Child Welfare Certificate
For information contact Dr. Kathleen Boland, , 610-606-4666, ext. 3499
Program Description
The Child Welfare Certificate is a 16-credit certificate offered through the Social Work Program and utilizes courses from social work, criminal justice, and psychology.
Program Mission Statement
The Child Welfare Certificate is an interdisciplinary certificate designed to provide the knowledge and skills needed to work with children and adolescents. This certificate is designed to educate students for specialized training in the child welfare system. Child welfare is one of the oldest fields of practice and there is an increasing demand for qualified workers to enter child welfare settings.
Total number of credits required by program: 16 credits
Program Requirements
To earn a Child Welfare Certificate, a student must have a C or better in all courses.
Course Requirements
Core Courses (3 required)
SOC 321 Family as a Social Institution 3 credits
SWK 303 Human Behavior and the Social Environment 3 credits
SWK 304 Child Abuse Maltreatment and Neglect 4 credits
Electives (2 electives)
CRJ 202 Probation and Parole – Fall 3 credits
CRJ 221 Victimization – Spring (even year) 3 credits
CRJ 301 Juvenile Justice – Fall (odd year) 3 credits
CRJ 306 Corrections: Crisis in America – Spring (even year) 3 credits
PSY 309 Psychopathology – Fall and Spring 3 credits
PSY 310 Forensic Psychology – Fall and Spring 3 credits
PSY 315 Child Counseling – Spring 3 credits
SOC 222 Global Social Justice 3 credits
SWK 203 Addiction, Assessment & Intervention – Spring 3 credits
Criminal Justice – Major/Minor
For information contact Associate Professor Scott A. Hoke, Ph.D., , 610-606-4666, ext. 4454
Program Description
Criminal justice is the study of the social factors, social conditions and environmental influences that affect the development of human behavior that is contrary to commonly accepted norms. It is a field of study that attempts to scientifically examine the causes, personal and societal consequences, and effective preventative/rehabilitative responses to socially dysfunctional behavior such as crime, drug abuse, violence, prejudice, and human exploitation.
Primarily, the coursework has been designed to allow the student to examine human behavior from a number of different viewpoints. Today, the emphasis in criminal justice is in the prevention of harmful behavior, rather than simply its detection and prosecution. To effectively prevent behavior from occurring one must understand what influences it. As a result, the curriculum places an emphasis on understanding the social, biological, psychological, and environmental factors that influence behavior.
Additionally, the emphasis on research methods, evaluation and presentation allows the student to develop leadership skills through the practical application of problem-solving strategies. Combined with a sound field experience, the student is allowed to apply material presented throughout the curriculum to the professional setting, further enhancing their ability to understand, process, and evaluate the critical issues facing the profession.
Criminal Justice Program Mission Statement
The mission of the criminal justice program is to provide students with a state-of-the-art educational experience that is grounded in an understanding of the traditional theories and origins of the criminal justice system but also one that places emphasis on developing an understanding of the emerging issues and developments that are influencing and impacting society today. In addition, it is the mission of the program to produce students who are prepared to assume a position of leadership within the profession. Leadership requires students to be well-rounded academically, intellectually mature, aware of the ethical standards by which the criminal justice system is intended to function, and sensitive to the social and cultural challenges presented by the application of the system.
Criminal Justice Major
Total number of credits required by program: 35 credits
Program Requirements
- Students must earn a grade of C- or better in each required Liberal Arts Curriculum course (LAC).
- Students must earn a grade of C- or better in each required course or must repeat the course. Students may only take a required foundation course twice. A withdrawal from a course constitutes having taken the course one time.
- Additionally, students must complete a criminal history check. Students will not be permitted into the program if they possess either a felony conviction, or a misdemeanor involving the possession or use of a controlled substance; fraud; violence; or child neglect or abuse.
Course Requirements
The curriculum is organized around a combination of required and elective courses. Each student has the ability to select one of five elective packages that best suits their level of interest. Students may select more than one elective package, with each being designed to allow the student to develop some level of specific depth to the analysis of human behavior. The elective packages are as follows:
- Criminal Behavior and Deviance – This elective package allows the student to examine human behavior from a social, psychological, and environmental perspective. Each of these areas influences behavior and effective control often involves understanding aspects of each of these elements.
