Criminal Justice Degree
The Criminal Justice Program at Gwynedd-Mercy College is dedicated to providing students with the theoretical, practical and professional knowledge needed to succeed in today's environment in the fields of law enforcement, courts, corrections, probation, parole, private security and related social career services. Emphasis is placed upon preparing the student to enter the professional workplace or continue studies in graduate and law schools.
The curriculum is designed to provide students with expert instruction on the most current trends, policies and practices in the field. The curriculum is innovative and demands intensive classroom learning combined with extensive research and required field experience. In addition, most courses offer an opportunity for field experience and require 120 hours of internship/field practicum. Our students have interned at places such as local police departments, Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Pennsylvania Prison Society, U.S. Postal Inspectors, and the Philadelphia Probation Office, just to name a few.
The Criminal Justice program at GMC is taught by experts who are experienced professionals in their respective fields within the criminal justice system. This allows the criminal justice graduate from GMC to possess the knowledge and skills to succeed in graduate or professional school or in employment in a variety of fields, including:
- ATF Agent
- Bailiff
- CIA Agent
- Coast Guard
- Compliance Officer
- Corrections Officer
- Court Reporter
- Court Clerk
- Crime Scene Investigation
- Criminalist
- Criminologist
- Customs Agent
- DEA Agent
- FBI Agent
- Forensic Psychology
- Forensic Science
- INS Agent
- Paralegal
- Private Security
- Police Detective
- Police Officer
- Probation Officer
- Private Investigator
- Secret Service
- Sheriff
- US Marshall
Municipal Police Officer Certification (Act 120)
Students with career goals in local law enforcement have the option of attending the Municipal Police Academy at the Montgomery County Public Safety Training Campus located at 1175 Conshohocken Road, Conshohocken, Pa., 19428. The Academy is certified by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania through the Municipal Police Officers' Education and Training Commission. This training is offered as part of their four-year degree without extended time or expense. Students are eligible to apply for the Academy during their junior year in order to attend in their senior year.
