Vision
The vision of the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice is to provide 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.

Mission
The Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice is dedicated to developing critical thinking, diversity appreciation, civic responsibility, leadership and social justice in our undergraduate and graduate 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.

Goals and Objectives
The goals and objectives of the program are to provide students with a basic knowledge of the operation of the Criminal Justice System, including the necessary historical background, the legal aspects and ramifications, the sociological factors and issues, and the basic principles and skills needed for an entry-level career position.

Departmental Goals

Students will gain an understanding of the history and current state of affairs in criminology and criminal justice.

Students will be able to critically analyze methodologies and theories based in their discipline.

Students will gain proficiency in oral, written, and electronic communication skills.

Students will make an active commitment to justice, prudence, civility, and appreciation for diversity.

Students will score higher than the national average on the Major Field Test for Criminal Justice.

Students will demonstrate ethical leadership in the criminal justice and social services professions.

Student Learning Outcomes

Demonstrate knowledge of the historical context of the criminal justice system and profession.

Demonstrate synthesis, problem solving, and critical thinking skills.

Demonstrate basic knowledge of legal aspects of criminal justice operations.

Synthesize and apply basic knowledge of sociological issues affecting criminal

Demonstrate an understanding of methodological concepts for conducting and analyzing research.

Demonstrate and apply knowledge of professional skills for criminal

Criminal Justice Major (Bachelor of Arts)
The Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice offers major concentrations in Law Enforcement, Corrections, Criminology, Juvenile Justice, and Pre-Law. A minor is available to non-majors in all five areas.

Students who intend to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Law Enforcement, Corrections, Criminology, Juvenile Justice or Pre-Law must meet the regular degree requirements of the University as well as the requirements of the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice.

A Criminal Justice Major who wants to select two concentrations must complete all Criminal Justice core courses PLUS five separate courses for each concentration. Criminal Justice majors cannot declare a minor in a criminal justice offering.

A 3-credit internship can be completed in the junior or senior year in Law Enforcement, Corrections, Criminology, Juvenile Justice or Pre-Law in  place  of one CRJS elective course. Internships are reserved for students who achieve a minimum of 2.5 GPA in major required courses. The opportunity for an internship will depend on the availability of internships and the approval of the staff.

To fulfill Bachelor of Arts degree requirements, students must complete 121 credits to graduate. These credits include: 45 credits in required Criminal Justice major courses: 40 credits in the core; and 36 credits of general electives. Students are encouraged to pursue minors and/or double majors in related disciplines.

Interdisciplinary Minor Psychology of Crime and Justice

The Departments of Psychology and Criminal Justice have developed a sequence of study to provide students with an interdisciplinary focus in the psychology of crime and justice. The minor is designed to complement undergraduate degrees in psychology, criminal justice, and other social and behavioral sciences.

Required courses:

CRJS 101 Justice in America 3 credits

CRJS 230 Criminology 3 credits

PSYC 100 Introduction to Psychology 3 credits

PSYC 240 Psychology and the Law 3 credits

Choose any 3 courses from the following list:

CRJS 104 Introduction to Corrections 3 credits

CRJS 220 Drugs, Crime, and Criminal Justice 3 credits

CRJS 240 Victimology 3 credits

CRJS 310 Constitutional Law and Criminal Procedure 3 credits

CRJS 338 Race, Crime, and Justice 3 credits

PSYC 201 Personality Psychology 3 credits

PSYC 211 Abnormal Psychology 3 credits

PSYC 253 Drugs and Human Behavior 3 credits

PSYC 231 Social Psychology 3 credits

PSYC 350 Antecedents of Aggression 3 credits

If you are a Criminal Justice or Psychology major and your required major courses are listed above, you will need to select courses from this listing from the other discipline to reach your 21 credits and at least 4 unique courses. Please work closely with your advisor to monitor your progress toward the minor. Criminal Justice majors who seek the Interdisciplinary Minor in the Psychology of Crime and Justice must maintain a 2.5 GPA in order to earn the minor.

BA and MS in Criminal Justice Administration, 4+1 Accelerated Programs
The Department of Criminology & Criminal Justice offers a five-year Bachelor’s Degree + Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice Administration (CJA) program. This 4+1 option is open to all majors. The 4+1 program allows students to complete their undergraduate degree in 4 years and in their fifth year of full time study, he/ she will complete his/her final 18 credits of graduate study for degree completion. Thus, the student can earn the Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice (or any other related major) in 4 years and then complete the Master’s Degree in the Criminal Justice Administration in just one (1) year. This program is designed to enhance career credentials and opportunities with a more affordable cost for an advanced degree. The Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice Administration is a completely online program; all courses are online, even the courses that the students take while in the 4+1 program.

