Criminal Justice
General InformationSince the 1960s, America's criminal justice system has undergone a significant shift in operating philosophy and sophistication. Thanks to increased funding for education, research, and evaluation initiated by the 1967 President's Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Justice, we have a greater understanding of crime, its causes, and criminal justice practices. With this increased knowledge, today's criminal justice professionals are increasingly expected to identify, design, implement, and evaluate programs to prevent crime and reduce recidivism.
In order to fulfill these expectations, criminal justice professionals need to have greater computer literacy, possess more developed critical thinking skills, be more resourceful problem solvers, and be familiar with criminal justice literature, research and statistics. York College's Criminal Justice program is designed to provide students with these skills. The curriculum insures that through the study of crime and the operational policies and practices of criminal, juvenile, and private agencies that respond to crime, that students will become familiar with social science theory and will acquire applied and theoretical knowledge appropriate for a beginning professional, including the ability to apply computer skills to criminal justice problems. Students may, after completion of the comprehensive core, specialize in the fields of law enforcement, corrections, criminalistics, asset protection, or juvenile justice.
Required Courses
Department of Behavioral Sciences
Career Opportunities
Career opportunities generally fall into three major fields: law enforcement, the judicial system, and corrections.
- Careers in Federal Law Enforcement
- Careers in State and Local Policing
- Careers in the Judicial System
- Careers in Corrections
- Career in Forensics
- Careers in Asset Protection/Security
- Careers in Research and Analysis
For more specific information about career opportunities in Criminal Justice, please visit the Department Pages.
Objectives
The mission of the criminal justice program is to develop informed citizens who are appreciative of the role of the criminal justice system in a democracy. The program focuses on the development of collaborative problem solvers and agents of change knowledgeable about the criminal justice system and the causes, consequences, and responses to crime. Graduating students will be prepared for professional careers in criminal justice and related fields and graduate study.
The program accomplishes this by:
1) providing a broad understanding and comprehensive overview of the criminal and juvenile justice systems
2) promoting informed inquiry by critically examining the administration of justice in the United States and the etiology of crime and delinquency
3) developing fundamental skills in research methodology and statistical analysis
4) providing opportunities and information for career exploration and preparing students for the transition from the academic environment to their chosen professional field or graduate study
5) fostering the development of critical thinking, problem solving, and collaborative abilities and enhancing oral and written communication skills