Program Overview

The criminal justice system protects the rights of the victim and the accused by ensuring justice is served for both. If you dream of being a detective, security specialist, or prosecutor, this may be the major for you.

Criminal justice is a captivating field that delves into how criminal offenders are processed by federal, state, and local agencies. It examines law enforcement officers, courts, and corrections.

Students pursue a criminal justice degree for many reasons, including a desire to help their community and contribute to a safer society. Aspiring professionals in this field often feel a strong sense of social responsibility and seek to uphold justice, protect the vulnerable, and promote fairness within the criminal justice system.

At King's College in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., we equip students with a deep understanding of the criminal justice system and its impact on society so they can solve crimes, succeed in a courtroom, or pursue any number of rewarding careers that contribute to the public good.

What Makes the King's Criminal Justice Program Different?

Our criminal justice program is designed to provide a well-rounded education that prepares students for successful careers and fosters a deep understanding of the complexities of the criminal justice system.

Here are some key aspects that make our program stand out:

  • Diverse areas of study: Our curriculum encompasses a wide range of subjects, ensuring that our graduates are well-versed in all aspects of the criminal justice field.
  • Career-focused: We enhance the career opportunities of our students within the criminal justice system. Whether you aspire to be a police officer, federal agent, prosecutor, public defender, or corrections officer, our program equips you with the knowledge and skills to succeed.
  • Double major opportunities: We understand that our students have diverse interests. As a criminal justice major, you have the unique opportunity to pursue a double major, selecting from various fields such as government, history, psychology, and sociology. This flexibility allows you to align your education with your personal and professional aspirations.
  • Internship program: Hands-on experience is crucial in the criminal justice field. As part of our program, you can intern with municipal, county, state, and federal agencies in the Wilkes-Barre area. This practical training provides invaluable real-world insights and networking opportunities.
  • Small classes: With small class sizes, students receive a high level of personal attention at our beautiful campus in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

What Can You Do with a Criminal Justice Degree?

Graduates with a B.A. in Criminal Justice can find rewarding careers as police officers, investigators, parole officers, counselors, court administrators, corrections officers, attorneys, and federal agents.

Our criminal justice major covers law enforcement, corrections, private security, and local, state, and federal court systems. Criminal justice graduates learn to solve problems strategically by gathering and analyzing data. In addition, writing and public speaking skills are an important part of the curriculum and apply to any career.

Over the past two decades, criminal justice employment opportunities have experienced remarkable growth as legal challenges become increasingly complex and global.

For instance, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for police and detectives was $69,160 in May 2022, and overall employment is projected to grow 3% from 2022 to 2032.

Federal agents also have access to rewarding and well-paying positions in all aspects of the criminal justice field. For instance, the average salary for new FBI agents ranges from $81,000 to $129,000.

Open positions for lawyers, who enjoyed an average salary of $135,740 in May 2022, are expected to increase by 8% over the next 10 years.

Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists earned a median salary of $59,860 in May 2022, with related positions projected to grow 3% percent from 2022 to 2032.

This is just a snapshot of the countless opportunities in this field. Whether you aspire to enter the labor market right after graduation or pursue further studies, our comprehensive curriculum prepares you for success.

Criminal Justice Program Description

At King's College, our criminal justice degree program studies the processes, institutions, and administration of criminal justice in the United States. Our curriculum prepares students for careers in law enforcement, corrections, and courts. In addition, our program provides a solid foundation for students wishing to explore graduate programs or attend law school.

Criminal Justice Curriculum

Our criminal justice curriculum covers a diverse range of subjects to ensure that our students understand the criminal justice system from various perspectives. Some of the key areas of study include:

  • Law Enforcement
  • Crime and Delinquency
  • Nature of the Law
  • Social Control
  • Corrections
  • The Courts
  • Private Security

Our faculty members are experienced professionals who are passionate about teaching and mentoring students. They enhance the learning experience with a wealth of professional knowledge and practical expertise.

Criminal Justice Degree Requirements

To earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from King's College, students must complete 43 credit hours in the major and fulfill general education requirements. Our degree program is designed to provide a well-rounded education that includes a balance of theoretical knowledge, practical training, and critical thinking skills.

