College of Science
Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice
Get practical instruction and hands-on training from academics and practitioner. The DeSales criminal justice major prepares you for a career in protecting and serving your community.
Program Details
- Official Degree Name
- Bachelor of Arts
- Format
-
In Class-Day
- Credit Hours
- 120
- Program Start
- Fall Semester
- Application Deadline
- Apply Anytime
- Average Time to Degree
- 4 Years
Why Get Your Criminal Justice Degree at DeSales University?
Interested in studying law or justice? Looking to serve as an officer, agent or detcitve? A criminal justice degree from DeSales University will open up multiple career and professional pathways. With five specialized tracks and two accelerated Master’s programs, you can align your education with your passions and goals.
The comprehensive curriculum is taught by experts from all segments of the criminal justice field. Plus, you’ll get specialty hands-on training in industry-standard practices and technology. Whether your goal is to enter a law enforcement career or pursue graduate education, a criminal justice degree from DeSales University equips you with the skills and knowledge you’ll need.
Program Highlights
Multiple Pathways to Success
- What can you do with a criminal justice degree? With a bachelor’s in criminal justice from DeSales, the possibilities are endless. Our criminal justice program has five specialized tracks to choose from. Each track allows students to focus their studies on their interests and goals. The program’s areas of focus include: Digital Forensics track, Intelligence track, Pre-Law track, Rehabilitation track, and Social Studies Teacher Certification program.
Professional Development Opportunities
- Criminal justice students will have many opportunities to complete internships with the guidance of their advisors. There are many internship opportunities created specifically for DeSales students, such as those in the local coroner’s office, the Officer David M. Petzold Digital Forensics Laboratory of Lehigh County, the Regional Intelligence and Investigation Center, local police departments, court systems, and probation and correction departments.
Active Campus Culture
- Students will have no issues finding something to do on campus. Our Criminal Justice Association club focuses on networking, hosting, and attending events related to the criminal justice field. The DeSales chapter of the American Criminal Justice Association provides criminal justice students with further networking, training, and continued education opportunities.
What Will You Study?
The criminal justice curriculum focuses on practical instruction and hands-on training. Learn from academics and former practitioners from all segments of the criminal justice field.
Required courses include:
- Crime and Society
- Cybercrime
- Criminal Law
- Criminology
- Law Enforcement
- Corrections
- Criminal Procedure
- Ethics in Criminal Justice
Meet the Faculty
Program Tracks & Pathways
Swipe below to discover more!
Tracks
Learn MoreTrack
Digital Forensics
Enhance your criminal justice degree through our Digital Forensics track. Our curriculum will teach you how to investigate cybercrime by using the latest technology. You’ll also get hands-on training from experienced digital forensic professionals. Learn how law enforcement agencies and lab experts at the local, state, and federal levels are trained to collect and analyze digital evidence.
Courses You May Take Include:
Track
Intelligence
If you have an interest in collecting and analyzing intelligence information to fight both foreign and domestic terrorism, then this track is for you. Our curriculum is crafted and taught by industry-trained faculty. Learn how to collect and decipher information that aids in preventing and solving relevant national security issues.
Courses You May Take Include:
Track
Pre-Law
Our pre-law track is designed to prepare students who want to go to law school. Our curriculum is specifically designed to build the necessary skills to succeed as a law student. Get a foundation in law and the criminal justice system and be exposed to several areas of law.
Courses You May Take Include:
Track
Rehabilitation
Our rehabilitation track is excellent for students who want to make a positive impact on individuals and communities affected by crime. Our curriculum emphasizes critical areas in psychology, sociology, and criminal justice to prepare you for your goal of helping inmates, parolees, juveniles, addicts, and families.
Courses You May Take Include:
Track
Secondary Education
Considering a career in secondary education? Then our Secondary Teacher Education Program (STEP) is for you. Our STEP program will put you on the path to earning a secondary teacher certification for social studies for grades 7-12 from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. You will have to complete five education courses in addition to your major requirements during your undergraduate studies. During your senior year, you will be able to apply for the Master’s of Education (4+1) Program to continue on your path to certification.
Required Courses Include:
5-Year Master's Programs
Learn MoreMaster’s in 5 Years
Master of Arts in Criminal Justice
Our 5-Year BA/MCJ degree program provides you with the opportunity to save time and money while completing your criminal justice education. Students in the program will begin taking Master’s level courses during their senior year of undergraduate study which will count both towards the completion of their BA and MCJ. Students eligible to apply for the 5-Year program include incoming high school seniors with a declared major in criminal justice and current junior-year students with a criminal justice major.
Courses You May Take Include:
Master’s in 5 Years
Master of Arts in Homeland Security
Attain a Master’s degree in just one year through our accelerated 5-Year BA/MAHS degree program. If admitted, you will take three Homeland Security graduate courses during your senior year. These courses will count both towards the completion of your undergraduate degree and a Master of Arts in Homeland Security with a concentration in either Counterterrorism Digital Forensics, Counterterrorism Investigations, or Emergency Management.
Courses You May Take Include:
Minor
Learn MoreMinor
Criminal Justice
Enhance your major by pursuing a criminal justice minor. Learn about the criminal justice system and sharpen your critical thinking and research skills. Whether you want to work in law, public policy, social work, or forensic psychology, a criminal justice minor will make you a more versatile candidate in a growing job market.
Required Courses Include:
Outcomes & Careers
DeSales’ bachelor of arts in criminal justice provides a thorough understanding of the criminal justice system, its impact on society, and relevant modern issues. We’ll prepare you for employment opportunities or graduate school with a curriculum that nurtures intellectual curiosity, communication skills, and scholarship. In order to practice and experience what they have learned in the classroom, students work closely with their advisors and faculty to complete internship experiences.
Application Checklist
- Official High School Transcript
- Completed Guidance Counselor Form
- Completed Teacher Recommendation Form
- Optional Standardized Test
Program Support
Program FAQs
A degree in criminal justice opens the door to a vast array of careers and professional opportunities. Depending on your specific area of interest, criminal justice careers include:
- Police Officer
- Probation Officer
- Federal Law Enforcement Agent
- Lawyer
- Detective
- Intelligence Analyst
- Teacher
Of course! Past internship opportunities for our criminal justice students have included:
- The Officer David M. Petzold Digital Forensics Laboratory of Lehigh County
- Regional Intelligence and Information Center
- Allentown Police Department
- Bethlehem Police Department
- New Jersey State Police
- Lehigh County Adult Probation
- Lehigh County Prison
- KidsPeace
- Lehigh County District Attorney
- Lehigh County Pre-Trial Services
- United States Attorney’s- EDPA
- Law Offices in the Lehigh Valley Area
- Valley Youth House
Incoming high school seniors with a major in criminal justice with an SAT score of 1150 or higher (ACT of 23 or higher) and DeSales students in their junior year with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher are invited to apply for admittance to the 5-Year program. Any admitted student will be required to meet certain academic requirements to successfully complete the program.
Eligible students can apply during their junior year to the 5-Year BA/MAHS degree program. Students in their junior year majoring in homeland security, criminal justice, and psychology, and who have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, are eligible to apply to the program. Speak with your faculty advisor to remain on track for the program and to receive guidance during the application process.
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