Esperanza College’s Criminal Justice Program provides students with a unique curriculum that endows them with the ability to connect theory and practice of criminal justice, with a special emphasis on the Christian ethical perspective.

This course of study will accentuate critical thinking and the ability to effectively communicate in written and oral form.

The program is geared to creating a student-centered learning environment that is active, reflective, and experiential. It also provides students with general education and interdisciplinary course work that facilitates an easy transition to undergraduate programs in criminal justice, law, and sociology.

The program places high priority on excellence in teaching and learning through continuous enhancement and improvement in curriculum. Criminal Justice faculty are practitioners in their respective fields who bring with them their practical knowledge in the field.

The program prepares students for careers in police departments at the local and state levels and in the courts, corrections, probation/parole, juvenile justice, Department of Homeland Security, and many other public law enforcement agencies.

Our courses will prepare you with skills to excel in your career. This program requires consistent hard work and commitment on your part.

Program Student Learning Goals

• Students will describe and explain the elements that influence the criminal justice system in America and how the U.S. constitution impacts on it. 
• Students will possess the basic skill-set essential to serve as criminal justice professionals and will identify a personal professional fit (or absence thereof) with the field. 
•  Students will demonstrate how her/his Christian faith life informs her/his chosen academic and professional pathways in the criminal justice field.
• Students will demonstrate research skills required for higher education in the criminal justice field.

Curriculum

* Students may substitute more advanced courses if able to meet specific course prerequisites.

FIELD EXPERIENCE

The field experience is an essential element of the Criminal Justice program, not only for course work completion but also for students to gain real-world work experience in the field they hope to pursue. These opportunities may include assisting lawyers as legal assistants, as researchers in criminal investigation and volunteers at many local faith-based organizations that provide services to victims of crime, juveniles, and local community.

Students in the Criminal Justice program complete a mandatory 40-hour field experience in a criminal justice agency. The field experience is an essential element of the Esperanza College program in which students can expect to gain invaluable experience, connections, and an understanding of the criminal justice field.

Upon matriculation into the program, students will be informed of field experience placement and timeline from the Program Director.

Examples of field experience have included:

• Camden Prosecutor’s Office
• Philadelphia Police Department
• The Justice Juanita Kidd Stout Center for Criminal Justice of the Philadelphia Courts
• Court of Common Pleas
• Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole
• Defenders Association of Philadelphia
• Pennsylvania Prison Society

CAREER PATH

Many of our students are interested in working in the police departments, courts, and correctional agencies as police officers, homicide detectives, parole/probationary officers to name a few.