CRJS elective course. Internships are reserved for students who achieve a minimum of 2.5 GPA in major required courses. The opportunity for an internship will depend on the availability of internships and the approval of the staff.
To fulfill Bachelor of Arts degree requirements, students must complete 121 credits to graduate. These credits include: 45 credits in required Criminal Justice major courses: 40 credits in the core; and 36 credits of general electives. Students are encouraged to pursue minors and/or double majors in related disciplines.
Interdisciplinary Minor Psychology of Crime and Justice
The Departments of Psychology and Criminal Justice have developed a sequence of study to provide students with an interdisciplinary focus in the psychology of crime and justice. The minor is designed to complement undergraduate degrees in psychology, criminal justice, and other social and behavioral sciences.
Required courses:
Choose any 3 courses from the following list:
If you are a Criminal Justice or Psychology major and your required major courses are listed above, you will need to select courses from this listing from the other discipline to reach your 21 credits and at least 4 unique courses. Please work closely with your advisor to monitor your progress toward the minor. Criminal Justice majors who seek the Interdisciplinary Minor in the Psychology of Crime and Justice must maintain a 2.5 GPA in order to earn the minor.
BA and MS in Criminal Justice Administration, 4+1 Accelerated Programs
The Department of Criminology & Criminal Justice offers a five-year Bachelor’s Degree + Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice Administration (CJA) program. This 4+1 option is open to all majors. The 4+1 program allows students to complete their undergraduate degree in 4 years and in their fifth year of full time study, he/ she will complete his/her final 18 credits of graduate study for degree completion. Thus, the student can earn the Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice (or any other related major) in 4 years and then complete the Master’s Degree in the Criminal Justice Administration in just one (1) year. This program is designed to enhance career credentials and opportunities with a more affordable cost for an advanced degree. The Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice Administration is a completely online program; all courses are online, even the courses that the students take while in the 4+1 program.
Eligibility: Complete 5 undergraduate major courses with a minimum of a 3.2 GPA in the major courses and 3.0 GPA overall.
3/3 Early Admissions Programs at Duquesne University School of Law / Cleveland-Marshall College of Law:
Students who participate in this program can obtain a Juris Doctorate and a Bachelor’s Degree in a total of 6 years. Students interested in this program must see their academic advisor as early as possible to ensure proper advising and planning for courses needed in the first three years of study. Students may apply for admission to the Duquesne University School of Law or the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law through a pre-arranged 3/3 Early Admissions Agreement between the two schools. Students will complete all required major courses by the end of their third year at Mercyhurst, and upon successful completion of their first year of law school, will obtain their Bachelor’s Degree.
Eligibility for the early admission program generally requires a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5 over three years (minimum 96 credits); completion of all undergraduate curricular requirements (no transfer credits are allowed); a minimum LSAT score in at least the 60th percentile (students interested in applying should take the LSAT in the fall of their junior year); a letter of recommendation from the pre-law advisor to the Law School’s Office of Admissions; and a personal interview with the Admissions Committee. Detailed questions and requirements for each 3/3 Agreement should be directed to the Law School’s Office of Admissions.
Requirements for Criminal Justice Majors
Students are not Criminal Justice majors simply because they are enrolled in Criminal Justice courses. Students who enroll as Criminal Justice majors must meet and maintain University and Department academic requirements. This requires a minimum overall GPA of 2.0 and a Criminal Justice GPA of 2.5. In addition, students must also demonstrate character and conduct which are consistent with professional standards for careers in Criminal Justice.
Student progress and academic achievement are monitored and evaluated by the Department each semester. The faculty may also request a meeting with students to review academic progress. Students who fail to meet or maintain the GPA requirements or the appropriate conduct standards will be subject to probationary status or removal from the Criminal Justice major. Students who are dismissed from Criminal Justice will be placed on Non-Major status and referred to an Academic Counselor to consider academic alternatives, including repeating Criminal Justice courses and petitioning the Department for readmission to the major. Students with Non-Major status who take Criminal Justice courses will not be eligible to graduate in Criminal Justice.
