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Criminal Justice Administration - GC

Program Codes: CGRCJA
Graduate Certificate

Availability: online

Criminal justice is a rapidly expanding field of academic study. Many government agencies are requiring advanced academic preparation for those in supervisory positions at criminal justice and social service agencies. The certificate program is designed to equip practitioners with advanced administrative and research skills that are needed to effectively manage organizations.

This online certificate program is designed for individuals:

  • who are employed in the criminal justice field who wish to expand job-related knowledge
  • who are employed in the criminal justice field who need an advanced credential for working in a supervisory capacity
  • who have a master’s degree in a related field and are looking to advance their knowledge and understanding of administration and research in the criminal justice field

The Criminal Justice Administration program offers an online, four-course, twelve credit-hour graduate certificate designed to meet the needs of the working professional and the non-traditional student. Students in the certificate program will be in the same classes with the students in the master’s degree program. The certificate may be earned in as few as two semesters. The 12 graduate credits earned through the certificate program may be applied to satisfy degree requirements for the Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice Administration.

RESEARCH METH IN CRIM JUSTICE
Course Code:
CJA 501
Active Term:
Fall
/ Odd
Course Description:

This course deals with scientific research methodology applicable to the field of criminal justice. The course will focus upon formulation, model construction, research designs and data gathering strategies including survey sampling, data analysis, proposal writing and data presentation. Completion of the course will provide the student with basic skills necessary to undertake supervised thesis work and independent research in the area of criminal justice systems.

Credit:
3
Instruction methods:
Lecture
Total hours: 45
x
CJA 501
RESEARCH METH IN CRIM JUSTICE
3
CRIM JUST PLAN & EVAL
Course Code:
CJA 604
Active Term:
Fall
/ Even
Course Description:

The objective of this course is to focus on developing new projects from inception to completion. It deals with establishing priorities, securing funding, administering programs, and designing and implementing evaluative criteria. It incorporates empirical data evaluation, including parametric and nonparametric techniques, and the use of computers in evaluation.

Credit:
3
Instruction methods:
Lecture
Total hours: 45
x
CJA 604
CRIM JUST PLAN & EVAL
3
GOVERNMENT MANAGEMENT
Course Code:
CJA 605
Active Term:
Randomly
/ Randomly
Course Description:

Emphasis in this course is placed on primary areas of personnel and fiscal administration. Personnel areas such as labor/management relations, motivation, planning, control, recruitment, selection, training and evaluation are covered. In addition, students explore basic accounting principles and procedures including budgeting, financial statements, short- and long-term sources and the uses of capital, grantsmanship and managerial control models.

Credit:
3
Instruction methods:
Lecture
Total hours: 45
x
CJA 605
GOVERNMENT MANAGEMENT
3

OR

ADVANCED RESEARCH/ANALYSIS
Course Code:
CJA 622
Active Term:
Fall
/ Even
Course Description:
This is an applied statistics graduate course that emphasizes data description and analysis using IBM SPSS Statistics software. Students learn statistical methods and concepts through hands-on experience with real data. Specifically, the course is designed to provide students with practical answers to the following questions: a) what statistical tests should be used for certain types of data? b) how should the data be set up for analysis? c) what parameters should be specified when ordering the test? and d) how should the results be interpreted? The course covers the statistical functions most frequently used in scientific publications, such as descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, correlation, regression, chi-square, etc.
Credit:
3
Instruction methods:
Lecture
Total hours: 45
x
CJA 622
ADVANCED RESEARCH/ANALYSIS
3
ANTHROPOLOGICAL ETHICS
Course Code:
ANTH 547
Active Term:
Randomly
/ Randomly
Course Description:
This course explores the ethical, legal and practical dimensions of contemporary anthropology and its sub-disciplines through a consideration of topics such as anthropology as a profession, ethics and codes of conduct, national and international approaches to cultural/heritage management, the relationship between anthropology and diverse publics, and anthropology of education. Students will be exposed to the myriad ethical issues that arise during a career in anthropology (or the social sciences generally), and will prepare them to engage with them productively. Emphasis is placed on developing the skill necessary to formulate, discuss, and defend one?s own set of anthropological values through critical analysis and examination of case studies, ethical principles, and codes of conduct.
Credit:
3
Instruction methods:
Lecture
Total hours: 45
x
__ __
Criminal Justice Elective
3
ISSUES IN CORRECTIONAL ADMINISTRATION

