Serve the public with empathy and fairness.

As a criminal justice major at Lebanon Valley College, you'll gain a well-rounded understanding of the social, psychological, and legal issues that impact crime and the justice system. Change your community for the better by understanding how criminal justice operates across cultures, and know where the field is headed in the future.

Whether you want to pursue a career in law enforcement or social services, we'll provide you with knowledge of the theoretical frameworks of sociology and politics that you'll need to succeed. In addition to navigating current trends in criminal justice—like community policing and prevention—you'll build a foundation in the skills employers look for, such as critical thinking and clear communication. Through our family studies concentration, you can develop a facility with counseling and remediation to help children and families who are affected by trauma or neglect.

Our program partners with local, state, and federal agencies to provide you with internships, research, and hands-on learning opportunities that will prepare you for a career in criminal justice. Gain real-world knowledge by working with Homeland Security, the Northeast Counterdrug Training Center, Lebanon County Courts, and other organizations as part of our for-credit internship program.

 

Discover Your Degree Pathway

• Apply to our bachelor's degree in criminal justice for first-year undergraduates or as a transfer student.
• Tailor your degree to your interests and career goals by pursuing a related program, like politics, pre-law advising, or psychology.
• Master your degree requirements, from the foundations of sociology to civil liberties and civil rights.

 

Real-World Skills for Success

Our faculty is prepared to advise you from day one, as you consider what you can do with your criminal justice degree. Your advisor will guide you throughout the program, and direct you to community relationships and networking opportunities.

You'll work directly with faculty who are engaged in areas of criminal justice that directly impact our local community, including financial and chemical forensics, probation services, and disaster management.

Through coursework and hands-on learning experiences, our majors also become masters of intercultural competence, great writers, compelling speakers, and strong critical thinkers. Develop a clear set of career goals and pursue a for-credit internship with local employers like:

• Berks County Office of the Public Defender
• Domestic Violence Intervention
• Lebanon County Detectives
• Youth Advocate Program

 

What Makes Studying Criminal Justice at LVC Special?

• Learn from our faculty experts in areas such as prevention, youth intervention, and the effects of imprisonment.
• Pursue student-faculty research opportunities or hands-on internships designed to prepare you for the workforce.

 

What You Can Do with a Criminal Justice Degree?

Our Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice prepares you to pursue independent research at the graduate level or launch your career in policing, counseling, social services, crime prevention, law, and more. Graduates with a background in criminal justice can also become crime analysts, criminal justice policy analysts, researchers, and court administrators.

Recent LVC graduates in criminal justice work with federal, state, and local agencies including the New York City Port Authority, Lebanon County Probation and Parole, and the Pennsylvania State Police. Their roles are varied and include adoption officers, police officers, canine handlers, air marshals, and research analysts. Others have pursued advanced degrees in criminal forensics, criminology, and sociology at institutions like Indiana State University, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and the Indiana University of Pennsylvania.