Bachelor in Criminal Justice
Mercy College
Key Information
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Campus location
Dobbs Ferry, USA
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
4 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
USD 18,934 / per year *
Application deadline
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Earliest start date
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* for the 2019-2020 academic year
Scholarships
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Introduction
Criminal Justice is a challenging, exciting and rewarding career. The 4-year Criminal Justice major will prepare you for the profession or help you advance if you're already in it.
Graduates have found employment in public service agencies such as:
- Police departments
- Corrections departments
- Social service agencies
- Victim's assistance agencies
- Youth counseling agencies
- Private security and insurance companies
Many students continue on to law school.
The greatest strength of the criminal justice program at Mercy College is the academic and professional diversity of the faculty, which includes attorneys, law enforcement officers, and other professionals who have had hands-on experience in the criminal justice system in the metropolitan area.
Criminal Justice Fast Facts
- Diversity of faculty in criminal justice positions.
- Continue on to law school or find employment in public service agencies.
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Criminal Justice B.S. Curriculum
Students who choose the major concentration in Criminal Justice must complete:
- CRJU 102 Introduction to Criminal Justice System
- CRJU 204 Introduction to Corrections
- CRJU/ SOCL 212 Criminology
- CRJU 236 Criminal Court Process
- CRJU 253 Policing
- CRJU 396 Research Methods in Criminal Justice
- CRJU 401 Senior Seminar
In addition, students must select any five courses in total from Criminal Justice numbered 200 or above or from the following approved electives:
- LAWS 203 Law of Evidence
- LAWS 255 Managing Human Conflict I
- LAWS 256 Managing Human Conflict II
- PSYN 209 Introduction to Forensic Psychology
- PSYN 244 Social Psychology
- PSYN 312 Abnormal Psychology
- PSYN 340 Psychology of Crisis
- SOCL 201 Law, Order & Justice
- SOCL 206 Sociology of Violence
- SOCL 236 Social Deviance
- SOCL 315 Terrorism
- SOCL 370 Stats Social/Behavioral Sciences
- CRJU 399 Internship Criminal Justice*
* It is strongly recommended that students who have no experience in the Criminal Justice field enroll in CRJU 399.
There is an 18-credit residency requirement in the major concentration of Criminal Justice. PSYN 101 is a prerequisite for all PSYN courses numbered 120 and above. SOCL 101 is a prerequisite for all SOCL courses numbered 120 and above. PSYN 101 and SOCL 101 fulfill part of the General Education requirements. All the courses in this category fulfill Liberal Arts requirements.
Students may also participate in the CASAC-T Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor Standardized 350-Hour Education and Training program.
Program Outcomes
By the end of this program, students should be able to:
- Learn the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, and basic structures involved with law enforcement, the criminal course system, and corrections, and the causes of crime and delinquency.
- Understand and be able to use basic research methods in criminal justice and criminology, including design, data analysis, and interpretation.
- Demonstrate critical thinking, skeptical inquiry, and the scientific approach to problem-solving.
- Recognize, understand and respect the complexity of contrasting interests in the criminal justice system.
- Obtain realistic perspectives from the field experience and relate it to their pursuit of careers and/or graduate study in the field of criminal justice.
Criminal Justice Internships
Criminal Justice juniors and seniors are encouraged to acquire field experience by completing a 3-credit elective internship course: CRJU 399 Internship in Criminal Justice. Students can check for positions available in agencies such as US Marshal, Westchester Corrections, Department of Public Safety, Department of Probation, state addictions treatment programs, among others, by signing into Mercy's Career Maverick. Students are expected to:
- Seek and apply for the internship opportunity as instructed in the Career Maverick posting, prior to the beginning of the semester.
- Register for CRJU 399.
- Complete a minimum of 150 hours at the agency.
Career Opportunities
Graduates of the Criminal Justice Bachelor's program pursue positions in law enforcement; corrections, including probation and parole; court officers and other court personnel; social service agencies; victims' assistance agencies; private security; insurance companies; etc
English Language Requirements
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