Why Major in Criminal Justice?
Penn State Fayette’s Criminal Justice degree program offers a broad-based education in the liberal arts tradition. In addition to the breadth and depth of knowledge about criminal justice, the program helps you cultivate key skills in critical thinking, oral and written communication, issue analysis, and problem solving. As a graduate of this program, you will be an adaptable and flexible participant in the civic and intellectual life of your community, appreciate cultural diversity, and practice ethical behavior.
A Criminal Justice degree provides strong preparation for careers in fields such as corrections, parole and probation, law enforcement, courts, and victim advocacy. You will also have opportunities to help in non-profit work, helping with drug and alcohol dependency, mental health, and various other needs of criminal offenders and victims. In addition, you will be prepared to pursue graduate studies in criminal justice, law school, and related areas of graduate education.
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Opportunities and Options
The Penn State Fayette Criminal Justice degree program allows you to pursue a bachelor of arts degree or a bachelor of science degree. A hallmark of our Criminal Justice program is the opportunity for students to participate in a criminal justice internship. This opportunity provides students with valuable experience at the federal, state, and local levels, by working with a broad range of agencies involved with the criminal justice system. In addition, students gain the experience of seeing how the concepts they have learned in their studies apply to real-world situations with their internship host agency.
You may choose to become involved outside the classroom with our student-run Criminal Justice Club. You may also have unique opportunities to participate in volunteer work with local agencies, including a prison program where you’ll work with offenders and victims in a program called Bridges to Life.
A Shared Experience
Penn State Fayette, along with Penn State Beaver, DuBois, Greater Allegheny, Hazleton, New Kensington Shenango, and Wilkes-Barre, share authorization to deliver the B.A. and B.S. in Criminal Justice. All courses needed for the degree will be offered at each campus. Students in the program should expect to take some courses via a combination of web-based and face-to-face technology.
Criminal Justice is a shared program offered collaboratively by the Commonwealth Campuses at Penn State. Please visit our shared programs webpage to watch student testimonials and learn more about the program.
The official course requirements for the Bachelor of Arts option of this degree can be viewed in the online Undergraduate Bulletin.
The official course requirements for the Bachelor of Science option of this degree can be viewed in the online Undergraduate Bulletin.
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