Criminal Justice (CRIMJ)

Click here for program requirements as listed in Penn State's Undergraduate Degree Programs Bulletin.

The Criminal Justice Bachelor of Science degree is a certified program through the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences.

The Bachelor of Science degree program in Criminal Justice helps provide its graduates with the communications and analytical skills critical to succeed in criminal justice and related careers. Through an interdisciplinary approach to the problems of crime and society, the program also equips students to pursue graduate study in Criminal Justice or related disciplines, and educates students to become effective problem-solvers as professionals in the field of criminal justice.

The study of criminal justice is approached as an applied interdisciplinary science, teaching students both the theoretical and the practical aspects of crime control and the administration of justice. The Criminal Justice curriculum provides students with the opportunity and assistance to acquire knowledge of the roles of policing, courts, laws, and corrections as they relate to both the adult and juvenile justice system. Students also gain knowledge of the history, concepts, and critical issues related to the role of gender and race/ethnicity in the criminal justice system, victimology, and ethics in criminal justice. The curriculum further provides a theoretical foundation of the discipline, combined with a thorough understanding of the scientific method as it applies to criminal justice. This combination is expected to sharpen the student’s talents of reasoning and judgment; qualities imperative to rational functioning in criminal justice and related professions.

For a B.S. degree in Criminal Justice, a minimum of 120 credits is required.

Opportunities in Criminal Justice

Career Opportunities

Many career possibilities exist for graduates of the Capital College Criminal Justice program including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Marshal’s Office, sheriff departments, municipal and state police departments, security and loss prevention programs, court administration, legal aid/paralegal, delinquency prevention programs, juvenile court personnel, youth shelters and other juvenile residential institutions, and probation and parole offices. Graduates are also qualified to apply for jobs in shelters for abused women and children, rape crisis centers, drug and alcohol programs, jails and prisons, halfway houses, and a wide variety of crime prevention and diversion programs.

Advanced Study

Through an interdisciplinary approach to the study of problems of crime and society, the Capital College Criminal Justice program aims to equip students to pursue graduate study in legal studies, criminal justice, or public administration.

Internships

The Criminal Justice internship program provides opportunities for students to obtain practical, on-the-job experience while earning academic credit. Provided in a variety of federal, state, and local agencies, internships afford invaluable real-world experiences and help students develop professional expertise. Students could possibly intern with the Dauphin County District Attorney’s Office, Pennsylvania State Police, Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, and probation and parole offices of surrounding counties. The internship is considered to be an important part of a student’s academic experience. Therefore, all students are encouraged to complete an internship during their senior year, but to begin preparation upon admission into the Criminal Justice program. Participation in the internship program requires completion of 60 credits, a 2.67 grade-point average, completion of core course work, permission of the Internship Coordinator, and computer literacy. Additional information may be obtained by contacting the Internship Coordinator in the School of Public Affairs.

Job Outlook

Employment opportunities are expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations in all career fields within Criminal Justice through the year 2010, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Graduates interested in opportunities at the federal and state level will face the most competition, while less competition is forecast for jobs in local or special departments and in urban areas. According to the 2003 Occupational Outlook Handbook, employment opportunities for parole, probation, and correction officers are expected to see the highest increase.