Criminal Justice
- Department of Criminal Justice
- Success Stories
- Faculty Profiles
- Criminal Justice Club
- Academic Catalog: (Course Descriptions)
Division: Social Science
Department: Sociology
Criminal Justice - The study of the legal, law enforcement, and correctional systems in the United States, as well as the societal reaction to them. The Criminal Justice system is involved in the apprehension, prosecution, defense, sentencing, incarceration, and supervision of those charged with criminal offenses, as well as the prevention of crime and rehabilitation of offenders.
Do you ever wonder why people commit crimes? Would you like to be involved in the detection, rehabilitation, or prevention of crime?
Why Criminal Justice?
Fact 1: Violent crime, economic and corporate crime, prison overcrowding, juvenile delinquency, national security, and street gangs are just some of the criminal justice issues in the United States today.
Fact 2: The scope of Criminal Justice studies is broad, covering the arrest, detention, and rehabilitation of criminals, as well as the administration of criminal justice agencies.
Fact 3: Criminal Justice majors pursue careers in law enforcement, corrections, juvenile justice, supervision, and administration. Many pursue graduate-level studies in areas such as the theoretical causes of crime, rehabilitation of criminals, and prevention of crime.
Why Criminal Justice at SJC?
Variety: The Criminal Justice major at Saint Joseph's College offers classes that cover a number of different topics, such as juvenile justice, corrections, criminal law, criminology, crime prevention, constitutional law, and law and society.
Dedication to Excellence: The Criminal Justice curriculum provides students with a well-rounded education by viewing the study of Criminal Justice in two ways: 1) as scientific in nature and 2) including human interaction and societal reaction.
Hands-on Experience: SJC knows you need more than "book-smarts" to land a job; that's why students in SJC's Criminal Justice classes are exposed to a variety of field trips and out-of-classroom experiences. The faculty encourage all of their students to participate in internships in such fields as law enforcement, corrections, and juvenile justice. Students are also urged to attend academic conferences and workshops.
Students at SJC have the opportunity to join the Criminal Justice Club, an organization for any student interested in Criminal Justice issues. The Club is one of the most active groups on campus and has organized club trips, guest speakers, and social gatherings. One of its most significant projects was creating a living memorial to the victims of September 11, 2001. (Success Stories)
Faculty and Class Size: Our faculty brings a unique blend of academic excellence and practical experience to the classroom. Class sizes range between 10 and 25 students. (Faculty Profiles)
