Channel Your Desire to Do Good into a Crime & Criminology Certificate
If you're looking for a rewarding entry-level job in the justice studies field or are currently working in law enforcement and want to upgrade your skills, consider enrolling in the Justice Studies Crime and Criminology Certificate program at Southern New Hampshire University. This highly specialized certificate program delivers the training you need to jumpstart a career or a promotion in this exciting field.
See Yourself Succeed in Crime & Criminology
Unlike traditional criminal justice programs, our interdisciplinary approach goes beyond courses in criminology and law enforcement to offer a more complete look at the American justice system, criminal law, social science and more. This diverse approach to your studies translates into expanded opportunities when you graduate.
As a private, nonprofit university, SNHU has one mission - to help you see yourself succeed. The benefits of earning your crime and criminology certificate at SNHU include:
- Supportive community. Join the SNHU campus community of students who are closely connected with faculty and staff dedicated to your success.
- Affordability. It’s our mission to make higher education more accessible. That’s why, SNHU is one of the most affordable private, nonprofit universities in New Hampshire.
- Accomplished faculty. Learn from highly credentialed faculty who are experts in their fields and bring their professional experience directly to you in the classroom.
- Opportunity. Tap into our nationwide network of alumni and strong connections with employers for internship and career opportunities.
- Campus experience. Enjoy more than 50 student clubs, champion Division II athletics and fun events on our 300-acre campus in Manchester, NH, named a "Best Place to Live" by Money magazine.
Internships & Outcomes
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook 2012-2013, "Employment of private detectives and investigators is expected to grow 21% from 2010-20, much faster than the average for all occupations. Increased demand for private detectives and investigators will result from heightened security concerns, increased litigation, and the need to protect confidential information and property of all kinds. The proliferation of criminal activity on the Internet, such as identity theft, spamming, email harassment, and illegal downloading of copyrighted materials, also will increase the demand for private investigators."
Graduates of the Justice Studies certificate programs can go on to complete their AS or BS in Justice Studies. Those who are already in the workforce are better prepared for career advancement in business security, policing and law enforcement, federal service agencies, terrorism prevention, the courts, corrections, dispute resolution, victim advocacy, the military and more.
Curriculum
Through a carefully selected program of study, students have the opportunity to discover a broad scope of the American justice system. Begin with a few foundational courses in criminal justice, then select two more specialized classes that interest you - from forensics to terrorism to white collar crime.
| View Full Curriculum in the Catalog |
|---|
| Certificate in Crime and Criminology |
| Courses May Include | ||
|---|---|---|
| Certificate in Crime and Criminology Campus | ||
| JUS 101 | Introduction to Criminal Justice | This course covers the nature, scope and impact of crime in the United States, independent and interdependent operations and procedures of police, courts and corrections, and introductory theories of crime and delinquency. The course introduces the justice model in a systematic way whereby students delve into the numerous components of the justice system including law enforcement, legal and judicial process and correctional operations. Career opportunities will be fully covered throughout the course. |
| JUS 215 | The Victim and the Justice System | This course will examine issues surrounding the central character in a criminal act - the victim. Contents are designed to develop an understanding of what it means to be victimized, including the physical, psychological, and economic impact of crime upon victims, their families, and society in general. Special consideration will be given to specific victim populations (i.e. survivors of homicides, sexual assault, and family violence), secondary victimization by the criminal system, victim assistance programs, and future trends in this field. A full review of how the American justice system has responded to the needs of victims is part of the course content and includes a look at victim testimony at sentencing and parole and probation hearings, victim notification, Meghan's law, victim advisory and protection services, and other means in which the judicial system assures victim participation during the adjudicative phase. |
| POL 306 | The American Legal Tradition | This course offers a broad introduction to the American legal tradition, including the structure and function of the courts, the legal profession, legal education, and the politics of judicial selection. As an introduction to what it means to "think like a lawyer" in the United States, students learn how to write parts of a predictive legal memorandum of the type that first-year law students learn how to write, in which they analyze a legal issue of concern to hypothetical clients by applying the reasoning and conclusions in selected judicial opinions to the facts of the clients' case. |
| Total Credits: 12 | ||
Campus Undergraduate Tuition
Our Manchester campus aims to keep tuition and related costs low for our students so that you can pursue your degree and your goals.
Beyond low tuition rates, we help our students save through transfer credits, credit for prior learning, grants and scholarships, tuition assistance and more.
This certificate is not eligible for federal financial aid. Students seeking alternatives to federal financial aid can explore tuition assistance, grants and scholarships, as well as private loans. To learn more about private loans, visit our Funding Your Education with Student Loans page.
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