Bachelor of Arts in Public Service - Management of Criminal Justice

If you are ready to have a positive impact in your community and the world—perhaps a degree in public service is the right fit. You emerge with analytical skills, critical thinking skills, and go on to practice in organizations fostering service and commitment to serve local, national and international organizations.

Your choice of concentrations:

• Leadership
• Management of Criminal Justice

Whichever concentration you choose, you will have the option to combine an internship or project in exploration of career opportunities in these fields. The internship will provide you an opportunity to exercise, in a practical manner, the skills, knowledge and responsibilities of a practitioner.

REQUIRED COURSES

• Foundations of Leadership
• Crisis and Emergency Management
• Public Information and Community Relations
• Stress Management
• Public Finance and Budgeting
• Career in Justice and Service - options of an internship or project in exploration of career opportunities in the field.
• Ethics in Justice and Service
• Leading in an Inclusive, Diverse and Equitable Organization

Criminal Justice CONCENTRATION COURSES

This concentration emphasizes skills needed to inform your interests and expertise needed to lead justice-related organizations, namely corrections, courts, justice administration, law enforcement, and probation/parole.

• Criminal Justice Research Methods
• Forensic Investigation
• Management of Public Service Agencies
• Criminal Justice Liability Law

If you’re going to be a defender of the law, it’s probably a good idea you study up on ethics. You’ll get plenty of that in this program, taking a look at ethical decision-making by criminal justice workers. You’ll also gain an introduction to a wide variety of other topics, like criminal psychology, as well as public policy and its effect on the American court and criminal justice system. You’ll have an opportunity to understand criminal investigation processes like interviewing, crime scene analysis, and collection of evidence. (Hint: CSI: Miami had it all wrong. Now, COPS, on the other hand …) You’ll study the law as it relates to arrests, searches, and seizures by law enforcement, probation and parole officers, and corrections officials. You’ll even study the rules of evidence and courtroom procedures.

Hear from our faculty:

There may not be a bat signal at the end of this program, but you’ll be thoroughly prepared for a career in court administration, security management, custodial and community-based corrections, intelligence operations, or investigations. Or maybe you’ll be more interested in municipal, state, or federal law enforcement. Or maybe state or federal probation and parole. Who knows? You could even use this degree as a good launching point for a bid at law school! Point is, you can expect this program to help you explore the incredibly exciting study of the courts, crime causation, criminal law, public policy, and the justice system.

Career Outlook

• Public Service Manager
• Attorney
• Law Enforcement
• Corrections
• Juvenile Justice
• Paralegal
• Public Safety

This program is also offered as a Certificate. Please see the course catalog for a full description and curriculum.