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Criminal Justice Majors

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Criminal Justice Programs

Criminal Justice Major

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Criminal Justice: Preparing to Protect & Serve

Join those who protect our society’s freedom and stability. From crime prevention to safeguarding civil rights to preserving peace, your presence in the field will help ensure justice, equity, and liberty in this free society.

The criminal justice major at Pensacola Christian College will allow you to unpack the legal, moral, and philosophical foundations of your calling. You’ll learn from faculty with diverse law enforcement experience and witness how your major connects to real-world situations as you hear from local experts currently in the field.

This unique program allows you to choose the intensity level—you can pursue either a two-year criminal justice associate’s degree or a four-year Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. Following your sophomore year, you’ll have the opportunity to complete one or two practicums to apply classroom knowledge in realistic settings and explore your possible career options.


Faith-Based Criminal Justice

Justice isn’t solely a moral and ethical issue. It comes directly from the truths of Scripture. Beginning with this biblical foundation, PCC’s hands-on criminal justice program will train you in law practices and procedures and prepare you to implement them in a wise and godly manner. You’ll learn how to handle forensics and evidence, interpret law, interview witnesses and interrogate suspects, secure a location, and make a difference in your field. You will represent U.S. law; but you will also represent your Savior.

Criminal Justice B.S. Learning Outcomes

As a B.S. in Criminal Justice graduate, you will be able to:

  • formulate a rationale to support ethical and moral choices based on a biblical worldview.
  • articulate the role of the criminal justice professional in the God-ordained institution of government.
  • demonstrate college-level knowledge relevant to the various areas of the criminal justice system.
  • communicate effectively in written and oral presentations.
  • relate knowledge to practical experience in various areas of the criminal justice system.

Criminal Justice A.S. Learning Outcomes

As an A.S. in Criminal Justice graduate, you will be able to:

  • formulate a rationale to support ethical and moral choices based on a biblical worldview.
  • articulate the role of the criminal justice professional in the God-ordained institution of government.
  • demonstrate foundational college-level knowledge relevant to the various areas of the criminal justice system.
  • communicate effectively in written presentations.
Criminal Justice Major Schedule

Program Highlights

Criminal Justice Practicum

As a B.S. criminal justice student, you’ll get 80 hours of in-field experience. You’ll closely observe how a criminal justice agency operates when you take either CJ 444 and 445 (each 40 hours) or CJ 446 which gives you 80 hours. This will allow you to gain personalized, professional experience in your chosen law enforcement branch or other criminal justice agency and make valuable connections. You’ll receive a professional evaluation from field experts and gain essential skills tailored to your specific interests.

Senior Criminal Justice Seminar

This capstone class (CJ 448) will allow you to synthesize all aspects of the criminal justice system. You’ll apply essential research, writing, and presentation skills to complete a project on a trend or legal issue you choose. You’ll prepare to find employment in the criminal justice field and be ready for a fulfilling career.

Your Criminal Justice Future

What can you do with a criminal justice degree?

A criminal justice degree from PCC will fully prepare you for your future. You might decide to begin a career right away or pursue higher education in a master’s program. Either way, you’re sure to use your training and experience to make a difference in the field.

Here are a few of the countless career opportunities available to you.

  • Federal Agencies
  • Federal/State/Local Police
  • Immigration/Customs
  • Private/Corporate Security
  • Private Investigation
  • Probation and Parole
  • U.S. Armed Forces

Here are a few of the grad schools our criminal justice alumni have attended.

  • Campbellsville University
  • Regent University
  • Strayer University
  • University of San Diego
  • University of Texas, Austin
  • University of Virginia
  • Western New Mexico University

Here are a few of the many places that our criminal justice alumni have worked.

  • Allied Universal Security
  • Colorado State Penitentiary II
  • Department of Veterans Affairs
  • Escambia County Sheriff’s Office
  • Florida Highway Patrol
  • Hardy Law Office, PLLC
  • Social Vocational Services
  • U.S. Congressional Legislative Staff

Faculty Highlight

Barry Walker

Dr. Barry Walker

B.S., M.S., Mountain State University
Ph.D., Liberty University

“When our students graduate from PCC, we desire that they know Christ and can represent Him in a career field that is very demanding. The criminal justice program teaches students to think biblically, work ethically toward a goal, and serve faithfully in their communities.

The criminal justice program‘s course sequence focuses first on the careers and tasks associated with the major components of the criminal justice system—police, courts, corrections, and community. Second, as students progress through their coursework, they learn advanced problem-solving skills with integrated spiritual application. These skills prepare our students not only for a criminal justice career but also for other careers or ministry opportunities.”

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Alumni Spotlight

Sgt. Peter Gallion
Sgt. Peter Gallion ’15

Sergeant and SWAT Sniper Team Leader at the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office

“My criminal justice degree significantly helped me through the hiring process and also made me eligible for a promotion to sergeant several years sooner. The professors I had during my time at PCC helped me gain insight into what a career in law enforcement was really like. They were able to give real-world examples that helped me understand the material I was studying. [My] instructors pushed me to do research, conduct presentations, and be involved in practicums that were directly related to the career I was pursuing. The material was relevant and applicable. I was well prepared to start the police academy in only a few months after graduation.

I would encourage anyone pursuing a career in law enforcement to attend PCC because it provides an excellent biblical foundation. A career in law enforcement means you are daily subjected to the evil the world has to offer. You are expected to find all the crime but keep your Christian testimony. Being a Christian in this field creates many opportunities to share the gospel not only with people you come across while responding to calls for service, but also with your coworkers. PCC provides you with the biblical knowledge necessary to stay spiritually strong.”

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Criminal Justice Major Course Schedule

Recommended Criminal Justice Course Sequence (B.S.)

Freshman

Sophomore

Junior

Senior

Total Credits

120

Recommended Criminal Justice Course Sequence (A.S)

First Year

Second Year

Total Credits

60
crime scene investigation class

About the Criminal Justice Program

The purpose of the criminal justice major is to prepare students with practical skills and leadership training from a biblical perspective that will allow them to become faithful and effective guarantors of the requisites for freedom and stability (e.g., crime prevention, the preservation of peace, and the safeguarding of civil rights) which ensure justice, equity, and liberty in a free society.

The purpose of the criminal justice major is to prepare students with practical skills and training from a biblical perspective for entry-level employment in law enforcement.

Criminal justice majors (B.S.) must take one 2-credit practicum or two 1-credit practicums as part of their major requirements following completion of their sophomore year. Criminal justice practicums provide opportunities to combine theory and practice in a realistic setting and to make more judicious career decisions. Since there are limited local facilities available to criminal justice majors, students are urged to take these practicums elsewhere.

Criminal justice students can apply for scholarships to receive financial aid.

Eleanor Robson Scholarship
Up to $3,000 scholarship awarded in $1,000 increments to a continuing sophomore with a criminal justice major, secondary education major with a science or biology concentration, or music ministries concentration who has a financial need, to be applied in the 3rd, 5th, and 7th semesters of consecutive attendance.

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Career Fair

Criminal Justice Career Support

With Career Services and Career Link, students can start making connections with employers while on campus during Career Fair events. These services provide tools and resources designed to empower you for your career in criminal justice.

Need help? Career Services staff are ready to assist you in researching employment opportunities, exploring job qualifications, and providing mock interviews and résumé support.

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