Criminal Justice, B.A. or B.S. at Penn State
Become a force for social change with a degree in Criminal Justice.
Criminal justice is the driving force behind a safe and equitable society. It integrates legal frameworks, human behavior, and community systems — law enforcement, courts, corrections, advocacy, policy, and more — to protect public safety, ensure fairness, and build stronger neighborhoods.
At Penn State Beaver, you will step outside the traditional classroom to see the system in action. Our program actively connects you to the local community through real-world experiences, from observing live court proceedings and visiting regional correctional facilities to completing impactful capstone projects. For example, our students recently used cutting-edge technology to build a virtual reality resource tour that directly helps formerly incarcerated individuals successfully reintegrate into society.
Our faculty are conducting research on the use of artificial intelligence in law enforcement, substance use treatments, victim services, and Scandinavian-style prison reform that focuses on re-entry and support, and they hold positions in law enforcement including police chiefs and county detectives.
In addition to learning from outstanding, research-active faculty, you will regularly engage with industry professionals and alumni working on the front lines of the field. Through immersive mock trials, guest lecture series, and opportunities to co-author published academic research, you’ll build the critical thinking, legal knowledge, and professional network needed to launch a meaningful career.
What You’ll Learn
- How to critically evaluate justice-related policies
- Effective communication skills for careers in criminal justice and beyond
- The justice system’s effect on families
- About the juvenile justice system
- How to understand and conduct social scientific research
- How court proceedings work
- About diversionary programs that offer an alternative to jail
- The role of forensic science in criminal justice
Internships & Careers
Penn State Beaver students have completed internships or gained employment with many organizations including:
- Allegheny County Department of Human Services
- Beaver County Courts
- Beaver County Jail
- BNY Bank, Financial Intelligence Unit
- The Bradley Center
- Pennsylvania Human Rights Commission
- Pennsylvania State Police
- Supreme Court of the United States
- United States District Courts
- United States Department of Treasury
- United States Military
- Various police departments in western Pennsylvania and Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Texas, and Virginia
Career Paths
- Federal, state, local law enforcement
- Investigation
- Probation/parole
- Corrections
- Court administration
- Social work
- Law school
