Program Codes:
ASCRJLE
Associate of Science
Mercyhurst University’s Associate of Science in Criminal Justice with a Law Enforcement concentration program requires students to take a proscribed set of criminal justice courses as well as attend the Pennsylvania Act 120 Municipal Police Officers Basic Training Curriculum (i.e., police academy). The courses are designed to provide a basic understanding of the criminal justice system, to theorize why people commit crime, to analyze the role of law enforcement, and to examine the effectiveness of correctional systems. The police academy component provides students with practical and tactical components of law enforcement operations. This program spans three semesters of coursework, plus a semester and a summer session (i.e., 23 weeks) for the police academy. Therefore, students will be enrolled for four semesters and a summer session for degree completion.
Students who plan to pursue this degree should meet with their faculty advisor and academic counselor early in their course of study to plan out their courses to make sure they are on track to meet the requirements for the police academy. Students should regularly check the Municipal Police Academy website on the Mercyhurst main admissions page for more information, as it lists all of the pre-admission activities and background checks required for being accepted into the academy. Additionally, the fee schedule is outlined there as well. As a general rule, part of this process includes:
Students who fail to meet any of the pre-entry requirements for the police academy will not be accepted into the police academy. However, students are still able to complete their Associate of Science degree by completing the remainder of the required courses as outlined in the curriculum.
Upon successful completion of this degree program, students will earn an Associate of Science Degree in Criminal Justice and receive an Act 120 certification from the Pennsylvania Municipal Police Officer’s Education and Training Commission. Graduates will be eligible for entry-level positions in local, municipal, township, and/or county law enforcement agencies. Careers include positions in the public and private sectors as well as in safety and protective services.
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 law enforcement and 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 and the police academy while in the program. Students must earn an overall 2.0 GPA, along with a minimum cumulative GPA of a 2.0 in all Criminal Justice courses. While in the police academy, students are required to successfully complete numerous exams, covering 4 modules of training, with a minimum score of 80%. 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 program.
Students must meet the regular degree requirements of the University, the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, and the police academy. Upon successful completion of the police academy, 22 credits will be applied to the associate degree in criminal justice program. To fulfill Associate of Science degree requirements, students must successfully complete a minimum of 61 credits to graduate. This is inclusive of the proscribed required criminal justice courses, REACH (A) courses, and police academy courses.
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
The course presents basic procedures in the investigation of criminal matters. Topics include interview procedures, crime scene examinations, development of information, procedures for solving crimes, criminalistics, and the use of forensic sciences.
CRJS 207
An in-depth analysis of criminal behavior systems, theoretical developments in explaining crime, and research methodology used in Modern American Criminology.
CRJS 101
This course analyzes the issues surrounding racial and ethnic minorities and the Criminal Justice System. Topics include group differences in offending, processing, victimization and employment in criminal justice agencies. A significant emphasis will be placed on the empirical research conducted on the social construction of race and ethnicity, differential involvement in crime, and differential treatment of enforcement of law.
Required Courses (22 Credits)
This course examines the Pennsylvania Act 120 and the authority of the Municipal Police Education and Training Commission and the Pennsylvania legal system. It further examines the history of modern law enforcement, contemporary issues in police community relations and ethics.
This course provides concepts in Physical Fitness, Emotional Health/Stress Management. This course also includes the Academy physical fitness requirements.
This course examines concepts in the areas of constitutional law, criminal procedure, criminal law and motor vehicle law as those concepts relate to criminal justice. This course also examines developing legal issues in criminal law.
This course provides an overview of those basic line functions found within municipal law enforcement agencies. Included are patrol procedures and community policing concepts currently being undertaken that enhance those 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.
This course presents basic procedures in the investigation of criminal matters. Included are interview procedures, crime scene examinations, development of information, procedures for solving crimes, criminalistics, and the use of forensic sciences.
Ths course explores the most important topics encountered in contemporary policing. This includes but are not limited to criminal acivity, controlled substances, cultural diversity, handling juveniles and more.
A study of the judicial process and the legal framework encountered by the law enforcement which develops a basic understanding and application of the physical process of arrest, officer discretion in arrest/non-arrest situations, risk factors and appropriate response.
This course is designed to familiarize the student with the best practices in emergency vehicle operation. It further offers practical, behind the wheel exercises in vehicle maneuvering with various road conditions.
This course offers "hands on" insruction in first aid and CPR. Further is instruction in surviving a traumatic incident by maintaining self-reliant and offensive position by employing emerency medical tactics and extrication techniques.
The purpose of this course is to familiarize the student with the basic legal information and framework and tactics that apply to unarmed and armed self-defense. It further prepares the student for law enforcement, legal, psychological, and tactical events that can be expected during and after such an encounter.