Political Science and Criminal Justice
Department
FACULTY: Max Azicri, Kevin Courtright, David A. Ferster, James D. Fisher,
Gerry Gendlin, Bridget M. Jeffery, Elvage G. Murphy, Delbert L. Rounds
The department offers course work leading to degrees in Political Science,
Criminal Justice and Pre-Law. In order to graduate with a degree offered by the
department, students must have a 2.0 QPA in all courses taken in the department
which are offered for graduation. Additionally the student must receive a C or bet-
ter in all courses in the major with the exception of American Government and
Principles of Sociology in the Criminal Justice degrees.
THE POLITICAL SCIENCE PROGRAM
The curriculum for a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science is committed to
provide the student with the skills, knowledge and mental growth related to a
Liberal Arts education. Research opportunities, scope and methodology of politi-
cal inquiry, content analysis and theories within the discipline provide the student
with the philosophical and practical foundation for ethical, social and civic deci-
sion making.
The political science curriculum enables the student to have insight into signifi-
cant problems which are interrelated with government in both foreign and domes-
tic policy. The curriculum provides additional educational opportunities for those
in the teaching profession to provide an understanding of the political traditions
underlying western and non-western civilizations. The department will make
every effort to provide students an opportunity to participate in internship pro-
grams, if appropriate to their career goals and academic programs, which provide
practical experience in government.
To meet university and department general and specific educational goals, a stu-
dent may concentrate in any of four fields of study within the political science
curriculum: American Government and Politics, International Relations and
Comparative Government, Political Theory and Public Administration. These
four fields provide courses, together with courses from other disciplines, which
lead to government, business and foreign service careers and graduate school.
A major in political science consists of 42 semester hours, which include the
required courses of Introduction to Government, American Government,
Research Methods, and Seminar in Political Science. Introduction to Government
and American Government should be taken within a political science major's first
three semesters. Research Methods and the Seminar are usually taken by students
in their third or fourth years. In order for majors to explore the four major fields
of study, students are required to take 24 political science credits as follows: nine
(9) semester hours in one field, six (6) semester hours from each of two fields,
and three (3) semester hours from the fourth field. In addition, majors must either
perform a six (6) credit internship or take two additional political science cours-
es. Students are generally advised to pursue an internship if possible.
THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAM
Criminal justice is a growth sector of our society offering persons with good char-
acter and academic preparation challenging career opportunities in diverse fields
of public service.
Students are familiarized with the broad scope of criminal justice through foun-
dation courses that provide an overview of the criminal justice system and that
focus on law enforcement, the courts, corrections, and criminology. Beyond
these, criminal justice courses may be pursued in specialized areas depending
upon particular interests. An integral part of the criminal justice program are mul-
tidisciplinary courses that reflect the belief in broadening the individual's cultur-
al, social, and political perspectives. With the assistance of an advisor, a combi-
nation of courses may be tailored to enhance the knowledge and skills that will
help a student realize a particular career objective.
Strengths of the Edinboro program include faculty who blend scholarship with
significant accomplishments as practitioners, as well as a close relationship with
community agencies that enriches the classroom with guest speakers and enables
students to tour such facilities as area prisons. Elective internship experiences are
recommended to upper-level students in a wide range of settings and they provide
a useful way for students to assess their interests and apply their classroom
knowledge.
Associate of Arts Degree
Criminal Justice
As recognition has been given that improvement of the criminal justice system
depends upon employees upgrading their professional skills and gaining the addi-
tional insight, judgment, and diverse perspectives derived from education, the two
year program in criminal justice has become a realistic means for many who
desire a college education to pursue that goal on a part-time basis. Students not
currently working in the criminal justice area are also attracted to the two-year
program to prepare for entry level positions.
Many of these students eventually complete the four-year degree requirements.
Therefore, it is desirable that the curriculum of a two year program, while meet-
ing the needs of those who may use it to attain a terminal degree, also articulate
well with the goals of the four-year degree program. In that respect, the program
leading to an Associate of Arts degree in Criminal Justice is a reduced version of
the four-year program in every respect and has the same underpinning of educa-
tional philosophy. Thirty semester hours in criminal justice are required. Students
must gain a minimum of a C grade in each course offered for graduation as part
of the major with the exception of American Government and Principles of
Sociology.
I. General Education Requirements
30 sem. hrs.
A. ENGL101 College Writing Skills (3)
B. One approved course from each Core category (21)
(Artistic Expression, World Civilizations, American Civilizations,
Human Behavior, Cultural Diversity and Social Pluralism, Ethics,
Science and Technology)
C. One approved course from two different Distribution categories (6)
(Humanities and Fine Arts, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Science
and Mathematics) (6)
II. Criminal Justice Requirements
30 sem. hrs.
A. Requirements in the Criminal Justice System
18 sem. hrs.
POLI201
American Government (3)
SOC100
Principles of Sociology (3)
CRIM200 Introduction to Criminal Justice (3)
CRIM230 Introduction to Policing (3)
CRIM270 Introduction to Corrections (3)
POLI365
Prosecution and the Courts (3)
To be selected from at least two categories below:
12 sem. hrs.
B. Legal Aspects of Crime
CRIM462 Pennsylvania Criminal Code (3)
CRIM469 Criminal Procedure and Evidence (3)
C. Societal Influences on Crime and Delinquency
POLI215
American State and Local Government (3)
PSYC350 Drugs and Human Behavior (3)
POLI321
Organized Crime and Corruption
SOC335
Juvenile Delinquency (3)
HIST377
American Urban Development (3)
HIST379
U.S. Police History (3)
D. Techniques of Dealing with Crime
CRIM240 Criminal Investigation (3)
POLI306
Public Administration (3)
CRIM355 Criminalistics (3)
CRIM370 Probation, Parole and Community Corrections (3)
E. Electives
CRIM280 Juvenile Justice (3)
F.
Field Experience
POLI395
Internship in Criminal Justice (3)
III. Electives (Open)
6 sem. hrs.
TOTAL
66 sem. hrs.
ASSOCIATE OF ARTS CRIMINAL JUSTICE
(Suggested Four-Semester Sequence)
First Semester
ENGL101
College Writing Skills (3)
POLI201
American Government (3)
SOC100
Principles of Sociology (3)
CRIM200
Intro to Criminal Justice
74/Curricula and Organization