Philosophy and Program Options

The Criminal Justice program will prepare you with a solid foundation to go on to an enormous variety of fields, fully confident in your preparation. Graduates have gone on to enter law school, work in education, police management, and a broad array of fields in the criminal justice system. Classes combine theory and lab so you can practice your skills as you go. Faculty are active practitioners in law, police work, security, and the justice system, and bring major cases ripped from the headlines into the classroom from their own professional experience. Learn from the people who actually do the work and lead in their fields.

Rosemont College’s accelerated degree program in Criminal Justice prepares students to step into leadership roles in the fields of law enforcement, court administration, the judicial system, corrections, or private security, and lay the groundwork for graduate study or law school.

Taught by professionals in these fields, Rosemont’s program brings up-to-the-minute trends, issues, and real-world applications into the classroom. Students aspiring to enter the fast-growing world of criminal justice and those already working in it bring their experiences to the classroom for lively discussion and problem-solving. In-depth study develops the skills you need to analyze, research, and make informed decisions. You will explore a wide array of timely issues from criminal investigations to terrorism, use skills with statistical analysis, major data bases and resources in criminal justice, and learn how to read a crime scene or a developing situation and make the right decision.

Whether you are completing your degree or starting a new one, Rosemont’s accelerated evening, weekend, and online format is designed for your busy life. Classes meet once a week for five weeks, and are offered year-round. Some courses, like Crime Scene Investigation and White Collar Crime are offered in “turbo” format, and can be completed in one intense weekend. You can study on Rosemont’s main campus, in our beautiful center city, Philadelphia location near City Hall, or online, or in a combination of these modes and locations to suit your work and personal life schedule.

When you enroll, the program director will work with you to create your Individual Plan of Study that will guide you to a degree that works for you. Rosemont also has a generous transfer policy which allows you to apply as many as 84 credits earned elsewhere to your Rosemont degree completion. When you enroll, be sure to ask about Prior Learning Assessment. With Prior Learning Assessment, you may be able to pay for one credit and receive three credits for college-level learning acquired through life and work experiences.

Criminal Justice at Rosemont is personalized, exciting, and the perfect way to advance your career and realize your potential. You will study in small classes with seasoned professionals who are also award-winning teachers, and side-by-side with working adults like you.

Major Requirements for a B.S. in Criminal Justice

General Education Requirements 45 credits

In addition to meeting the course requirements for each respective major, all students must also fulfill General Education requirements.

Electives

CRJ-0150 The Criminal Justice System
An overview of the criminal justice system: an investigative look into the agencies of social control including law enforcement, corrections, and the courts. To include brief discussion of crime causation in order to identify methods of crime control. 3 credits.

CRJ-0200 Substantive Criminal and Procedural Law
An analysis of substantive criminal law and the procedure used to prosecute suspected criminals. A look into the written law, crimes against persons and property, and due process associated with arrest and search and seizure. Focus on U.S. law with specific case studies in Pennsylvania. No Prerequisite. 3 credits.

CRJ-0210 Police and Corrections: Law Enforcement Today
An introduction to policing and the correctional system in the United States. To cover the history and structure of police and corrections and contemporary issues facing law enforcement today. No Prerequisite. 3 credits.

CRJ-0215 Diversity and the Law
A look into minority issues relating to our criminal justice system. Which age, race, gender, or social class is most likely to be in a correctional institution and why? Is racial/ethnic profiling appropriate or necessary? What are some of the applied sociological theories and practices behind the statistics? No Prerequisite. 3 credits.

CRJ-0220 Delinquency and Juvenile Justice
History, development, and policy of the juvenile justice system. Understanding theories along with biological, and psychological factors that contribute to juvenile delinquent behavior. Targeting, preventing, redirecting, and controlling delinquent behaviors. Punishment vs. rehabilitation. Intervention strategies. Youth gangs and substance abuse issues. No Prerequisite. 3 credits.

