The Criminal Justice program provides the education, knowledge, and skills needed to protect the public and work within the law enforcement and criminal justice systems. A sequence of courses is offered to help students 1) establish a knowledge base about Justice, 2) develop a set of professional values and 3) improve skills related to professional activity.
Upon completion of the program, persons already working in a justice setting will substantially enhance their knowledge, values and skills. Students will also be prepared to transfer to a four-year institution or to enter a justice setting at an entry level.
Students completing the Criminal Justice program will be prepared to work as state or municipal police officers/troopers, state or municipal corrections officers, parole and probation officers, private security managers, private investigators, homeland security investigators/screeners and youth detention counselors.
Digital Investigation Proficiency Certificate:
Please note that by selecting specific classes in the Criminal Justice program, students are able to earn a proficiency certificate in digital investigation that will provide them with an understanding of digital investigation, including fundamentals of crime scene investigation, chain of custody, and constitutional concerns relating to admissibility of evidence at trial. Through completion of this certificate, students will learn how to recover digital evidence in a legally defensible manner in criminal investigations.
Philadelphia Police Officers and Correctional Officers:
Persons who have graduated from the Philadelphia Police Academy may be eligible to receive academic credit for Justice 101, Justice 151, Justice 221, Justice 241 and Justice 261. Graduates of the Philadelphia Correctional Training Center may be eligible to receive credit for Justice 235 and BHHS 241.