- Juvenile Studies – This elective package allows the student to develop an understanding of childhood development and adolescent behavior. Many of the students who major in criminal justice at Cedar Crest express an interest in working with juvenile offenders and this package offers the student a greater understanding of the issues surrounding juvenile behavior than what they are currently receiving.
- Law Enforcement Administration – This elective package is designed for students who have an interest in police administration. It is not intended to expose the student to police practices but rather is designed to better their understanding of the issues related to running a police/law enforcement organization. All of the courses in this package are available in an online or accelerated format.
- Self-Designed Elective package – This elective package allows the students to self-design an area of interest within the criminal justice system. One might choose to study forensic psychology, social justice, restorative practices, or any other subject area where one’s interest exists.
- Crime and Community Mapping – This concentration is designed to offer students the opportunity to become proficient in a skill that is highly marketable in the criminal justice and social service professions. Understanding mapping technology allows agencies to evaluate patterns of behavior geographically, developing interventions that are responsive to the patterns that arise.
Criminal Justice Requirements – 38 credits
Core Requirements (26 credits):
CRJ 101 The Legal System 3 credits
CRJ 106 Criminology 3 credits
CRJ 202 Probation and Parole 3 credits
CRJ 206 Class, Race, Gender, and Crime 3 credits
CRJ 212 American Models of Policing 3 credits
PSY 170 Using APA Editorial 1 credit
PSY 211 Research Methods 4 credits
PSY 212 Experimental methods 3 credits
PSY 330Professional Ethics 3 credits
Elective Packages (12 Credits – the student must select at least one elective package to satisfy the requirements of the program)
Criminal Behavior and Deviance (12 credits):
CRJ 221 Victimization 3 credits
CRJ 306 Corrections 3 credits
CRJ 321 Criminal Justice Field Experience 3 credits
PSY 309 Psychopathology 3 credits
PSY 310 Forensic Psychology 3 credits
SWK 203 Addiction, Assessment & Intervention 3 credits
Juvenile Studies (12 credits):
CRJ 301 Juvenile Justice 3 credits
CRJ 321 Criminal Justice Field Experience 3 credits
PSY 210 Life Span Development 3 credits
SWK 203 Addiction, Assessment & Intervention 3 credits
SWK 303 Human Behavior & Social Environment 3 credits
SWK 304 Child Abuse Maltreatment and Neglect 3 credits
Law Enforcement Administration (12 credits):
BUA 220 Human Resources Management 3 credits
BUA 239 Employment Law 3 credits
BUA 320 Attracting, Selecting, and Retaining Talent 3 credits
BUA 325 Compensation Management 3 credits
Self-Designed Elective Package – Thematic design must be approved by faculty advisor (12 credits)
Crime and Community Mapping (12 credits):
CRJ 110 Introduction to GIS and Crime mapping
CRJ 210 Advanced Crime and Community Mapping
CRJ 212 American Models of Policing
CRJ 215 Data Management for Crime Analysts
CRJ 310 Crime and Community Development
Field Experience
The field experience enables the student to apply knowledge acquired in the major in a criminal justice agency of the student’s choice. This application of knowledge is vital to the career placement of the graduate. Students are required to engage in a 220-hour experience, 16 hours per week in a community setting developed by the criminal justice faculty.
In addition, a field experience seminar has been designed to be taken concurrent with the field experience. The seminar provides an opportunity for students to critically assess learning in the field with theoretical concepts associated with the major in criminal justice.
Fulfillment of LAC Requirements
The student fulfills the Technology, Oral Presentation, and Information Literacy requirements by successfully completing the following courses embedded within the criminal justice major:
Technology:
CRJ 110 Introduction to GIS and Crime Mapping 3 credits
CRJ 210 Advanced Crime and Community Mapping 3 credits
CRJ 215 Data Management for Crime Analysts 3 credits
CRJ 310 Crime and Community Development 3 credits
PSY 211 Research Methods 3 credits
Oral Presentation:
CRJ 212 American Models of Policing
Information Literacy:
Each of the required courses contributes to the completion of this Liberal Arts requirement.