CRJ-0240 Gangs: From the Mafia to the Crips
The history and organization of gangs in America: from neighborhood gangs to large scale, sophisticated organizations. Recruitment, activities (drugs, prostitution, protection, extortion, gun running, etc.), codes, inter/intra-gang rivalry, law enforcement evasion, and criminal justice system responses. A closer look at the proliferation of violence and escalating weaponry; the financial, moral and social impact on society; interaction with legitimate organizations and infiltration; predicting the future and demographic immigration patterns; and prison gangs. Speakers will include members of gangs and law enforcement gang units. No Prerequisite. 3 credits.

CRJ-0250 Sexual Offenses, Offenders, and Victims
Types and definitions of sexual offenses; typologies, causations, assessment, and treatment of offenders; and care and treatment of victims. Societal views and their impact on identification and treatment of sex crimes. Monitoring issues. Juvenile vs. adult sexual offenders. No Prerequisite. 3 credits.

CRJ-0260 Criminal Investigations
An applied course relating to conducting criminal investigations. What really needs to be done to solve the case? Topics to include identifying, collecting, processing, and utilizing evidence and conducting interviews and interrogations. No Prerequisite. 3 credits.

CRJ-0270 Cybercrime
An exploration of the act and response to the recent explosion in computer-related crimes. Topics to include: legal issues in relation to investigation (electronic surveillance, Fourth Amendment issues), prosecution, and defense, emerging legislation, computer crimes (hacking, viruses, espionage, terrorism, etc.), and ways in which to combat cybercrime. No Prerequisite. 3 credits.

CRJ-0275 White Collar Crime
Theories and trends of white collar crime: prediction and prevention. Tyco, Enron (macro) and smaller scale crimes. Types of white collar crime (embezzlement, cyber crime, money laundering, accounting fraud, tax evasion, stock traders and manipulation, compensation fraud, and others). Profiling the white collar criminal. Investigation, gathering evidence, and prosecution. Cultural incentives and community impact. Case studies, prosecutor’s perspectives, and historical patterns. Guest speakers to include: Wall Street analyst, prosecutor, and defense attorney. No Prerequisite. 3 credits.

CRJ-0280 Understanding Terrorism and the Criminal Justice System
How terrorists operate and how they differ from other criminals. Conducting terrorism investigations including the collection of evidence. Differences between domestic and international terrorists. The Jihad, other religious fundamentalist movements, and indigenous terrorist groups. The threat of bioterrorism. Is prevention possible? The public’s role in prevention. Dangers to the public and specifically, first responders. Impact of the media. This course will move from motive, to terrorist acts, to evidentiary issues, to investigation, to prosecution, and to resolution. Recent case studies and guest experts will be incorporated. No Prerequisite. 3 credits.

CRJ 0290 Women and the Criminal Justice System 
This course examines the roles of women in the criminal justice system.  The topics of women as victims, offenders, and practitioners in the field of criminal justice will be examined.  A theoretical and pragmatic approach will be applied to those crimes which have a greater impact on females in society, such as rape, prostitution, and domestic abuse.  The evolving role of women as professionals in the field of criminal justice will be explored.  Also considered will be societal views and the role of the media concerning these issues..

CRJ-0300 Sociology of Law and Violence
Examination of the relationship between society, the law, and causes of violence applying sociological concepts such as inequality, stratification, social control, and social change. Includes analysis of violent behaviors, law enforcement practices, court processes, the legal professions, the law itself, and related social institutions. No Prerequisite. 3 credits.

CRJ-0310 Statistical Analysis and the Criminal Justice System
Collecting, compiling, and assessing statistics related to the criminal justice system. Learning what raw data truly represents and utilizing numbers to convey useful, meaning full information. No Prerequisite. 3 credits.

CRJ-0320 Investigational Research Methods
Designed to assist the criminal justice major in performing research in the field. Formulation of research design, data collection, and interpretation of information. Knowing what to access, where to access it, and how to compile meaningful information that may accurately describe certain statistical probabilities. No Prerequisite. 3 credits.

