Portland State University

Portland State University provides a wide range of opportunities for nearly 25,000 talented undergraduate and graduate students. Based in Portland, Oregon, one of America's most beautiful and livable cities, the University takes an innovative approach to education through a combination of rigorous academics with field work through internships and projects with community partners.

Our goal is to be internationally recognized for excellence in student learning, innovative research, and community engagement that contributes to economic vitality, environmental sustainability, and quality of life in and beyond the Portland region.

Criminology and Criminal Justice is a field of study where one takes a close look at establishing legal norms. It focuses on their public and private implementation in order to get a hold on social disorder, symptoms including crime, delinquency, mental illness, civil wrongs, and discrimination. In 1949 Portland State University began furnishing a few professional classes for policemen. In 1965 a Law Enforcement Certificate Program was implemented. This particular certificate program was instrumental in meeting the needs of the law enforcement community during the social and campus unrest which occurred during the late 1960's. In compliance with the educational requirements for people joining the criminal justice sector, students will also be equipped with the instructional base for pursuing respective degree program for further development.

What the Division is offering is the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees, an online Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice, a minor, a post baccalaureate certificate, and a Master of Science degree.

Bachelor degrees in Criminology and Criminal Justice (B.A./B.S.)

As well as fulfilling the baseline requirement of a University degree, students who focus on criminology and criminal justice (CCJ) have to finish core and elective courses in this department.

The division offers students a comprehensive curriculum in the criminal justice system, including crime, criminals, and victims. Classes teach material which covers necessary areas of current programs and up-to-date research, including the theory behind these, in the fields of crime prevention, policing, courts and corrections, all within the real-world context of sustainable communities. Thorough coverage requires careful examination of the issues on an individual, community, as well as a societal level. Our curriculum is designed to improve our students skills in critical reasoning, problem solving, and written and oral communication.

Three of the core values of the university deal with diversity, equitable treatment, and community involvement. The program also allows students to take their education out into the community.

Graduates of our program can pursue a variety of employment options or even a masters or law degree. Graduates from our school have obtained work in local and federal law enforcement, corrections, human services, and in fields like security and investigations within the business community. Our program graduates went on to pursue advanced degrees in law, criminal justice, psychology, social work, public administration, and urban planning.

Our Online Criminal Justice program is convenient, comprehensive, and designed to fit your life.

Our online Criminal Justice Department is geared for easier use by working people on a schedule. This means it is easier than ever to get an online Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice. Current college students and working professionals will benefit from the opportunity to advance their knowledge and skills toward professional growth in the criminal justice field through the online bachelor's completion program of Portland State University.

Earning your Bachelor's in Criminology and Criminal Justice from Portland State University is much more than just a personal goal, it is a smart career decision. The academics at Portland State are praised for their innovation and quality by both the Princeton Review and the U.S. News and Weekly Report. It is all offered to you for a very low and reasonable cost via distance learning.

Minor in Criminology and Criminal Justice

Students are required to complete, within the division, both core and elective courses to qualify for the criminology and criminal justice minor. Before registering, be certain to read the current course description in the latest PSU Bulletin, as prerequisites may be necessary to enroll in the desired course. Whether taken at PSU or elsewhere, all core and elective courses submitted to satisfy the requirements for a minor must be passed with a grade of "C" (2.00 GPA) or more. Pass/Fail courses will not be counted toward division major requirements.

Postbaccalaureate certificate in Criminology and Criminal Justice

Criminology and criminal justice students must complete core and elective courses within the division to earn a post baccalaureate certificate. Each of these courses have prerequisites, and students should read course descriptions in the current PSU Bulletin prior to registration. A passing grade of "C" (2.00) must be achieved for all courses, whether in the major or the electives, no matter where they are earned, in order to satisfy the requirements for a major. Courses taken on a pass/fail basis cannot be used to fulfill requirements for the division major.

Master of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice

The Division of Criminology and Criminal Justice is designed to provide students a wide range understanding of the criminal justice system and society's response to crime. One of the program's primary objectives is to create an understanding of both the theory and practical applications for crime and criminal justice.

The real benefit of this program is that it provides students with tremendous flexibility by allowing them to custom tailor the program based upon their own personal goals and career aspirations. The theoretical foundations of criminology and criminal justice, methodology, and criminal justice policy analysis are all included in the core coursework of our classes.

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