Eligibility: Complete 5 undergraduate major courses with a minimum of a 3.2 GPA in the major courses and 3.0 GPA overall.

Apply using the 4+1 electronic application on Mercyhurst University’s website by March 1 of sophomore

If accepted, students will be enrolled as a Graduate Non-Degree student and will begin fall semester of junior year taking one CJA graduate course per semester. Students will have two transcripts: undergraduate and graduate non-degree.

Students will need to maintain a 3.0 GPA in the 4 designated graduate courses; only one C is permitted. Students will also need to maintain a 3.2 GPA in undergraduate major courses and a 3.0 GPA overall.

Students, in consultation with the CJA director, will select the graduate courses they will take as part of the 4+1

Students will still be required to meet the 121-undergraduate credit minimum to earn the BA Degree. The graduate course credits do not count toward the 121 credit total; they are transcripted separately.

Students will register for a MINIMUM of 15 undergraduate credits each semester during their junior and senior year in addition to the graduate course registration. This will insure that flat rate billing will stay in place and graduate courses will be included in the bill. Thus, students in this program are typically taking 18 credits their junior and senior

By March 1 of the senior year, students will apply to the Graduate School  for admission to the CJA graduate program. If admitted, the 12 graduate non-degree credits will be applied as graduate credits toward the Master’s Degree.

At the end of the senior year, students will graduate with their undergraduate degree and will have earned 12 graduate non-degree In the fifth year, students will complete 18 graduate credits at the graduate tuition rate and graduate with the Master of Science in the Criminal Justice Administration.

Thesis is an option with the Master’s Degree and begins in the fifth year. Graduate Internships are also an option.

3/3 Early Admissions Programs at Duquesne University School of Law / Cleveland-Marshall College of Law:

Students who participate in this program can obtain a Juris Doctorate and a Bachelor’s Degree in a total of 6 years. Students interested in this program must see their academic advisor as early as possible to ensure proper advising and planning for courses needed in the first three years of study. Students may apply for admission to the Duquesne University School of Law or the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law through a pre-arranged 3/3 Early Admissions Agreement between the two schools. Students will complete all required major courses by the end of their third year at Mercyhurst, and upon successful completion of their first year of law school, will obtain their Bachelor’s Degree.

Eligibility for the early admission program generally requires a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5 over three years (minimum 96 credits); completion of all undergraduate  curricular  requirements  (no  transfer  credits are allowed); a minimum LSAT score in at least the 60th percentile (students interested in applying should take the LSAT in the fall of their junior year); a  letter of recommendation from the pre-law advisor to the Law School’s Office of Admissions; and a personal interview with the Admissions Committee. Detailed questions and requirements for each 3/3 Agreement should be directed to the Law School’s Office of Admissions.

Requirements for Criminal Justice Majors
Students are not Criminal Justice majors simply because they are enrolled in Criminal Justice courses. Students who enroll as Criminal Justice majors must meet and maintain University and Department academic requirements. This requires a minimum overall GPA of 2.0 and a Criminal Justice GPA of 2.5. In addition, students must also demonstrate character and conduct which are consistent with professional standards for careers in Criminal Justice.

Student progress and academic achievement are monitored  and  evaluated  by the Department each semester. The faculty may also 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 who are dismissed from Criminal Justice will be placed on Non-Major status and referred to an Academic Counselor to consider academic alternatives, including repeating Criminal Justice courses and petitioning the Department for readmission to the major. Students with Non-Major status who take Criminal Justice courses will not be eligible to graduate in Criminal Justice.

Students who wish to graduate from the Criminal Justice Department must:

Maintain a general academic average of at least 2.0.

Demonstrate desirable traits for entry into the criminal justice field

Complete 45 credits of Major Course requirements

Criminal Justice Majors must maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA in the criminal justice major and concentration courses. Criminal Justice Minors must maintain a 2.5 in the criminal justice courses.

Policy on Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism
The Department  of  Criminology  &  Criminal  Justice  prohibits  plagiarism in any form, including directly copying large or small portions of either printed works or written papers of another student. Paraphrasing, or changing an author’s ideas or words, is also a form of plagiarism if  the source of the idea being paraphrased is not  acknowledged. Violations of  this policy are treated seriously. A first offense will result in failure of the course; any subsequent offenses will result in expulsion from the criminal justice major. The Department also subscribes to the Academic Dishonesty Policy set forth by the Office of Academic Affairs.

Major Field Test
In order to assess the learning outcomes of criminal justice majors, all criminal justice majors must take the standardized Criminal Justice Major Field Test during their senior year as a requirement for graduation. Students who do not complete the test will not receive their diploma.