Criminal Justice Degree Online

The Department of Criminology offers four programs of study at IUP for men and women seeking careers in Criminology.

A Bachelor of Arts with a major in Criminology is offered under the College of Health and Human Services. This program is offered at the main campus in Indiana, Pennsylvania. A Bachelor of Arts in Criminology/Pre-Law provides an excellent foundation for students preparing for a career in law.

Students may also minor in Criminology or Information Assurance through a collaborative program with the IUP Computer Science Department.

Programs of study leading to a Master of Arts and a Doctor of Philosophy are also offered at IUP’s main campus. The programs are designed to prepare graduate students for careers in academia as well as upper-level administrative positions in various fields of justice. The programs allow the student to choose from a wide selection of courses within the Department of Criminology as well as elective courses in related departments.

The Master of Arts program is offered in two locations. The M.A. program on the main campus offers full- or part-time study, and an on-line study option is available. A part-time evening program is also offered at the Monroeville Center in Monroeville. The doctoral program is offered on the main campus; full- or part-time study is permitted.

For more information on the M.A. in Criminology or the Ph.D. in Criminology, please send an e-mail to crimgrad-info@iup.edu.
Criminology Department Programs of Study
B.A. in Criminology
Nearly every level of government offers opportunities for professional careers in criminology. Employment opportunities normally exist in more than fifty federal agencies.
B.A. in Criminology/Pre-Law
The program in Criminology educates students for employment and leadership in the expanding field of criminology and criminal justice, educates presently employed criminal justice personal who recognize a need for furthering their education, and provides an excellent foundation for students preparing for a career in law.
M.A. in Criminology
For over twenty years, IUP’s Criminology program has prepared students for administrative and research careers in the criminal justice system and related fields.
M.A. in Criminology: Monroeville
IUP’s Masters of Arts degree in Criminology prepares students for administrative and research positions in the criminal justice system and related fields, and is also designed for professionals already working in these areas who wish to broaden their career opportunities.
Ph.D. in Criminology
Our central purpose is to prepare students for academic careers through a balanced and integrated approach to the study of research, theory, justice systems, and educational issues.
Minor in Criminology
Required courses for the minor
Minor in Information Assurance
Students may minor in Information Assurance through a collaborative program with the IUP Computer Science Department.

The program in Criminology has a five-fold objective:
The education of students for employment and leadership in the expanding field of criminology and criminal justice
The education of presently employed criminal justice personal who recognize a need for furthering their education
The instruction of students who wish to acquire an understanding of the process of criminal justice as a cultural part of their higher education
The instruction of students who wish to prepare for graduate study and/or research in criminology
A curriculum that provides an excellent foundation for students preparing for a career in law

Nearly every level of government offers opportunities for professional careers in criminology. Employment opportunities normally exist in more than fifty federal agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Secret service; U.S. Postal Inspectors; Drug Enforcement Agency; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms; National Security Agency; U.S. marshals; the Internal Revenue Service; and military investigative branches.

Graduates will find employment in local and state law enforcement, probation, parole, and the custody and treatment of adult and youthful offenders. There are also a wide variety of opportunities in the expanding fields of private, commercial, and industrial security. In addition, many governmental agencies have specialized units dealing with juveniles, community relations, training, education, and research.

Career opportunities are available also in research and teaching at the college and university levels and in research divisions of various agencies.

Students who wish to change their major to Criminology or Pre-law Criminology must have an overall QPA f 2.0 to declare the major or minor and to be formally accepted by the department.
Liberal Studies

Liberal Studies, 51–53 credits — As outlined in the Liberal Studies section with the following specifications:

Mathematics: MATH 217
Natural Sciences: CHEM 111-112 or BIOL 103–104 recommended
Social Science: CRIM 101
Liberal Studies Elective: No course with CRIM prefix; six credits required
Major

39 credits
Required courses

CRIM 102 Survey of Criminology, 3 credits

CRIM 306 Research Methods, 3 credits

CRIM 400 /W/ Theoretical Criminology, 3 credits

CRIM 401 Contemporary Issues in Criminology, 3 credits

CRIM 403 Dilemmas in Criminology and Criminal Justice, 3 credits
Controlled electives

These electives cover the following areas: (A) the Criminal Justice System, (B) Critical Issues in Criminology, and (C) Diversity Issues in Criminology. A minimum of two courses must be chosen from each group.
Group A: The Criminal Justice System, 6 credits

CRIM 205 Law Enforcement and the Community, 3 credits

CRIM 215 Survey of Courts and the Criminal Justice System, 3 credits

CRIM 225 Survey of Corrections, 3 credits

CRIM 235 Survey of Juvenile Justice and Juvenile Law, 3 credits

CRIM 255 Law, Social Control, and Society, 3 credits
Group B: Critical Issues in Criminology, 6 credits

