Criminal Justice BA

The Criminal Justice provides students with a liberal arts-based education that emphasizes critical thinking and knowledge about crime, criminal law, the criminal justice system, and the sociocultural environment in which human behavior occurs. The program emphasizes the interdependence between theoretical and research knowledge and practice. It also strives to cultivate a commitment to the principles of justice, ethics, and public service and the development of leadership skills.

Goals

• Knowledge--Graduates will demonstrate superior knowledge of criminology, criminal law, and the criminal justice system compared to their peers from similar programs.

•  Skills--Graduates will have the critical thinking and communication skills to analyze and articulate the effectiveness, ethical underpinnings and theoretical basis of criminal justice and social policies, programs and practices.

•  Careers--Graduates will possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities to obtain employment in their desired career field, and/or to gain acceptance to graduate school.

•  Values--Graduates will exhibit professionalism, leadership, and a commitment to lifelong learning through their careers and/or in their public service.

Potential

• federal or state/local law enforcement

• intelligence agents

• private and corporate security personnel

• state and local police officers

• probation and parole officers

• crime analysts

• attorneys

Certification

The Criminal Justice program is certified by the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education for the Police Career Incentive Pay Program (PCIPP) or Quinn Bill.

Accelerated Master's Track into the Master of Public Administration

A student will typically self-identify or be invited by an advisor/professor at the beginning of either the freshmen or sophomore year [13-27 credit hours] year after fall semester grades are posted.

The accelerated track requires a letter of intent, two letters of recommendation from faculty, and a resume to be submitted typically by the beginning of the student’s sophomore or junior year [27-57 credit hours]. The track also requires an overall GPA of 2.75.

The student must earn a 2.75 or better in the following courses: course and course which will then be substituted so that requirements are met for Public Administration and Research (AD 521).

Normally, the CJ student graduates in May with an undergraduate degree and enters the MPA program in June with five courses to complete the MPA degree.

The student accepted to participate in the accelerated master’s track will have a guaranteed seat within the MPA Master’s program when the admission criteria is met.