View a comprehensive list of criminal justice education requirements here.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE MAJOR REQUIREMENTS (14 COURSES - 43 CREDITS)

  • CJ 110 Introduction to the Criminal Justice System (3)
  • CJ 131 Introduction to Criminal Law (3)
  • CJ 333 Criminology (3)
  • CJ 351 Police Operations (3)
  • CJ 373 Juvenile Delinquency (3)
  • CJ 475 Adult Corrections (3)
  • CJ 493 Senior Seminar (3)
  • SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology (3)
  • SOC 225 Social Psychology (3)
  • SOC 251 Probability and Statistics in Social Sciences (3)
  • SOC 252 / SOC 252L Research Methods in Social and Behavioral Sciences (4)

One course (3 credits) of the following:

  • SOC 341 Social Inequality (3)
  • SOC 343 Minority Group Relations (3)
  • SOC 345 Gender and Work (3)

Two additional CJ electives are required (6 credits).

MINOR SEQUENCE REQUIREMENTS (6 COURSES - 18 CREDITS)

  • CJ 110 Introduction to the Criminal Justice System (3)
  • CJ 333 Criminology (3)
  • Twelve (12) credits 300-level or above CJ electives

Criminal Justice Courses

CJ 110 - Introduction to the Criminal Justice System (3)

Survey of the formal institutions of social control: the body of the criminal law, the police, the courts, and various forms of "corrections." The course perspective may be alternately historical, organizational (sociological), or social-psychological. Includes site visits and field trips.

CJ 131 - Introduction to Criminal Law (3)

The elements of major criminal offenses such as murder, robbery, manslaughter, rape, and other substantive offenses. The commonly accepted defenses to these crimes (insanity, consent, entrapment, and self-defense) are studied. The student is expected to apply criminal law definitions and defenses to real-life factual situations in order to determine the likelihood of successful prosecution or acquittal.

CJ 312 - Child Abuse (3)

This course covers the history of child abuse. Special emphasis is placed on the current problem nature and effects of abuse, how child molesters operate, and legal and social responses to the problem.

CJ 333 - Criminology (3)

The origin, causes, and history of crime; sociological and social psychological theories dealing with crime prevention; programs for special treatment of crime; study of institutions and rehabilitation. Cross-listed as SOC 333.

CJ 342 - Women and the Criminal Justice System (3)

This course focuses on the increased involvement of women in the criminal justice system as victim, offender, and professional. It provides an in-depth presentation of the various types of crimes in which women engage and the theories behind that involvement, as well as the methods employed by the criminal justice system when dealing with both the female offender and victim. An analysis of the different types of professional positions women hold within the criminal justice system is presented utilizing film presentations, current event articles, and guest speakers. The student completes the course with an understanding of past, present, and future trends for women and their contact with the criminal justice system.

CJ 351 - Police Operations I (3)

An examination of the basic factors which influence police operations. Emphasis on the nature, purpose, and functions of police operations with particular attention to the management process involving management by objectives. Patrol techniques, leadership, special operations, patrol manpower distribution, command and control, and other patrol operations will be explored and analyzed.

CJ 352 - Police Operations II (3)

An in-depth analysis of the special problems involved in police operations. Existing patrol practices are compared and evaluated critically. Topics include team policing, tactical operations, unusual occurrences, terrorism, and civil disorders. Consideration will be given to the future of patrol and an evaluation of recent theories for increased policing efficiency.

CJ 355 - Criminal Investigation (3)

An analysis of the techniques and methods used by a criminal investigator in order to solve a criminal incident. Examination of the laws and rules of evidence; the collection and analysis of physical and latent evidence; basic investigative leads; forensic science and criminalistics; interviewing witnesses and the interrogation of suspects. This course covers investigative procedures employed in the solving of such crimes as homicide, rape, arson, and organized crime will be detailed. Prerequisite: Junior or senior standing.

CJ 363 - Criminal Procedure (3)

A study of the Bill of Rights and the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution by focusing on those provisions which relate to the rights of persons accused of crimes. The individual's right to due process safeguards the availability of counsel and protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, compulsory self-incrimination, and double jeopardy. The development of, and reasoning behind, the "exclusionary rule" of evidence is analyzed. In addition, this course will examine the Federal and Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure. Cross-listed as PS 363.