Learning Outcomes
- The student will be able to analyze human behavior and identify the social factors that influence it.
- The student will be able to analyze human behavior and identify the environmental factors that influence it.
- Students will be able to apply criminal justice theory and content to a larger community context.
- Students will be able to analyze criminal justice decision-making to determine if it meets acceptable ethical standards.
- Students will demonstrate effective oral communication skills.
- Students will demonstrate effective written communication skills.
Criminal Justice Minor
Program Requirements for the Criminal Justice Minor
Cedar Crest College does offer a minor in criminal justice, which consists of 18 credits. It can be completed by using the following format:
Course Requirements for the Criminal Justice Minor: 18 credits
Required Courses (6 Credits):
CRJ 101 The Legal System 3 credits
CRJ 106 Criminology 3 credits
Elective Courses (12 credits):
CRJ 110 Introduction to GIS and Crime Mapping 3 credits
CRJ 202 Probation and Parole 3 credits
CRJ 206 Class, Race and Gender 3 credits
CRJ 210 Advanced Crime and Community Mapping 3 credits
CRJ 212 American Models of Policing 3 credits
CRJ 215 Data Management for Crime Analysts 3 credits
CRJ 301 Juvenile Justice 3 credits
CRJ 306 Corrections 3 credits
CRJ 310 Crime and Community Development 3 credits
SWK 203 Addiction, Assessment & Intervention 3 credits
One of the following courses can be substituted for one of the elective criminal justice courses:
PSC 202 Law and Justice 3 credits
PSC 207 Law and Women’s Rights 3 credits
PSC 218 Criminal Procedure and Constitutional Rights 3 credits
PSC 250 Modern Political Thought 3 credits
PSC 300 Topics in Law and Public Policy 3 credits
Crime and Community Mapping Certificate
For information contact Associate Professor Scott A. Hoke, Ph.D., , 610-606-4666, ext. 4454
The certificate in crime and community mapping is designed to offer students the opportunity to become proficient in a skill that is highly marketable in the criminal justice and social service professions. Over the past two decades police and, to a large degree, criminal justice agencies in general, have experienced pressure to prevent behavior from occurring rather than simply responding to it. This demand has been met by the development of mapping technology that allows agencies to evaluate patterns of behavior geographically, developing interventions that are responsive to the patterns that arise. In addition, criminal justice agencies have begun to recognize that the analysis of data and the development of community responses based on the data are important components to the prevention of deviant behavior.
Total number of credits required by program: 18 credits
The following courses are included as options in the certificate:
CRJ 110 Introduction to GIS and Crime Mapping – This course is designed to introduce the student to one of the most popular pieces of criminal justice technology in the field today. The ability to analyze information geographically is important not only in the field of criminal justice but also in fields such as psychology, social work, business, marketing, public health, and a wealth of others. Developing an understanding of the geographic distribution of a wide range of events, conditions, and patterns is essential in developing interventions and strategies that that are effective at addressing the distribution issue. This course will introduce the student to the mapping software and allow the student to begin to understand how to geographically display a variety of different social conditions and community information.
CRJ 210 Advanced Crime and Community Mapping – This course is designed to advance the skills that were obtained in the introductory mapping course. The course assumes that the student has a basic understanding of the GIS mapping software and is intended to present for discussion advanced topics such as map animation, hot spot analysis, creating buffers, distance analysis, and querying maps. Once completed, the student will be able to demonstrate an advanced level of understanding as to how to map community incidents and information.
CRJ 212 American Models of Policing – This course is designed to expose the student to how policing is carried out in America. Policing is not a singular concept or practice and can vary from community-to-community or neighborhood-to-neighborhood. The content in this course exposes the student to the major policing models in America.
