The bachelor of science and bachelor of arts degree programs in Criminal Justice provide students with the communications and analytical skills critical to succeed in criminal justice and related careers. Through an interdisciplinary approach to the problems of crime and society, the program also equips students to pursue graduate study in criminal justice or related disciplines, and educates students to become effective problem-solvers as professionals in the field of criminal justice.
The study of criminal justice is approached as an applied interdisciplinary science, teaching students both the theoretical and the practical aspects of crime control and the administration of justice. The curriculum helps students understand the various roles of the criminal justice system—policing, courts, laws, and corrections. Students also study the history, concepts, and critical issues related to the role of gender and race/ethnicity in the criminal justice system, victimology, and ethics in administration of justice.
Career Opportunities
Many career possibilities exist for graduates of the Criminal Justice program at Penn State Schuylkill, including roles within:
- The Federal Bureau of Investigation
- U.S. Secret Service
- U.S. Marshal's Office
- U.S. Immigration Office
- Federal Bureau of Prisons
- Pennsylvania State Police
- Sheriff departments
- Municipal and state police departments
- Security and loss prevention programs
- Private security firms
- Border and highway patrol
- Prison security
- Court administration
- Delinquency prevention programs
- Youth shelters and other juvenile residential institutions
- Women's shelters
- Drug and alcohol recovery programs
Accelerated Bachelor's/J.D. Program
The Accelerated Bachelor’s/J.D. Program gives outstanding Penn State undergraduates the opportunity to complete their bachelor’s degree and J.D. in a compressed time frame, fast-tracking their chosen legal careers. At Penn State Schuylkill, several degree programs, including Business, complement specific areas of law students may wish to enter, such as corporate law.
Internships and Co-Op
We prepare our students for the job market and encourage them to pursue internship experiences to obtain practical, on-the-job experience while earning academic credit. Students can apply to internships with organizations such as:
- Pennsylvania State Police
- Pennsylvania Department of Corrections
- Local boroughs
- Probation and parole offices of surrounding counties
For those students wanting an even richer career-focused experience, students majoring in criminal justice are eligible to participate in Penn State Schuylkill Co-Op.
Complement your degree with a minor in Addictions and Recovery
The multi-disciplinary minor in Addictions and Recovery supplements the educational needs of students who wish to gain advanced knowledge and skills to support people struggling with a substance use disorder in all stages of the recovery process. Upon completion of the minor, students will have the knowledge and skills to support development and administration of programs designed to improve outcomes for those struggling with addictions and recovery.
Learn more about the Addictions and Recovery minor >
