The Criminology, Law and Society program aspires to be much more than a traditional criminal justice major. CLS features a curriculum that is challenging and broad-based. It gives students a solid foundation in the theoretical core of Criminology, a thorough understanding of the legal system that enacts criminal laws and processes cases through the investigative, prosecutive and corrections phases, and a broad, societal context for the criminal system that only a rigorous liberal arts regimen can supply.
Since the fall of 2011 when the Criminology Program began at Saint Vincent, we have been honored to have several graduates enter law schools throughout the country with many who have graduated and are now successfully in the practice of law.
Another group of our graduates have taken positions in the criminal justice system as probation officers, juvenile counselors, and intelligence analysts with federal agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Still another contingent entered the field of law enforcement. We currently have over 100 of our graduates as members of the Pennsylvania State Police. Others have been offered positions in law enforcement agencies in various jurisdictions including the Pittsburgh Police Department. Recently, we have seen our students selected for the United States Secret Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Capitol Police.
A final group of graduates have entered some of the top graduate programs in Criminology and related fields of national security studies and cybersecurity studies.
The Criminology Program takes as its most important measure of success the successful placement of our graduates into positions in which they may become significant contributors in the criminal justice area on a wide variety of levels.
Those who complete this curriculum will recognize that they have enjoyed a true liberal arts experience while learning the art of practical scholarship. Students will become scholars, learning to critically analyze problems, conduct effective research and write with clarity and force. They will appreciate the important specifics of their discipline but never lose their appreciation of the larger societal, political, and scientific contexts in which the issues they will study arise.
Those who complete this minor will have a better understanding of the interworking of the criminal justice system and learn about the opportunities for professional endeavors in the system. They will gain a deeper understanding of the various societal, political, and legal issues that arise.
Major Requirements (51 credits)
Required Courses (36 credits):
CORE 1216 Introduction to Criminology - 3 creditsPlus 5 elective courses (15 credits):
CLS 155 American Judicial System - 3 creditsMinor Requirements (18 credits)
Required courses (12 credits):
CORE 1216 Introduction to Criminology - 3 creditsOne of the following courses (3 credits):
CLS 275 Patterns of Criminal Behavior - 3 creditsMinor requirements (18-19 credits)
The following 3 courses (9 credits)Choose one course (selected course may not count for major or core) (3 credits):
CLS 230 Constitutional Criminal Procedure - 3 creditsChoose 6 or 7 credits from the following (6 or 7 credits):
NSCI 130/131 Introduction to Physics and Lab - 4 credits
NSCI 210/211 Chemistry of Crime and Lab - 4 credits
NSCI 200 All About Drugs - 4 credits
NSCI 260 Biotechnology: How Do They Do It? - 4 credits
NSCI 235/236 Human Biology and Laboratory - 4 credits
NSCI 230/231 Genes, Cells and Computers and Lab - 4 credits
BL 214/215** Molecular Genetics and Lab - 4 credits
CH 252/253 Nuclei Acids and Membranes and Lab - 4 credits
CH 216/218** Quantitative Analysis and Lab - 4 credits
BL 216/217** Biotechnology and Lab - 4 credits
BL 150/151 General Biology I and Lab - 4 credits
ES 220 Introduction to GIS - 3 credits
CH 245** Chemical and Forensic Analysis - 3 credits
Minor Requirements (18 credits)
The following four CS courses (12 credits):
CS 102 Fundamentals of IT and Computing - 3 creditsChoose two of the following CLS courses (6 credits):
CLS 205 Criminal Trial Evidence - 3 creditsMinor Requirements (18 credits)
The following four Business Administration courses (12 credits):
BA 200 Intermediate Accounting I - 3 creditsChoose two of the following CLS courses (6 credits):
CLS 227 Criminal Law and Process - 3 creditsOur students have secured jobs and internships in several areas of criminology, law, and other areas of the field. Some include:
The Pennsylvania State Police
Westmoreland County Juvenile and Adult Probation
Criminal Justice Information Systems (CJIS)
The Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Drug Enforcement Administration
The United States Secret Service
The Pittsburgh Police Department
Westmoreland County Justice Works
Adelphoi Village
Federal Prison System
Westmoreland County Children’s Bureau
Pennsylvania Department of Corrections
Police Departments in Virginia, Florida, Ohio, and more
Private Law Firms
Private Investigation
There are many career options in criminology, law and society including:
Private and Public Interest Lawyers
Class of 2022 @ Saint Vincent College
Hometown: Charleroi, Pennsylvania
“The Criminology, Law and Society department has helped me achieve my goal to attend the Pennsylvania State Police Academy and to become a Pennsylvania State Trooper by providing a broad-based curriculum that has allowed me to thrive in all aspects of the field. The department provides classes that have given me a deeper understanding of the legal system, corrections, the history of Criminology, theoretical aspects of Criminology, and law enforcement. No matter what aspect of the field students find themselves interested in, the CLS department will provide the knowledge to guide students into their future successfully. The department has taught me how to analyze problems, think critically, and write professionally all while applying the knowledge that l learned to real world situations. The CLS department is like no other as they provide endless opportunities and knowledge in a way that allows students to flourish and become successful within the Criminology field.”
Class of 2021 (undergraduate); 2022 (Master’s) @ Saint Vincent College
Hometown: Daleville, Virginia
“Words cannot be expressed enough about the effect that the criminology program has had on my academic, professional, and personal life. The curriculum itself has challenged me, motivated me in the field, and has matured me in many ways. Classes are designed to move you out of your comfort zone, challenge your way of thinking and develop the critical-thinking skills required for such a challenging field. However, the most important impact has come from relationships with professors. At Saint Vincent, the professors within the criminology department see something in you past a student in their class. They care about you. The criminology professors at Saint Vincent go above and beyond the call of the profession in order to make a personal impact in each of their students' lives. Without the personal relationships I have been fortunate enough to develop with each of my professors, I would never have been able to achieve the goals and had the professional opportunities that I have been blessed with. I have all the gratitude and appreciation in the world for this school for a multitude of reasons, but none greater than the love I have for this criminology program that has molded me into the person I have become after my years at this school.”
Bruce Antkowiak, Esquire
Professor of Law
bruce.antkowiak@stvincent.edu
Dr. Kayla Jachimowski
Assistant Professor, Criminology, Law, and Society
kayla.jachimowski@stvincent.edu