Criminal Justice Program

These programs will make graduates highly competitive for careers in law enforcement, corrections, private sector, and other related criminal justice fields.

The Criminal Justice Program at Husson University educates students in the many professions in the criminal justice and private sector security career fields. The program focuses on both classroom learning and direct experience to make our students especially marketable when they enter the workforce. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (2006) states: "The safety and well being of our Nation's citizens greatly depends on the police officers, detectives, and special agents responsible for enforcing statutes, laws, and regulations. Duties vary widely by the size and type of organization but in most jurisdictions, whether on or off duty, law enforcement officers are expected to exercise their authority whenever necessary. And, regardless of where they work or what they do (in the public or private sector), criminal justice professionals must spend considerable time writing reports and maintaining records that are needed when legal actions require them to testify in court."

Dual Degree - Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice/Master of Science in Criminal Justice Administration
The Master of Science in Criminal Justice Administration degree can be obtained while pursuing your undergraduate B.S. in Criminal Justice degree. The two degrees can be completed with full time enrollment in five years. Students will take the courses associated with the B.S. Criminal Justice degree and then start to take Master degree courses in their fourth year. The entire degree includes 152 credits for the undergraduate and graduate degrees combined. Students will be able to pursue the same options in this program as in the B.S. degree in addition to obtaining their Master's degree.

The goals and objectives for both the B.S. in Criminal Justice and M.S. in Criminal Justice Administration degrees will be met in this combined program.

This five year program provides both a strong core of professional courses as well as a varied liberal arts background. Students in this program are eligible to attend the Maine Criminal Justice Academy's Pre-Service Training program, which certifies individuals to become eligible for employment as part-time law enforcement officers in the State of Maine, and receive six college credits as well. Students in their fourth year of the program may choose to attend the Maine Criminal Justice Academy's Basic Law Enforcement Training Program to be eligible for employment as a full time law enforcement officer in the State of Maine and receives fifteen college credits as well. After students complete their first year, they are also eligible to do internships in agencies, offices and businesses for hands-on experiential learning in the field.

With the addition of the Master's degree program, students will complete the graduate management curriculum designed to develop and strengthen skills in analysis, decision-making, and implementation. This program balances strengths in the traditional areas of law, budgeting, and policy-making, with careful attention to the development of skills in communication, interpersonal relations, psychology and leadership essential to effective performance in organizations. Students also have the opportunity to participate in experiential internships with organizations related to the Criminal Justice field that they choose.

Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
Students are expected to complete 121 credit hours of course work and related activity in the Bachelor of Science program. This program provides both a strong core of professional courses as well as a varied liberal arts background. Students in this program are eligible to attend the Maine Criminal Justice Academy's Pre-Service Training Program, which certifies individuals to become eligible for employment as part-time law enforcement officers in the State of Maine, and receive six college credits as well. Students in their fourth year of the program may choose to attend the Maine Criminal Justice Academy's Basic Law Enforcement Training Program to be eligible for employment as a full time law enforcement officer in the State of Maine and receives fifteen college credits as well. After students complete their first year, they are also eligible to do internships in agencies, offices and businesses for hands-on experiential learning in the field. This program will prepare graduates for entry level positions and also for future advancement to leadership positions in the profession.

Associate of Science in Criminal Justice
Students are expected to complete 60 credit hours of course work and related activity in the Associate of Science program. This program emphasizes professional courses and provides some basic training in microcomputing, writing, communication and math. Students in this program are eligible to attend the Maine Criminal Justice Academy's Pre-Service Training Program, which certifies individuals to be eligible to become part-time law enforcement officers in the State of Maine, and receive six college credits as well. After students complete their first year, they are also eligible to do internships in agencies, offices and businesses for hands-on experiential learning in the field. This program will prepare graduates for entry level positions in the profession.

Elective Courses of Interest
Students have the opportunity to choose some upper level criminal justice elective courses as they progress through the program. The topics of these electives vary each semester. Some of the topics previously offered and likely to be offered again include:

• Serial Homicide
• Criminal Profiling
• Leadership and Ethics
• Comparative Criminal Justice
• Advanced Community Policing
• Evidence
• Interviewing and Interrogation
• Courtroom Action: A review through novels and film
• Private Security
• Cults
• Psychology and the Legal System
• A View from Prison
• Terrorism
• Crime in Film
• Juvenile Delinquency
• Mythology of Crime
• Fire Investigation
• Homeland Security
• Critical Skills
• Motor Vehicle Law
• Civil Liability
• Domestic Violence Law
• Victimology
• Forensic Psychology
• Constitutional Law
• Report Writing and Testifying
• Organizational Communication
• Advanced Critical Skills
• Research Methods and Statistics
• Federal Careers
• Constitutional Rights of Prisoners
• Violence and Aggression
• Advanced Criminology
  

• Local or State Law Enforcement Officers (Requires ME Criminal Justice Academy Certification)
• Federal Law Enforcement - FBI, CIA, USCIS, Secret Service, Border Patrol, U.S. Customs, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals (requires four-year degree)
• County Sheriff's Officers
• Warden's Service
• Fire Marshal's Office
• Detective
  

• Court Administrator
• Case-flow Manager
• Probation Officer (pre and post adjudication)
  

• Corrections Office
• Drug/Alcohol Counselor
• Job-Placement Counselor
• Probation/Parole Officer
• Victim-Witness Advocate
• Half-way House Administrator
• Juvenile Case-Worker
• Group-Home Counselor
  

• Local, State or Federal Entry Level Research Analyst
• Research Assistant
• Policy Analyst
• Graduate/Teaching Assistant in Graduate School
  

• Private Security
• Insurance Investigation
• DHHS Support Enforcement Officer
• Utilities Companies
• Consumer Protection Agencies
• Hospital & Airport Security