Posted on June 21, 2016
CCU Announces New Program: Master of Science in Criminal Justice
Between 1.5 and 2.5 million people are currently incarcerated in the United States, according to the US Bureau of Justice Statistics. Within five years of release from a correctional facility, about 70% of those released were rearrested.
Law enforcement agencies and the whole American criminal justice system are under constant criticism. Concerns of race relations and civil liberties are increasingly explosive, and need to be addressed by thoroughly trained individuals of exceptional character.
In response to this increasing need for highly trained and morally sound criminal justice professionals, Colorado Christian University is launching its new Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCJ) program.
The MSCJ program is designed to provide students with comprehensive knowledge of public policy and issues affecting the criminal justice system, as well as the advanced techniques and tools currently used in the field. CCU's program will emphasize cultivating both character and courage as the students prepare to administer and work toward justice. The MSCJ program will be open to students this upcoming fall.
Should you be able to see a difference between a police officer and a Christian police officer? asks Bob Brooks, CCU's director of public administration. Would you expect that a Christian corrections officer would treat prisoners differently than a non-Christian corrections officer? Should a parolee notice something different about his Christian parole officer? At CCU we believe the answer to these questions is yes! CCU's MSCJ program is designed to address contemporary issues through a theologically sound, biblically-based view of justice.
CCU's MSCJ program consists of 36 credit hours with 12 required courses including a capstone. The core courses of the program focus on five fundamental pieces: leadership, systems communication, public communication, theory, and concrete skills. These courses culminate in a capstone course where students will synthesize all of the material covered over the course of their program and apply their knowledge to real-life ethical dilemmas and scenarios.
MSCJ program instructors are currently involved as professionals in the US Department of Justice, the US Department of Homeland Security, the Colorado Department of Corrections, and the Colorado Department of Public Safety. The instructors hold positions as police commanders and officers, deputy sheriffs, special and criminal investigators, forensic analysts, crime scene and medical investigators, and military police.
Job outlook for criminal justice careers is expected to grow steadily within this next decade. Private investigators, detectives, forensic science technicians, police officers, and correctional officers can expect significant growth in job availability.
For more information and to apply for CCU's Master of Science in Criminal Justice Program, visit www.ccu.edu/mscj.