Program: ASCRJS - Associate of Science
Mercyhurst University’s Associate of Science in Criminal Justice program affords students the ability to take a broad spectrum of courses that are designed to provide a basic understanding of the criminal justice system, to theorize why people commit crime, to review judicial processes, and to examine the effectiveness of correctional systems. Thus, our program encompasses all foundational aspects of the criminal justice system. Our curriculum prepares students for entry-level positions in public and private sectors, in safety and protective services, in legal and victim service arenas, in juvenile justice and detention services, and in correctional facilities and re-entry agencies.
The Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice is dedicated to developing critical thinking, diversity appreciation, civic responsibility, leadership and social justice in our 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. The vision of the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice is to provide associate degree 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.
Student progress and academic achievement are monitored and evaluated by the Department each semester. Students must earn an overall 2.0 GPA, along with a minimum cumulative GPA of a 2.0 in all Criminal Justice courses. The faculty may 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 must meet the regular degree requirements of the University as well as the requirements of the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice. To fulfill Associate of Science degree requirements, students must complete a minimum of 61 credits to graduate. This is inclusive of the required criminal justice courses, cognate courses, and REACH (A) courses.
100-200 Level CRJS Course