CRJ-0330 Abnormal Psychology
Exploration of common behavior disorders including anxiety, mood, and personality disorders. A look at the causes, manifestations, and approaches to treatment. Examination of research and trends in psychopathology. No Prerequisite. 3 credits.

CRJ-0340 Forensic Anthropology
An introductory study of the scientific discipline that applies the methods of physical anthropology and archeology to the collection and analysis of legal evidence. Areas of specialized focus include the identification, excavation,, and recovery of skeletonized remains at crime scenes. No Prerequisite. 3 credits.

CRJ-0350 Social Disintegration: Internal & External Forces
What did you think when you walked out of the grocery store the other week and the patron in front of you let the door slam in your face? Or how about the little “darling” that threw the temper tantrum in the theater and the parent refused to remove them when you were attempting to watch a movie that was geared toward an adult audience anyway? What is behind today’s lack of respect, decency, and personal responsibility? This course will explore the answers to those questions and more. Lack of moral and value teachings, lack of boundaries, the “me generation”, authority issues, drugs, group dynamics, continued segregation, lack of neighborhood structure, perception, attitude, affect, constitutional issues - right vs. privilege. No Prerequisite. 3 credits.

CRJ-0360 CSI (Crime Scene Investigation): The Real Art and Science of Forensics Today
An overview of the field including realities and falsehoods of the mass media. An introduction to criminalistic procedure: how the sciences are used at and after crime scene investigations. Fingerprints, DNA, firearms analysis, hair and fibers, document examination, and more. Crime scene investigation procedures: preserving the scene, transporting, storing, and analyzing evidence. What type of evidence is “court-worthy” and how does that evidence needs to be handled to be admissible in a court of law? Closing the case with the right expert testimony. Mock crime scene simulations and visiting experts who work in the field. No Prerequisite. 3 credits.

CRJ-0400 Criminology
This course offers an interdisciplinary, scientific approach related to the study of criminal behaviors. Includes an introduction to the organization of the criminal justice system; theories of crime causation; crime typologies; research methods utilized to collect and analyze crime trends; and analysis of the crime trend statistics themselves. No Prerequisite. 3 credits.

CRJ-0450 Professional Seminar: Criminal Justice Ethics and Practice
This course is designed to synthesize the knowledge gleaned from required courses in the Criminal Justice major.  It will also look at the codes, standards, and decision making processes that apply to the professions within the criminal justice system: police, correction officers, forensic scientists, attorneys and judges. Requires advisor approval. 3 credits

James Kerns

Director of the Criminal Justice Program

610.527.0200 x2386
jkerns@rosemont.edu

James Kerns, Director of the Criminal Justice Program, (M.S. Organizational Leadership, Cabrini College), is a recognized expert in the field of forensic evidence and criminal investigation. Mr. Kerns studied forensics at the FBI Academy and brings a practical perspective to the classroom after working for nearly thirty years in the field of criminal justice.

Faculty

Martin Malloy is a 30 year veteran of local law enforcement and currently works as a police supervisor in Chester County. He has earned two master's degrees: Master of Arts in History from West Chester University (1994) and Master of Public Administration from Marist College (2004). Along with academic degrees, Martin has earned certificates from Penn State University's police supervisory and exectuive training institute, as well as the International Chief of Police administration training program. He teaches "Introduction to the Criminal Justice System" in the Schools of Graduate and Professional Studies.

Submitting an application is the first step toward achieving your personal and professional goal of earning a bachelor's degree. Students with police academy credit, prior college credit, military credit, professional licenses or certificates, or several years of work experience may be able to translate this experience directly into college credit.

Application materials may be obtained from the Office of Admissions or online. Formal admission to the program is granted only after all admissions materials have been received and reviewed, and all standards have been met.

