PROGRAM GUIDES: TRADITIONAL B.S. | ACCELERATED B.S. | CAPSTONE B.S. | FIVE-YEAR B.S./M.S.
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS | FACULTY | SCHEDULE OF COURSES

You want to right the world’s wrongs. You believe in the importance of the rule of law. Our criminal justice program may be right for you.  The criminal justice program has two interrelated goals. The first goal is to help you develop a fundamental understanding of the criminal justice system and the political and social environment in which it operates.  To meet this aim, the program gleans insights from history, political science, sociology, behavioral science, public administration, law and natural sciences. The second goal is to give you the skills and the training you’ll need to enter the criminal justice field.

Courses are taught by experienced practitioners who are passionate about sharing their knowledge.  The criminal justice program also features an active advisory board comprised of University faculty and working criminal justice professionals who designed the innovative curriculum. Point Park’s Downtown Pittsburgh location makes it easy for judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys and police officers to teach here. It also provides tremendous opportunities for career-focused internships and observations.

Degrees Offered

Previous academy training can be used toward the 60 transfer credits required, and up to 18 credits can be granted through experiential learning/portfolio preparation.  The Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice is offered in the following formats: 

• Bachelor of Science - traditional
• Bachelor of Science - accelerated - Previous academy training can be used toward the 60 transfer credits required, and up to 18 credits can be granted through experiential learning/portfolio preparation.
• Bachelor of Science - capstone - If you have an associate’s degree, you can build on your degree by enrolling in the capstone program and completing it in two years.
• Bachelor of Science and Master of Science five-year program - Earn both a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in criminal justice in five years.

Course Offerings

You will receive a well-rounded education through Point Park's core curriculum and classes in your major. Some of the courses in the criminal justice program include:

• Criminology
• Police Management and Operations
• Community-Based Corrections
• Detective Fiction
• Cyber Crime
• Terrorism Risk Assessments/Investigation
• White Collar Crime
• Crime Scene and Criminal Profiling

For a comprehensive list of program requirements and course descriptions, see the program guides and course descriptions listed at the top of the page.

Internship Opportunities

During their time in the criminal justice program, students have interned at:

• Allegheny County Department of Corrections
• Allegheny County Office of Probation
• Butler County Juvenile Court Services
• Butler County Sheriff Department
• City of Pittsburgh Police Department (Major Crimes)
• Moon Township Police Department
• The Bradley Center, Inc.
• The Robert Moore Center for Juvenile Justice

Career Opportunities

Point Park prepares students for entry-level positions as professionals in more than 50 career fields related to criminal justice. These career choices are essential to the functioning of a democratic society because they: prevent crime; protect life and property; uphold citizens' rights; safeguard civil rights; enforce laws; and maintain social order.  Criminal justice graduates can pursue various career opportunities at the federal, state, county, city and township levels, such as:

• State and Local Policing
• Federal Law Enforcement
• Corrections
• Judicial System