Program Codes:
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.
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 examination of the structures, procedures, and practices of the federal and state court systems in the United States, including a comparison of civil and criminal court system and the dynamics of the criminal court system from pretrial through post-conviction processes.
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.
CRJS ELECTIVES
This course introduces the basics of computer architecture and how the operating system enables it to function. Students will gain knowledge and skill in installing and configuring computer hardware components including drives, motherboards, memory, network/communications interfaces, printers and other peripherals. Students will work with latest Microsoft OS and be introduced to a Linux OS. Students will install and evaluate software. Students will use software utilities to do diagnostics, perform backups, and utilities for security and virus detection.
100-200 level CRJS course
This course introduces the basics of computer architecture and how the operating system enables it to function. Students will gain knowledge and skill in installing and configuring computer hardware components including drives, motherboards, memory, network/communications interfaces, printers and other peripherals. Students will work with latest Microsoft OS and be introduced to a Linux OS. Students will install and evaluate software. Students will use software utilities to do diagnostics, perform backups, and utilities for security and virus detection.
100-200 level CRJS course
This course introduces the basics of computer architecture and how the operating system enables it to function. Students will gain knowledge and skill in installing and configuring computer hardware components including drives, motherboards, memory, network/communications interfaces, printers and other peripherals. Students will work with latest Microsoft OS and be introduced to a Linux OS. Students will install and evaluate software. Students will use software utilities to do diagnostics, perform backups, and utilities for security and virus detection.
100-200 level CRJS course