CJ 365 - Court Administration (3)

This course examines the manner in which the federal and state court systems administer justice and conduct their day-to-day operations. The student will become familiar with the personnel and financing of court systems. State and federal processing of cases will be compared and contrasted. The impact of Supreme Court decisions on the trial of criminal cases will be analyzed. Issues such as selection and removal of judges, plea bargaining, unified court systems, and court reform will be studied.

CJ 366 - Organizational Management in Criminal Justice Agencies (3)

Students will study criminal justice organizations from the established perspectives of management and organization theory. Readings draw on the literature of management, organizations, human services, and criminology in an effort to consider the implications of these perspectives for the management and administration of justice. Includes review of management and organizational behavior in public organizations, diagnosing organizations, organizational development, and evaluation research.

CJ 367 - Rules of Evidence: Cases and Principles (3)

This course examines the admissibility or inadmissibility of critical pieces of evidence. Topics include the hearsay rule and its exceptions; the opinion evidence rule; character and reputation evidence; direct and cross-examination of witnesses; radar evidence; voice spectrographs, Identification by hypnosis; and other pertinent rules of evidence.

CJ 373 - Juvenile Delinquency (3)

Students will examine the sociological and social-psychological factors involved in delinquent behavior. The material is considered within the framework of definition, extent, causation, and accountability and the reaction to the problem of juvenile delinquency. Cross-listed as SOC 373.

CJ 374 - Juvenile Intervention (3)

This course examines differential procedures and perceptions of the criminal justice system for the juvenile of­fender. Topics include prevention and control of delinquency, theoretical models, deflection away from institutionalization, as well as discrete relationships between the community, the victim, and the juvenile offenders.

CJ 381 - Private Security (3)

An overview of private security in its practical application and an analysis of various theoretical approaches to some of its problems. Emphasis is on the fundamental principles of risk assessment, physical protection, systems of defense, internal security, fire prevention, emergency planning, safety, and insurance protection.

CJ 383 - Probation, Parole, and Community-Based Corrections (3)

An analysis of probation, parole, and other forms of community-based correctional programs. Constitutional-legal and political questions as well as the efficaciousness of community-based corrections.

CJ 435 - Victimology (3)

This course views crime from the victim's perspective. Various types of victimization are discussed along with an analysis of the putative victim. The legal rights of the victim and the victim's relationship with the criminal justice system are explored through first-person accounts and current legislation. The student leaves this course with an in-depth understanding of what it means to be a true victim, as well as the criminal justice system's responsibility to that victim.

CJ 445 - Street Gangs (3)

This course covers the various street gangs in the United States. Special emphasis is placed on their origins, style, mode of operation, and societal reaction, including efforts to change gang behavior and reintegrate former members back into society.

CJ 453 - Police Community Relations (3)

Students will examine relationships between and among police, the community, and the citizens. Course also includes an analysis of community relations, and citizen complaints; analysis of frustrations arising from police-minority encounters; attitude formation and modification; critical examinations of the stereotypes of police and the community about each other; civil disorders and disobedience; and police deviance.

CJ 457 - Police Administration (3)

Examination of the basic principles of organization and management theory as applied by the police administrator. Emphasis will be on the systems approach theory to organization and administration. The individual, groups, communications flow, decision-making, and policy and procedures within the police organizations will be explored and analyzed.

CJ 464 - Juvenile Law & Justice (3)

This course examines various aspects of juvenile justice and its application in the court system. Topics include the philosophy of the juvenile justice system, the jurisdiction of juvenile courts, and its relation to status offenders, delinquents, and dependent children. The juvenile court system's use of intake and diversion will be discussed, along with the role of police, prosecutors, and defense counsel. "Certification," the process of transferring a juvenile from juvenile court to adult court, will also be examined along with the attendant legal rights which accompany juveniles who find themselves "in the system."

CJ 470 - Deviant Behavior (3)

An analysis of the social creation of deviant behavior is examined through the social processes of rulemaking, rule-breaking, and social control. Particular emphasis is placed on the role of conventional values and the effects of societal labeling in the deviance process. Alternative lifestyles are objectively examined. Cross-listed as SOC 470.

CJ 475 - Adult Corrections (3)

This course examines institutions of probation, the prison, parole, community treatment facilities; theories of punishment; and sociological explanations of the several experiential worlds within the prison.

