Central Pennsylvania College

Central Penn is located outside of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and offers a professional baccalaureate. We are accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, and have high standards for excellence and there is a high demand for our graduates. Our commitment to offering real-life education presented by an experienced and dedicated faculty extends back to 1881.

Students can choose to either earn a degree or simply further develop their skills with the variety and flexibility offered by our more than 20 bachelor's and associate degrees and certificate programs.

Bachelor of Science Degrees

Central Penn Advantages for Criminal Justice Administration Majors

At Central Penn, we offer the students:

• the advantages of an articulation agreement with the Criminal Justice Program at Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC) which allows for the immediate transfer of credits with no hassles
• the opportunity to learn and apply critical management concepts to agencies in the criminal justice and legal fields
• analytical problem-solving/research skills to use in a law enforcement and legal environment
• knowledge of all relative bodies of criminal and civil law, Pennsylvania rules of evidence, court procedure, and the vehicle code
• hands-on experience with criminal justice core competencies, investigative techniques, prosecutorial procedures, crime prevention strategies, and community policing initiatives.

What kind of work is available for Criminal Justice graduates?

A Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice Administratio will assist students in meeting the increasing need in both the private and public sectors for criminal justice practitioners with college educations. Students develop a thorough understanding of the criminal justice system and relative bodies of law, and gain a more focused knowledge of specialty subject matter relating to each student's personal career goals. This degree program respects individual interests and allows students to choose classes that meet their personal interests and professional agenda. This approach allows students to customize their educational experience. The degree program offers diverse course offerings, allowing the students to specialize or generalize their studies.

When you finish your classroom study, you will complete a professional internship - your final step on the road to success.

Where will I become employed?

For many years, Central Penn has had a close working relationship with a number of companies and organizations across Pennsylvania. Graduates and interns from Central Penn easily find the jobs at a number of locations. The Criminal Justice Bachelor's Degree at Central Penn is relatively new. There is a growing demand for specialists in this area since September 11th.

No matter where you work, you can anticipate opportunities working as:

• Detective
• Police officer
• State fish and game warden
• Federal agent (FBI, DEA)
• Military law enforcement
• Nuclear security
• Crime scene technician
• State trooper
• Fraud investigator
• Corrections agents
• Probation and parole agents
• Administrative or regulatory analyst
• Juvenile corrections practitioner, and others.

Associate in Science Degrees

There are a number of advantages for Criminal Justice Majors:

• Prepare for a rewarding career in law enforcement or security with local, state, or federal agencies or private corporations in corrections and rehabilitation
• Receive hands-on learning in college facilities including mock trials, mock jails, investigation of a crime scene, development of a mock police department, and regular work shifts with Central Penn Security Personnel
• Learn to fingerprint, perform analysis on fibers, hairs, bloods, etc.
• Get ready for potential certification as a Law Enforcement Analyst
• Learn from experienced professionals
• Enjoy small class sizes and individualized instruction
• Complete the program and step into high demand and high-paying job opportunities
• Complete all studies in 18 months, then participate in a professional internship.

Internship

When you have completed the criminal justice program course work, you will participate in an internship. This is the last step in developing you professional success. Working side by side with professionals in real life situations will hone your skills and abilities. See how to put the knowledge you gained at Central Penn into action.

Where will I work?

For many years, Central Penn has enjoyed a close relationship working with many companies and organizations. As a result, graduates and interns from Central Penn easily find employment. A partial list of employers who have hired Central Penn Criminal Justice graduates includes:

• Harrisburg Hilton & Towers
• Cornell Abraxas South Mountain Secure Treatment Facility
• Mifflin County Police Department PA

Central Penn Advantages for Forensic Criminalistics Students

• A fun certificate program made for those working towards a career in Criminal Justice or looking for an in-depth education.
• State-of-the-art teaching, adapted to the growing needs of the war on terrorism.
• An exciting, physical-learning, career-based course, taught by knowledgeable instructors.
• Improve your analytical problem-solving/research skills as they apply to law enforcement.
• Complete this program alongside a Bachelor's degree or as a Continuing Education certificate for experienced Criminal Justice practitioners.
• Small class sizes.
• Individualized teaching methods.

What work does a Forensics Criminalist deal with?

Students develop a sound knowledge and understanding of the crucial aspects of forensic criminalists that includes forensic science, death investigations, forensic anthropology and forensic pathology, under the 18-credit program.

What do I need to be admitted?

A strong background in oral and written communications, along with a high school GPA of 2.0 (C) average are the strongly recommended admissions requirements.

Who are the teachers?

The highly knowledgeable professional faculty in the Legal Studies and Criminal Justice department at Central Pennsylvania College bring relevant work experience to the classroom. Teachers here focus on the individual success of each student; you will work together one-on-one to achieve your goals. The student academic advisers are the professors who teach in the program which allows them to maintain personal relationships with the students in addition to serving as a reference and a friend. Due to the small size of Central Penn's class, you will receive personalized instruction that you may need to complete your course work in a timely and professional manner.

Who will be employing me?

Over the course of history, Central Penn has formed a close working relationship with many Pennsylvania firms and groups. Forensic Criminalistics is a recently-developed certificate program at this school. However, studies have shown that there is an increasing demand for Forensic Criminalistic specialists, especially following 9/11 and several legal cases where corrupt evidence-handling occurred. No matter where your career goals may take you, the crime scene technician field can offer you diverse, hands-on positions in management.

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