Undergraduate Studies
Explore Criminology at Immaculata University
Do you find yourself reading true crime stories? Are you fascinated by the criminal mind?
As a subgroup of sociology, the field of criminology involves every vital area of human interaction. From issues of social justice to urban life, social stratification and family relations, criminology provides insight into the human condition.
A Bachelor of Arts degree in criminology gives you an opportunity to practice social justice. You can choose a career in law and advocacy, management and personnel, or any of the allied criminal justice fields.
Opportunities
If you choose criminology as a major or minor you will have the opportunity to join Phi Tau, the local chapter of Alpha Phi Sigma National Criminal Justice Honor Society.
In addition, you will be encouraged to secure an internship, which are optional but highly recommended, because of the rich opportunity they provide to combine classroom knowledge with work experience. You can talk with guest speakers from various local agencies who will visit your classes to discuss their professions and internship and employment opportunities.
Our students have interned at places such as:
- Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office
- Chester County Youth Center
- Sheriff’s office crime scene unit
- Chester County and Philadelphia probation agencies
- Penn Vet, assisting with the training of police dogs for search and rescue and narcotics detection
- Sheriff’s office mobile Narcan (naloxone) unit to reverse opioid overdoses
- County mental health, intellectual/developmental disabilities and early intervention unit
Alumni Spotlight
Police officer Megan Logan Freer ’07 helped investigate four murders in Bucks County and won two prestigious awards. Read more.
Where Can I Work?
A criminology major opens doors to a range of careers in law, social services, correctional systems, criminal justice administration and government. Immaculata’s faculty and staff organize regular career fairs, allowing you to speak with representatives from numerous local, state and national agencies, such as local and state police, ICE/Homeland Security, the Secret Service, the Chester County Intermediate Unit and Chester County Prison. Our alumni have gone on to work in law enforcement, juvenile justice, corrections, probation, residential treatment, family services and advocacy for victims of cybercrime or domestic and sexual abuse. They have obtained jobs such as:
- Police Communications Operator, Pennsylvania State Police
- Enterprise Security Operations Center Dispatcher, Highmark Health
- Correctional Officer, Chester County Prison
- Paralegal Specialist, U.S. Small Business Administration
- U.S. Customs Agent
- Detention and Corrections Specialist, U.S. Army
- Military Police Patrolman, U.S. Army
- Protective Service Agent, U.S. Army
- Outreach Coordinator for Cybercrime Victim Support, Heart of Florida United Way
- Supportive Services Advocate, DC SAFE Domestic Violence Crisis Intervention Agency
- Victim Advocate and Volunteer Coordinator, Victim Services Center of Montgomery County
- Executive Director, Women’s Resources of Monroe County
The major also provides a foundation for graduate work in law, social work, sociology, public policy and criminal justice. Our students have gone on to law school and to graduate programs in social work or psychology.
Immaculata prepared me in many ways for the workforce. It provided the textbook knowledge I needed to excel in my field through a wide range of classes. Topic-specific classes allowed me to explore my interests and find my passion. Immaculata also offered numerous internship opportunities that gave me practical experience. I interned at Penn Vet Working Dog Center doing cancer scent detection research with the dogs. The criminology program motivated me to challenge myself socially, which has allowed me to enhance my networking skills and advance in the real world.
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