To apply to the B.S. in Criminal Justice program, the following must be completed:

1. Application. Either in paper accompanied by a $50 non-refundable fee, or online where the fee will be waived.
   
2. Request that all previous undergraduate institutions (if any) send official transcripts to Rosemont.
3. Resume

How quickly can I start?

We have sessions starting every five weeks so you can start whenever you are ready.

Will you accept transfer credit from other schools?

We do accept transfer credits from other accredited institutions.  We have a very liberal policy and can accept up to 84 transfer credits.  Once we receive your official transcripts the program director will complete a degree audit which will indicate how many credits are awarded.

How long will it take me to get through the program?

We offer 10 sessions per year, so if you take one class per session you will complete 30 credits per year.  Our program is structured to allow the student the flexibility to increase or decrease the number of credits taken to meet their lifestyle.

What if something happens at work or home that stops me from going to school?

Our program is designed to take those factors into account.  When a student encounters a scheduling problem we allow the student to step-out of the program temporarily without penalty.  Once the problem is solved they can re-enter.

What else does Rosemont offer?

We have a beautiful campus in suburban Philadelphia. We offer many opportunities to interact with graduate students and faculty in other programs, such as creative writing and English literature, and we regularly bring in industry professionals to speak to and meet with students.

How do I apply for admission?

Rosemont College School of Graduate Studies welcomes all students, without regard to race, religion, sex, national origin or handicapping conditions. Applicants for the master's degree need to have completed a baccalaureate from an accredited 4-year college or university, preferably with a GPA of at least 3.0. Applicants also provide 3 letters of recommendation, an application fee, official transcripts, and a completed application form. Applicants for the M.A. in English and the M.F.A. in Creative Writing must also submit a writing sample. Application materials are available from the Office of Graduate Studies or from the College website (Apply Online).

Can I take courses as a non-matriculated student?

Students can usually earn up to 6 graduate credits before applying for matriculated status.

I took some graduate courses before coming to Rosemont? Can I transfer any credits?

Applicants who have completed previous graduate work may, at the time they apply for admission, make a written request to transfer a maximum of two 3-credit courses. To be acceptable in transfer, course(s) may not have been previously applied toward a graduate degree and they must provide a good "match" for Rosemont program requirements. Courses may not have been undertaken more than 5 years prior to the request for transfer and the student must have earned at least a "B" (3.0). Pass/Fail courses are not eligible for transfer.

How will I know which courses to take each semester?

Course selection for the fall, spring, and summer sessions must be made in consultation with a program advisor, either in person or by email. The Office of Graduate Studies will subsequently process course registrations. Nine graduate credits are considered a full-time load during the fall and spring; six graduate credits are considered a full-time load during each of our two summer sessions.

Can I apply for financial assistance?

Graduate students enrolled in a degree-granting program of study, who are pursuing at least half-time coursework (two courses in the fall or spring; one course in each summer session), are eligible to apply for tuition assistance in the form of Stafford Loans. A limited number of competitive Graduate Assistantships are also available. Rosemont offers several tuition management options, so you can spread your payments out over the course of your program.

How long will it take me to graduate?

Because students may elect to undertake graduate study on a full-time or part-time basis, the number of semesters required to complete all program requirements will vary. Students who pursue full-time study can usually complete their master's degree in less than two years; part-time students usually take longer. All students are permitted up to six years from the time they matriculate to complete their program requirements (extensions may be requested in writing). Commencement exercises are scheduled each year in May.I still have questions – how can I get more information?

I still have questions – how can I get more information?

Contact the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies at 610.527.0200 x2958 or 1.888.2ROSEMONT and ask to speak directly with a Graduate Admissions Counselor, who will be happy to set up an individualized appointment at your convenience. Please feel free to contact the Program Director (x2355) with your questions or concerns. We will do our very best to provide you with the assistance you need!

Information contained in this program brochure is accurate as of July 2010. The College reserves the right to make changes for administrative reasons without prior notice.