CRJ 215 Data Management for Crime Analysts – This course is designed to teach the student how to collect, manipulate, and present data in a way that enhances the understanding of the end user. Data analysis is becoming increasingly important to non-profit, social service, government, and law enforcement organizations yet the skills required for quality analysis are lacking in the profession. Effective societal change cannot be made until professionals have a detailed understanding of the conditions and factors that influence human behavior. Being able to identify and assess those conditions and factors begins with the effective collection, manipulation, and presentation of information.
CRJ 310 Crime and Community Development – This unique community-lab based experience is an application course where students will demonstrate the ability to manage different types of geographic information using the ArcGIS software. Working independently on different data sets, each student will work to identify how geography can enhance one’s understanding of the relationship between crime and the social conditions that influence it and business development. This course can be taken 4 times.
Criminal Justice Concentrations
The criminal justice program does offer several concentrations that a student can choose to take that are offered in an online format. Many of the courses are offered though our affiliation in the LMCM consortium.
Cybersecurity (18 Credits):
Students in this program learn not only to assess modern cybersecurity challenges that threaten our privacy, security, and safety, but also gain hands-on skills to protect digital assets from cyber criminals who use sophisticated techniques to perform cyber attacks. Students learn to harden networks against intrusion, as well as perform incident investigation and forensics. This minor helps prepare students for the technology challenges facing 21st century digital business. Courses with the CYS prefix are provided exclusively online through the LCMC Consortium.
CYS 101 Introduction to Cybersecurity 3 credits
CYS 102 Cybercrime and Governance 3 credits
CYS 111 Modern Cybersecurity 3 credits
CYS 112 Network and System Security 3 credits
CYS 211 Cyber Forensics 3 credits
CYS 352 Capstone—Ethical Hacking 3 credits
Crime and Community Data Analytics (21 Credits):
In-depth, robust analysis of data can reveal unexpected trends and hidden patterns, and it is a skill in demand across a variety of fields, including marketing, finance, healthcare, and criminal justice. Starting with data literacy and inference, students learn computational techniques for addressing large datasets. Students also examine machine learning and examine the ways in which data analytics is applied in various career fields. Courses with the CSC or DTA prefix are provided exclusively online through the LCMC Consortium.
- CRJ 110 Introduction to GIS and Crime Mapping
- CRJ 210 Advanced Crime and Community Mapping
- COM 106 Computational Thinking and Programming Logic 3 credits, –OR–
- CSC 101 Internet History, Security, and Technology 3 credits
- CSC 111 Programming for Everyone I 3 credits
- CSC 112 Programming for Everyone II 3 credits
- DTA 101 Foundations of Data Analytics I 3 credits
- DTA 102 Foundations of Data Analytics II 3 credits
Master of Science in Crime Science
4 + 1 Degree Program
Cedar Crest College offers students studying criminal justice, psychology, or forensic science the opportunity to earn a Master of Science in Crime Science degree in five years. The Crime Science degree is the first of its kind in the country and is designed to teach a progressive curriculum enhancing the student’s understanding of human behavior.
At its core, crime science is an outcome-centered approach that is grounded in two elements: 1) effective prevention and 2) detection of crime. Crime control can be more effectively achieved if, as a profession, criminal justice organizations move to embrace scientifically supported methods that prevent crime from occurring or, alternatively, more quickly solve the crime that does occur.
Crime science is more interdisciplinary than other criminal justice programs and relies more heavily on understanding the value gained from merging different disciplines into a more comprehensive platform. In the end, the goal of a crime science program is to teach practitioners, policymakers, and community activists how to collectively and collaboratively manage resources in a way that effectively prevents criminal behavior.
The Crime Science program is a skill-based curriculum that is made up of mostly 1- and 2-credit learning modules. Each of the modules is designed to teach the student a skill that can be directly applied to a professional setting. It bridges the gap between practitioner and researcher by teaching academic content that is research-based and can be easily applied by the student.
Our desire to teach skills that are academic in nature, yet transferable to any professional pursuit, recognizes the need to have education serve as a mechanism to improve communities. Preventing unwanted and potentially harmful behavior from occurring serves as a better mechanism to building strong, vibrant communities than does punishing it.