CJ 477 - Theories of Crime (3)

This is a survey of the genetic development of theories of crime-causation in the 18th, 19th, and 20th Centuries; "schools" of criminological thought, classification and typologies of crime and the criminal, and discrete theories of individual and social behavior.

CJ 482 - Mental Illness and the Criminal Justice System (3)

The primary issue to be examined will be the insanity defense, from its inception to present-day use. Landmark cases will be analyzed and discussed in detail. Other topics include the study of mental illness from both legal and psychological viewpoints, the criminalization of the mentally ill, alternatives to the insanity defense, the burden of proof in insanity cases, the use of expert witnesses, the role of the jury, and Pennsylvania's Mental Health Procedures Act.

CJ 485 - Organized Crime (3)

The evolution of organized crime, particularly its development in the United States. The course includes an examination of organized crime in terms of community structure, political influences and corruption. Specific activities such as gambling, prostitution, drug traffic, pornography, and white-collar crime are explored. The methods and problems for organized crime control are also evaluated.

CJ 486 - Drugs in the Community (3)

This course will examine the various aspects of the misuse of drugs and alcohol in today's society. The focus will be on various drug categories, alcoholism, chemical dependence, and treatment. Special emphasis will be on the impact of drug and alcohol abuse relative to the individual, the workplace, and society.

CJ 487 - White-Collar Crime (3)

The variety, scope, pervasiveness, and historical roots of white-collar crime. Topics include computer crime, infiltration of legitimate businesses by organized crime, political crimes, consumer fraud, and price fixing. The response of law enforcement agencies to this complex, sophisticated, and often neglected area will be examined. Case studies of sensational scandals, such as Watergate, the electrical companies' price-fixing scheme, and the Equity Funding Scandal will be examined.

CJ 489-492/494-496 - Special Topics in Criminal Justice (3)

Special topics are presented by college faculty with special expertise, or by outside persons who possess experience and/or skills related to the Special Topic.

CJ 493 - Senior Seminar in Criminal Justice (3)

A seminar designed to investigate and analyze contemporary and emergency issues in the criminal justice field.

CJ 497-498 - Supervised Individual Study (3)

The study of a CJ phenomenon, organization, or topic under the direct supervision of a faculty member. The student wishing to enroll in his course must submit a brief written proposal outlining the purpose of the study, endorsed by a faculty sponsor (not necessarily in the department), and by the department's chairperson.

CJ 499 - Internship (3)

On-the-job training experience is offered in cooperation with such agencies as the Luzerne County District Attorney's Office, the Public Defender's Office, the Probation and Parole Department, the Juvenile Detention Center, the Court Administrator's Office, the Wilkes-Barre Police Department, and other agencies.

Program Educational Objectives

At King's College, we are committed to preparing our graduates to become competent and ethical professionals in the criminal justice field. Our program's educational objectives are as follows:

  • Equip students with a comprehensive understanding of the criminal justice system and its components.
  • Develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills to address real-world challenges in the field.
  • Instill ethical and professional values, ensuring graduates act responsibly and with integrity in their careers.
  • Prepare students for successful entry into the job market or further education in related fields.

Faculty and Contacts

Bridget Costello, M.A., Ph.D.
Department Chairperson
Email: bridgetcostello@kings.edu
Full-time Faculty
Paul Lindenmuth, M.S., paullindenmuth@kings.edu
Bridget Costello, Ph.D., bridgetcostello@kings.edu
Christopher D. Moore, Ph.D., christophermoore@kings.edu
Part-time Faculty
James Marinello, M.A., jamesmarinello@kings.edu
Richard Shiptoski, Esq., richardshiptoski@kings.edu
Mary Dysleski, M.S., marydysleski@kings.edu
Lou Palmeri, M.S.W., louispalmeri@kings.edu
Theresa Kline, M.S., theresakline@kings.edu
Ceil Bartolai, ceilbartolai@kings.edu
Seth Hoch, sethhoch@kings.edu
Meghan Pace, meghanpace@kings.edu
Alma McGarry, almamcgarry@kings.edu

Admission and Financial Aid Contacts

Office of Admission
admission@kings.edu
Office of Financial Aid
finaid@kings.edu

Major Resources

Student Organizations

  • Alpha Phi Sigma, the Criminal Justice Honor Society
  • Criminal Justice Association

Professional Organizations