CRIM 354 White Collar Crime, 3 credits

CRIM 374 Environmental Crime and Justice, 3 credits

CRIM 384 Violence and Victimology, 3 credits

CRIM 394 Crime and Delinquency Prevention, 3 credits
Group C: Diversity Issues in Criminology, 6 credits

CRIM 410 Race, Ethnicity, Social Structure, and Crime, 3 credits

CRIM 450 Women and Crime, 3 credits

CRIM 470 Comparative Study of Justice, 3 credits

Other CRIM electives beyond CRIM 101, 6 credits

No more than six credits of CRIM 493 may be applied to 39 credit minimum in major.
Other Requirements, 15–21 credits:

Minor/Concentration
Free Electives, 1–15 credits
Total Degree Requirements: 120 credits

This department is dedicated to the study of the critical issues involved in maintaining social order in a dynamic and complex society. The functional processes of the institutions of law enforcement, rehabilitation, corrections, and the judicial system are studied in the classroom and off campus through an optional internship program. For information regaurding admission, please visit www.admissions.txstate.edu

Department News

-Texas State University is developing a proposal for a doctoral program in criminal justice studies. The program is being designed to allow working professionals to complete a Ph .D. with minimal disruption of their professional careers. For more information, click the “Doctoral Program” link on the left of this page.

-On March 18 2008, the Criminal Justice Department hosted its annual Women in Criminal Justice Panel. This panel included five female speakers from areas within the field criminal justice. The discussion addressed issues concerning the expanding role of women in criminal justice, and it was an excellent experience for both students and faculty.

Mercer University’s Undergraduate Criminal Justice Degree is designed to prepare students for employment in professional careers or graduate school. The Criminal Justice department is made up of faculty who specialize in criminal justice, sociology, public administration, psychology, law, and social science.

Our program offers personal attention to every student through small class sizes and individualized advisement. This one on one attention has provided a valuable framework for our program since its inception fifteen years ago. The mission of the criminal justice program at Mercer University is to give the student an appreciation of critical thinking, ethics in public safety, professionalism, and life long learning. Students are also provided a basic understanding of the philosophical, theoretical, and structural aspects of the criminal justice system. In addition, students are offered field experience in which they can explore the criminal justice system at work.

Faculty

Dr. Lynn Tankersley, Program Coordinator, Advisor, Douglas County Regional Academic Center

Dr. Billy Slaton, Advisor, Atlanta Campus

Dr. Larry Stewart, Advisor, Henry County Regional Academic Center

Professor Charles Weston, Advisor, Macon Academic Center
Admissions Contacts:
Atlanta and Macon Programs - Amanda Bentley, (678) 547-6554
Henry County Program - Stephen Jenkins, (678) 547-6436
Douglas County Program - Tammy Collins, (678) 547-6493

Criminal justice is an interdisciplinary field of study. It emphasizes the study of crime and social responses to criminal behavior. Criminal justice majors at the University of Illinois at Springfield study criminal justice institutions and practices, including programs designed to prevent crime, meet the needs of victims, and rehabilitate criminals. The criminal justice curriculum is appropriate for students who:
have a general interest in studying the American system of justice,
want to pursue professional careers in criminal justice or social service, or
plan to continue study in graduate school.

The program draws on a variety of liberal arts and professional areas of expertise to study criminal justice and the problems of crime within a broad social context. Students take a core curriculum that familiarizes them with a range of perspectives, methods, and content areas within the criminal justice field. The program’s flexible structure allows students to pursue individual interest to develop specializations, or to pursue formal minors in other programs.

The overall goals is to provide students with a strong liberal arts education that focuses on developing intellectual and problem-solving skills.

Criminal justice is an interdisciplinary field of study. It emphasizes the study of crime and social responses to criminal behavior. Criminal justice majors at the University of Illinois at Springfield study criminal justice institutions and practices, including programs designed to prevent crime, meet the needs of victims, and rehabilitate criminals. The criminal justice curriculum is appropriate for students who:
have a general interest in studying the American system of justice,
want to pursue professional careers in criminal justice or social service, or
plan to continue study in graduate school.

The program draws on a variety of liberal arts and professional areas of expertise to study criminal justice and the problems of crime within a broad social context. Students take a core curriculum that familiarizes them with a range of perspectives, methods, and content areas within the criminal justice field. The program’s flexible structure allows students to pursue individual interest to develop specializations, or to pursue formal minors in other programs.

The overall goals is to provide students with a strong liberal arts education that focuses on developing intellectual and problem-solving skills.

The Department of Criminal Justice offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice, which provides the opportunity for a comprehensive study of criminal justice, a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences degree in Criminal Justice, and a Minor in Criminal Justice. Students completing the Bachelor of Arts degree may pursue professional careers in government or the private sector as well as apply for admission to law or graduate schools.