The Criminal Justice Department is dedicated to providing the theoretical, practical and professional knowledge needed in today’s environment to be successful in the fields of law enforcement, corrections, probation and parole, private security and related careers. Emphasis is placed on preparing the student to enter the professional workplace or continue studies in graduate school. The curriculum is designed to provide students with expert instruction on the most current trends, policies and practices in the discipline. This major provides the variety offered in course selection to encourage each individual to build a personal program for the future with the assistance of an advisor.
Alvernia University has recruited faculty who are former or current practitioners in their respective criminal justice disciplines. The strength of the department lies in the philosophy that faculty members teach in areas wherein they have multiple years of experience. The Criminal Justice major offers students “Real World Experience” through a required internship taken as a class, CJ 408 Agency Practicum, research mentorships, guest lecturers and opportunities to observe various criminal justice agencies at work. Students also gain experience through in-class simulations and voluntary participation in criminal justice related trips.
Prior to commencing the internship, students must obtain the following clearances:
- Pennsylvania State Criminal History Record (Act 34),
- Child Abuse History Clearance (Act 151),
- Federal Criminal History Record (Act 114)
The clearances must be timely, and a copy submitted to Academic Compliance prior to beginning the internship. If the clearance reveals a positive record the student is responsible for finding an internship that will accept them and for divulging the clearance issues to the internship agency. The internship agency decides whether or not to accept a student with clearance issues. The chair of the Criminal Justice Department has final approval for all internship placements and sites.
At the completion of sixty (60) credits at Alvernia University, criminal justice majors must have maintained a C average overall and obtained a C or better in all required criminal justice courses, including the required elective. A criminal justice major may use the repeat/delete option for a required criminal justice course a total of two (2) times. If the preceding requirements are not met, students will be compelled to withdraw/drop criminal justice as a major.
Students with career goals in law enforcement may attend the Reading Police Academy and be eligible to obtain Municipal Police Officer Certification (ACT 120) as part of their four-year degree without extended time. Students may apply for the Academy during their junior year. If accepted, these students will attend the Academy during the fall or spring semesters of their senior year at Alvernia University. If the students successfully complete the Academy, they will be awarded fifteen (15) Alvernia University credits.
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