Criminology, Law and Society
- Bachelor of Arts
- Minor
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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.
Undergraduate Programs
What Can I Do With a Major in Criminology, Law and Society?
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.
What are the benefits of a major in Criminology, Law and Society?
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.
What are the benfits of a minor in Criminology, Law and Society?
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.
Curriculum Requirements
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Requirements for a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology, Law and Society B.A.
Major Requirements (51 credits)
Required Courses (36 credits):
CORE 1216 Introduction to Criminology - 3 credits
CLS 160 Research Writing and Advocacy - 3 credits
CLS 215 Juvenile Justice - 3 credits
CLS 227 Criminal Law and Process - 3 credits
CLS 230 Constitutional Criminal Procedure - 3 credits
CLS 245 Corrections, Probation, and Parole - 3 credits
CLS 315 Criminological Statistics - 3 credits
CLS 356 Quantitative Research Methods - 3 credits
CLS 504 Ethical Decisions and Dilemmas in Criminal Justice - 3 credits
CLS 510 Criminological Theories - 3 credits
CLS 590 Capstone Project - 3 credits
CORE 1201 American Regime - 3 creditsPlus 5 elective courses (15 credits):
CLS 155 American Judicial System - 3 credits
CLS 205 Criminal Trial Evidence - 3 credits
CLS 210 Civil Rights Law – 3 credits
CLS 220 Criminology of Race – 3 credits
CLS 235 Etiology of Mass Violence – 3 credits
CLS 250 The Police: A History – 3 credits
CLS 266 The Death Penalty – 3 credits
CLS 269 Agency Management – 3 credits
CLS 270 21st-Century Issues in Criminology – 3 credits
CLS 275 Patterns of Criminal Behavior – 3 credits
CLS 290 Mental Illness and the Criminal Process – 3 credits
CLS 305 Violence and Victimology - 3 credits
CLS 310 School Violence/Origins and Strategies – 3 credits
CLS 316 Strategic/Tactical Leadership – 3 credits
CLS 320 White Collar Crime - 3 credits
CLS 340 Principles of Homeland Security - 3 credits
CLS 344 Financing Criminal Organizations - 3 credits
CLS 355 Sentencing - 3 credits
CLS 360 Prediction and Prevention of Criminal Conduct - 3 credits
CLS 361 Urban Street Gang Prosecution – 3 credits
CLS 367 Gender and Crime – 3 credits
CLS 375 International Criminal Law - 3 credits
CLS 376 Federal Criminal Law - 3 credits
CLS 377 Addiction and Crime – 3 credits
CLS 380 Criminology of Firearms - 3 credits
CLS 385 Organized Crime in America – 3 credits
CLS 399 Criminal Analytics - 3 credits
CLS 400 Race and Justice – 3 credits
CLS 415 International Criminal Systems – 3 credits
CLS 420 Criminology of Hate – 3 credits
CLS 425 Survey of Cybercrime – 3 credits
CLS 430 Public Sector Management – 3 credits
CLS 440 Constitutional Litigation and Analysis – 3 credits
CLS 485 Crime Mapping – GIS – 3 credits
CLS 550 Internship* - 3 credits
PS 341 Global Terrorism - 3 credits
SO 200 Race and Ethnicity - 3 credits
SO 204 Deviance - 3 credits
SO 235 Inequality and Social Problems - 3 credits -
Requirements for a Minor in Criminology, Law and Society (18 credits)
Minor Requirements (18 credits)
Required courses (12 credits):
CORE 1216 Introduction to Criminology - 3 credits
CLS 215 Juvenile Justice - 3 credits
CLS 227 Criminal Law and Process - 3 credits
CLS 504 Ethical Decisions and Dilemmas in Criminal Justice - 3 creditsOne of the following courses (3 credits):
CLS 275 Patterns of Criminal Behavior - 3 credits
CLS 360 Prediction and Prevention of Criminal Conduct - 3 credits
SO 240 Deviance - 3 credits
One of the following electives (3 credits):
CLS 230 Constitutional Criminal Procedure - 3 credits
Any 300 or 400 level CLS course -
Requirements for a Minor in Forensic Studies - Natural Science (18 credits)
Forensic Studies - Natural Science Minor
Minor requirements (18-19 credits)
The following 3 courses (9 credits)
CLS 205 Criminal Trial Evidence - 3 credits
CLS 227 Criminal Law and Process - 3 credits
NSCI 300* Criminalistics - 3 creditsChoose one course (selected course may not count for major or core) (3 credits):
CLS 230 Constitutional Criminal Procedure - 3 credits
CLS 305 Violence and Victimology - 3 credits
CLS 340 Principles of Homeland Security - 3 credits
CLS 377 Addiction and Crime - 3 creditsChoose 6 or 7 credits from the following (6 or 7 credits):
NSCI 130/131 Introduction to Physics and Lab - 4 credits
* Does not count toward core
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
** These courses have prerequisites that are not part of the minor -
Requirements for a Minor in Forensic Studies - Cybersecurity (18 credits)
Forensic Studies - Cybersecurity
Minor Requirements (18 credits)
The following four CS courses (12 credits):
CS 102 Fundamentals of IT and Computing - 3 credits
CS 225 Computer Security - 3 credits
CS 321 Data Communication and Computer Networks - 3 credits
CS 325 Advanced Topics in Security - 3 creditsChoose two of the following CLS courses (6 credits):
CLS 205 Criminal Trial Evidence - 3 credits
CLS 227 Criminal Law and Process - 3 credits
CLS 230 Constitutional Criminal Procedure – 3 credits
CLS 320 White Collar Crime - 3 credits -
Requirements for a Minor in Forensic Studies - Financial Investigations (18 credits)
Forensic Studies - Financial Investigation
Minor Requirements (18 credits)
The following four Business Administration courses (12 credits):
BA 200 Intermediate Accounting I - 3 credits
BA 201 Intermediate Accounting II - 3 credits
BA 405 Auditing - 3 credits
BA 406 Forensic Auditing - 3 creditsChoose two of the following CLS courses (6 credits):
CLS 227 Criminal Law and Process - 3 credits
CLS 320 White Collar Crime - 3 credits
CLS 376 Federal Criminal Law - 3 credits
Job Placements and Careers
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Jobs Placements and Internships
Our students have secured jobs and internships in several areas of criminology, law, and other areas of the field. Some include:
The Pennsylvania State Police
Graduate Programs
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
Master of Science in Criminology, Saint Vincent College
Ph.D. Programs
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
University of New Haven
Law School
Duquesne University
University of Pittsburgh -
Careers
There are many career options in criminology, law and society including:
Private and Public Interest Lawyers
Intelligence Analysts
Juvenile/Adult Probation Officer
Police Officers
Federal Agents
National Threat Operations Systems Analyst
Drug and Alcohol Counselors
Juvenile Counselors
Child Abuse Investigators
Private Investigator
Correction Officer
Therapeutic Staff Support
Student Testimonies
Caileigh Bolin
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.”
Kyle Coombe
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.”
Faculty
Bruce Antkowiak, Esquire
Professor of Law
bruce.antkowiak@stvincent.edu
Dr. Kayla Jachimowski
Assistant Professor, Criminology, Law, and Society
kayla.jachimowski@stvincent.edu
Associate Professor, Criminology, Law and Society
eric.kocian@stvincent.edu