The benefit to the 4 + 1 student is that 10-12 of the 36 credits required for the Master of Science in Crime Science are included in the price of the undergraduate experience. That means that 1/3 of the degree comes at no additional cost to the student. Direct admission to the program from high school is permitted and encouraged since space is limited.
The courses include:
SCI 501 Leadership 3 credits
CSI 502 Event-based Crime Prevention 1.5 credits
CSI 503 Restorative Practices 1.5 credits
CSI 504 Cross-sector Collaboration 2 credits
CSI 505 Ethics in Decision-making 1-3 credits
CSI 506 Concepts in Environmental Criminology
CSI 510 Mapping Technologies for CRJ Professionals 1.5 credits
CSI 511 Advanced Mapping Techniques 1.5 credits
CSI 512 Data Management 1 credit
CSI 513 Program Evaluation 2 credits
CSI 531 Trauma and Crime 1 credit
CSI 532 Crisis Intervention Design and Implementation 1 credit
CSI 533 Personality Theory and Personality Disorders 2 credits
CSI 534 Guilt, Anxiety, Paranoia, and the Psychology of the Criminal Mind 2 credits
CSI 541 Forensic Evidence Recognition and Analysis 2 credits
CSI 542 Introduction to Crime Scene Reconstruction 3 credits
CSI 543 Crime Scene Management 3 credits
CSI 580 Capstone 6 credits
Supporting Fields of Study
There are a number of different certificate programs offered at Cedar Crest College that support the concepts and knowledge base provided by the criminal justice program. Any of these would provide the student with a well-rounded educational experience and the ability to enhance one’s employment credentials.
Child Welfare Certificate (16 credits)
Cedar Crest offers an interdisciplinary Child Welfare Certificate to provide the knowledge and skills needed to work with children and adolescents. This certificate is designed to educate social work, psychology, nursing, criminal justice, and other related majors for specialized training for work in the child welfare system. Child welfare is one of the oldest fields of practice and there is an increasing demand for qualified workers to enter child welfare service settings. Possible careers in child welfare include protective services, foster care, adoption, family preservation programs, child custody and family court evaluation, maternal and childcare, school counseling and school social work, and group home and residential home case workers.
Human Resources Management Certificate (12 credits)
This certificate is tailored to meet the needs of those who require a broad understanding of the expanding area of human resources management in public or private organizations. Both conceptual and skill-building opportunities are offered in many areas, some of which include organizational staffing and development, economics, business communications, psychology, compensation administration, and personnel legalities. This certificate is intended for those who wish to pursue greater professional opportunities within human resources management, or to make a career change into the human resources area. Students must complete 60% of the course work for this certificate at Cedar Crest College.
Social Work Major
For information contact Professor Suzanne Weaver, , 610-606-4666, ext. 3500
Program Description
The Social Work Program at Cedar Crest College is dedicated to the provision of the highest quality educational preparation of students for entry into beginning social work practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Consistent with the mission of the College, the Social Work Program seeks to provide students with a liberal arts perspective and a particular focus on the development of women. The Social Work Program is philosophically guided by a holistic approach to practice that includes the spiritual dimension of the human condition. The program is also committed to preparing professionals who will work to alleviate poverty, oppression, and discrimination through a dedicated advocacy for social and economic justice.
The Social Work Program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education and is designed to provide students with a generalist approach to social work practice. Students who complete the major outlined below will be prepared for a beginning professional social work practice and usually are awarded advanced standing in graduate social work study.
Recent social work graduates of Cedar Crest College have been employed as medical social workers in hospitals, as social workers in long-term care facilities, as psychiatric social workers in mental health settings, as counselors in substance abuse and family service agencies, as employee assistance counselors in occupational settings, and as social workers in child welfare, and health care settings.
