Overview
Narrative
Northampton Community College’s (NCC) Criminal Justice program offers you a wealth of opportunities. Whether you want to enter the workforce after two years of study, transfer to a four-year program, or enhance your education as a professional already employed in this field, NCC's program is for you.
All courses are taught by experts in the field. Learning takes place within a classroom setting, combined with out-of-class relevant experiential learning opportunities such as paid & unpaid internships, volunteer service learning opportunities, job shadowing, department & agency tours, and other hands-on options. You'll obtain an understanding of the criminal justice & juvenile justice systems, be adept with the language and culture of these occupations, and gain the knowledge you need to live up to professional expectations. The program offers students flexibility and is fully available at the Bethlehem and Monroe campuses, as well as online. Courses are offered mainly in the daytime on campus, with some courses available in the evening, and all courses available online every Spring, Summer & Fall semester.
Features
The program serves three types of students: those seeking entry-level employment in the field, those already employed in the system who seek professional advancement, and those who plan to pursue a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, criminology or related disciplines.
Our program readies you for employment in the local, state, or federal level components of law enforcement, Prosecutors’ Offices, Public Defenders’ Offices, courts, corrections, probation, parole, treatment, and the Juvenile Justice System. It can also prepare you for a career in private sector security or for the military branches of service. If you are interested in working for a specific department or agency, you should contact a program success navigator or your advisor early in your studies to determine the specific educational requirements you will need. Professionals in NCC’s Career Services and Counseling offices, as well as experienced instructors within the program, can assist you in meeting your career goals.
All of our instructors are either current or former criminal justice or juvenile justice professionals, so they speak with the voice of experience; not just from a textbook. Additionally, students who have acquired prior discipline-related learning or training experiences might be granted course equivalent credits based upon NCC’s life-experience portfolio assessment process.
If your career plan includes a bachelor's degree with specialization in the field, you may want to consider transferring to one of the four-year schools that we have an articulation agreement with such as East Stroudsburg University, Keystone College, Penn State-Lehigh Valley, or the University of Pittsburgh. These special partnerships make the move to a bachelor's degree program easier, since we've already ensured that your credits from NCC will seamlessly transfer. Full transfer also may be possible to other colleges and universities offering baccalaureate degrees in the field. NCC’s Academic Advising Transfer Specialists and Success Navigators can offer you support and additional information.
The program can be completed in four semesters as a full-time student taking 15-18 credits per semester, or by taking fewer credits each semester, and enrolling in summer classes. The total degree credits are 64-66 credits depending on which courses are completed.
Contact the Admissions Office at 610-861-5500 for further information.
Career Potential: Lawyer, Detective Investigator, Crime Scene Technician, Police, Probation, Parole, Court, Corrections, Security, juvenile justice, or other Public Safety Officer positions
Leading to: Local, State or Federal Criminal Justice, Security, Law, and Public Safety positions