Course Code : CJA 503

Course Description :

This course focuses on the structure, function and operation of modern correctionaladministration, both institutional and community based. Target issues relevant toinherent systematic problems are explored in detail.3

  • Credit : 3
x
HISTORICAL & COMPARATIVE CRIM JUSTICE

Short Title : Hist & Comparative Crjs

Active Term : Randomly / Randomly

Course Code : CJA 511

Course Description : This course is a survey of the origins and development of the criminal justice system in the United States. Emphasis is placed on studying the evolution of the law enforcement and corrections components of this system. Comparisons are drawn with the British and some continental European criminal justice systems.

  • Credit : 3
x
SEM:ORG&WHITE COLLAR CRIME

Short Title : Sem:Org&White Collar Crime

Active Term : Randomly / Randomly

Course Code : CJA 515

Course Description :

This course examines corporate, occupational, professional and organized crime, the biggest growth area of crime and law enforcement activity today. Through analysis of cases, students explore recent legal developments and literature and emerging trends in the criminal justice system's reaction to these types of crimes

  • Credit : 3
x
SEMINAR: VICTIMOLOGY

Short Title : Seminar: Victimology

Active Term : Fall / Even

Course Code : CJA 519

Course Description :

This course focuses upon a recent and rapidly developing branch of criminology which is designed to study the crime victim. Included will be victim vulnerability the susceptibility of certain groups of people to victimization  and culpability the actions on the part of individuals which, under certain circumstances, suggest victims may be partly responsible for their own victimization. Recently enacted laws pertaining to the rights of victims will be examined, as well as programs that aid victims in their plight.

  • Credit : 3
x
ISSUES IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Short Title : Issues In Crim Justice

Active Term : Randomly / Randomly

Course Code : CJA 520

Course Description :

This course offers a concentrated study of selected critical issues in the criminal justice system. The issues are timely and of concern to both academicians and practitioners of law enforcement and corrections.

  • Credit : 3
x
PUBLIC LAW AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

Course Code : CJA 532

  • Credit : 3
x
SEMINAR: POLITICS OF CRIME

Course Code : CJA 550

Course Description :

This seminar studies the ideological, theoretical, and conceptual perspectives ofsocial organization, criminality, public policy, and the mechanics of social control.Topics include the use of power and position in the development of criminal justicepolicies and the rhetoric and symbolic aspects of crime control. The seminar alsocovers public perceptions and reactions to crime and criminal justice issues. 

  • Credit : 3
x
SEMINAR: WOMEN & CRIME

Short Title : Seminar: Women & Crime

Active Term : Fall / Odd

Course Code : CJA 595

Course Description : This seminar provides a study of the female offender with emphasis on the different treatment received by male and female offenders. Attention is given to female criminality, special problems in supervising female offenders and women in prison. Through a critique of contemporary research and literature, the myths surrounding women and crime are examined.

  • Credit : 3
x
SEMINAR: LAW AND SOCIETY

Course Code : CJA 610

Course Description :

Through the examination and critique of sociological studies, this seminarfeatures various theoretical, empirical and legal approaches to understanding therelationship between law and society. This is not only a study of the legal system,but an attempt to understand the nature of social order through a study of law. 

  • Credit : 3
x
ISSUES IN JUVENILE JUSTICE

Short Title : Issues In Juvenile Justice

Active Term : Randomly / Randomly

Course Code : CJA 616

Course Description : The majority of serious adult criminals begin their deviant careers as juveniles, therefore an investigation of the origins of juvenile delinquency is simultaneously an examination of many of the origins of crime and deviance generally. Students explore juvenile crime from a variety of perspectives and contemporary theoretical approaches to the origins of delinquent youth. This entails a critical examination of the contemporary juvenile justice system and discussion of current efforts to reform the system. The seminar also includes discussions of the connections among child abuse, drug abuse, gang involvement, familial and social factors and juvenile crime.