Program Mission Statement
The Social Work Program at Cedar Crest College is dedicated to the provision of the highest quality educational preparation of students for entry into beginning generalist social work practice that maximizes the welfare of individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities in local, national and global settings. Consistent with the mission of the College, the Social Work Program seeks to provide students with a professional education grounded in a liberal arts perspective with a particular focus on the holistic development of students to engage effectively as leaders in a global community. The Social Work Program is philosophically guided by a generalist approach that is informed by the person-in-environment framework as well as the knowledge, skills, values, the ethical principles of the profession grounded in scientific inquiry as well as by the CSWE core competencies and related behaviors. The Social Work Program is also devotes to preparing professionals who have a lifetime commitment to service that values diversity, uphold human rights, advocates for social, economic, and environmental justice, and that advances the quality of life for all people.
Total number of credits required by program: 55 credits (professional social work courses)
Program Requirements
Completing the social work program requires completing the required foundation and professional courses, achieving at least a C in each of the social work professional courses, achieving at least a C- or better in the foundation courses, and otherwise satisfying the College’s requirements for graduation.
Each student’s academic progress and ability to remain in the program is regularly monitored by the social work faculty. A formal review of the student’s status occurs in the spring term of the junior year to evaluate their preparation for the senior field education experience (SWK 339). Acceptance is based on overall academic course work and particularly on performance in SWK 327 and 329 (a C or better), which are taken prior to the student’s field education experience in senior year.
Course Requirements
The major in social work consists of the following foundation courses:
ANT 101 Cultural Anthropology 3 credits
SOC 100 Introduction to Culture and Society 3 credits
SOC 321 The Family as a Social Institution 3 credits
PSY 100 Introduction to Psychology 3 credits
PSY 210 Lifespan Development 3 credits
Additional Requirements
Social work students are required to demonstrate proficiency in Math 102, College Mathematics, and Math 110, Probability and Statistics. To fulfill their natural science requirement, social work students must take (as one of the two required natural science courses) BIO 112, The Human Agenda: Health Issues, in their freshman or sophomore year. Students transferring from other programs who have completed upper-level biology courses may be exempted from this requirement with the approval of the faculty.
Plus the following required professional courses:
SWK 171 Using APA Editorial for Social Work Majors 1 credit
SWK 201 Introduction to Social Work 3 credits
SWK 202 The Social Welfare Institution 4 credits
SWK 243 Social and Psychological Aspects of Aging 4 credits
SWK 300 Community Organizing and Social Planning 3 credits
SWK 303 Human Behavior and the Social Environment 3 credits
SOC/SWK 313 Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Social Justice 3 credits
SWK 325 Social Work Research Methods and Design 4 credits
SWK 326 Evaluating Social Work Research 4 credits
SWK 327 Social Work Processes: Individuals, Families, Groups 4 credits
SWK 328 Poverty and Income Redistribution 4 credits
SWK 329 Generalist Social Work Practice 3 credits
SWK 339 Field Education in Social Work I (Capstone Experience) 9 credits
SWK 345 Field Education Seminar I (Capstone Experience) 3 credits
SWK 346 Field Education Seminar II (Capstone Experience) 3 credits
Fulfillment of LAC Requirements
The technology, information literacy, and oral presentation requirements are embedded in the social work courses in varying degrees. Thus, these requirements as well as the ethics requirement are met in full by completing the social work major.
Departmental Review for Field Education Experience
Students are required to complete a 450-hour field education experience with an agency who can provide opportunities to develop generalist skills in work with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Because this requirement necessitates working with the public in a professional social work setting, it is important that the student has advanced interpersonal skills, mature judgment, and appropriate professional demeanor. Thus, social work faculty will review students prior to placement in field education and make appropriate recommendations for improvement to the student. If deemed necessary by the faculty, students who fail to maintain these standards can be dismissed from their field education placement. Students must pass criminal background checks to enter the field education experience.
Program Competencies
- Competency 1: Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior.
- Competency 2: Engage diversity and difference in practice.
- Competency 3: Advance human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice.
- Competency 4: Engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice.
- Competency 5: Engage in policy practice.
- Competency 6: Engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
- Competency 7: Assess individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
- Competency 8: Intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
- Competency 9: Evaluate practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.