Students who wish to graduate from the Criminal Justice Department must:
Policy on Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism
The Department of Criminology & Criminal Justice prohibits plagiarism in any form, including directly copying large or small portions of either printed works or written papers of another student. Paraphrasing, or changing an author’s ideas or words, is also a form of plagiarism if the source of the idea being paraphrased is not acknowledged. Violations of this policy are treated seriously. A first offense will result in failure of the course; any subsequent offenses will result in expulsion from the criminal justice major. The Department also subscribes to the Academic Dishonesty Policy set forth by the Office of Academic Affairs.
Major Field Test
In order to assess the learning outcomes of criminal justice majors, all criminal justice majors must take the standardized Criminal Justice Major Field Test during their senior year as a requirement for graduation. Students who do not complete the test will not receive their diploma.
This is the foundation course in juvenile justice which provides an overview of the juvenile justice system and the study of juvenile delinquency. It examines the nature and development of delinquency against the backdrop of normal adolescent development. Research and theory are used to help the student distinguish between typical forms of adolescent exploration and indications of potentially serious delinquency. A variety of sociological, social psychological, and psychological theories of delinquency are reviewed.
This course provides an overview of basic line functions found within state and local law enforcement agencies. Included are patrol procedures and community policing concepts being undertaken that enhance relationships between the police and the community they serve. The role of other operating components found within law enforcement agencies will be explored along with the responsibilities of the services and auxiliary bureaus.
CRJS 101
An in-depth analysis of criminal behavior systems, theoretical developments in explaining crime, and research methodology used in Modern American Criminology.
CRJS 101
A study of the judicial process and the legal framework encountered by criminal justice practitioners. Emphasis is placed on the first, fourth, fifth, sixth, eighth, and fourteenth amendments to the U.S Constitution. This course focuses on criminal law factors and evidentiary procedures from investigation through adjudication. Students will participate in a mock trial in order to synthesize the skills they have developed in this course.
Junior-Senior
An introduction to social science research, with emphasis on research appropriate to criminal justice. Students learn to form research questions, to select and carry out appropriate research strategies, and to present findings in a professional manner.
CRJS-101 CRJS-230
This course balances theoretical principles and practical issues as they relate to the administration of justice. The focus is on the movement toward professional ethics and the growing emphasis on value-laden questions and policy decisions among scholars, researchers, and criminal justice practitioners.
CRJS 101
This seminar is required of Criminal Justice majors in order to graduate with a degree in Criminal Justice. The course is open to students with senior standing who have declared a major in Criminal Justice. Students will discuss and explore current topics in the criminal justice field, will complete a service learning project, and will participate in professional development activities. Students will also complete the Criminal Justice Major Field Test, a survey which will assess knowledge of criminal justice.
Seniors only
A second-level course which examines in more detail the nature, diagnostic assessment, and treatment of delinquency. Practical diagnostic procedures are examined along with their implications for treatment. Interpretation and use of psychological and psychiatric evaluations are also examined. Such issues as socialized versus unsocialized delinquency, conduct disorders and psychopathy, drug and alcohol abuse, and the delinquent life-style are examined. The spectrum of community and facility based treatment programs and their appropriateness for types of delinquents are reviewed.
CRJS-205 or SOC-205
The Internship is a placement with a criminal justice agency, department, or institution that provides opportunities to observe and participate in roles and responsibilities to gain experience in the practice, policy, and procedures. Open to students who are recommended by the department and who have a minimum of a 2.25 GPA
Students may take an approved Criminal Justice elective for (3 credits) in lieu of the Internship
Two (2) Criminal Justice Electives (6 credits)
CRJS 101 Justice in America - 3 credits
CRJS 205 Intro. to Juvenile Justice and Delinquency - 3 credits
CRJS 230 Criminology - 3 credits
CRJS 280 The Juvenile Justice System - 3 credits
CRJS 285 Approaches to Juvenile Delinquency - 3 credits
CRJS 310 Constitutional Law in Criminal Procedure - 3 credits
CRJS 317 Prof. Practice in Juvenile Justice - 3 credits
Internship or approved Criminal Justice substitute - 3 credits