  • Credit : 3
x
SEM: ADV CRIMINOLOGY

Short Title : Sem: Adv Criminology

Active Term : Spring / Even

Course Code : CJA 621

Course Description : The purpose of this seminar is to provide access to most of the significant current research and literature in the field of criminology. Through the examination and critique of contemporary works, the nexus of theory and method is addressed. Major consideration is given to typologies such as criminal behavior systems.

  • Credit : 3
x
SEMINAR: CRIME ANALYSIS

Course Code : CJA 628

Course Description :

This integrated lecture and application course emphasizes practical skills and theuse of computerized tools; designed to develop both basic and advanced skills incriminal analysis. 

  • Credit : 3
x
SEMINAR: DRUGS, CRIME & CULTURE

Short Title : Sem: Drugs, Crime&Culture

Active Term : Randomly / Randomly

Course Code : CJA 629

Course Description : This seminar focuses on critical issues at the nexus between drug use and the American criminal justice system. Topics include examining drug use in America from the historical, sociological and biopsychological perspectives. This seminar also reviews the American criminal justice policy as related to drug use. A variety of approaches to the problem of drug use and the treatment of drug use will be explored.

  • Credit : 3
x
SEM: POLI CRIME & TERRORISM

Short Title : Sem: Poli Crime & Terrorism

Active Term : Randomly / Randomly

Course Code : CJA 631

Course Description :

This seminar examines ideological crimes both by and against governments including human rights violations, secret police activities, genocide and crimes by police. Students also explore domestic and international terrorism, protest, assassinations and espionage.

  • Credit : 3
x
CRIMINOLOGY & CRIME POLICY

Short Title : Criminology & Crime Policy

Active Term : Spring / Odd

Course Code : CJA 634

Course Description : The seminar incorporates an academic review of prevailing criminological theories and a critique of crime policies. Conceptual and ideological perspectives are used to examine assumptions and objectives of public policy responses to crime. Seminar themes include the use of empirical information in policy decision-making the social construction of crime, and the limits of crime policy.

  • Credit : 3
x
SEMINAR: SPECIAL TOPICS

Course Code : CJA 637

Course Description :

Independent study and directed reading course is designed for second-year students withthe approval of the graduate director. This course is for preliminary thesis research.

  • Credit : 3
x
SUPERVISED CRIMINAL JUSTICE ADMIN READING

Short Title : Superv Crim Just Adm Rdng

Active Term : Randomly / Randomly

Course Code : CJA 650

Course Description :

This individualized course is designed to meet the students' special interests in an area of criminal justice administration. The course may include readings, projects, special seminars or lectures, which relate to the students' learning goals. Students are expected to meet with their professor at least 15 hours to discuss, review and evaluate their progress. No student may enroll in this course without filing a learning plan for approval by the graduate program director.

  • Credit : 3
x
CRIMINAL JUSTICE ADMIN THESIS

Short Title : Crim Justice Admin Thesis

Active Term : Fall/Spring / All

Course Code : CJA 675

Course Description :

The thesis should be planned research on a unique topic related to criminal justice administration. In the completed thesis, the student must demonstrate a knowledge of the relevant literature. The research project is executed and evaluated through a written document and an oral presentation. Thesis topics must be approved by the program director and the thesis advisor prior to beginning the research.

  • Credit : 6
x
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Criminal Justice Administration 4+1 Program
Mercyhurst University offers a 4+1 program in which undergraduate students can obtain both a Bachelor’s degree and a Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice Administration within five (5) years of study. Students enrolled in the 4+1 program will complete 12 graduate credits during their junior and senior years. During the fifth year of full time study, students will then complete the remaining 18 graduate credits over the fall and spring semesters. Graduates of this program will have earned 121 undergraduate credits and will have earned 30 graduate credits upon commencement. For additional information about the CJA 4+1 program, refer to the Criminal Justice section of the undergraduate catalog.

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