2008 Woodie Awards
CJ masters program receives accreditation
Kate Poole
Issue date: 2/21/08 Section: News
Within the halls of Sacred Heart University there are 200 future police officers, FBI agents, and detectives. These are the criminal justice students that will someday keep peace and order in our country.
Recently, the Master of Arts in criminal justice program at Sacred Heart obtained accreditation from the Connecticut Department of Higher Education.
The undergraduate criminal justice program only just became its own department in July 2007. Now the masters program is on it's way to the top as well.
"We developed a Master of Arts in Criminal Justice to assist recent graduates in entering the field at an advanced level and to help employed professionals progress further in their careers. The State Board of Higher Education accepted our approach and allowed us to become an accredited program," said Dr. Pearl Jacobs, department chair of criminal justice.
Dr. Jacobs, who has been with the department since 1988, has watched it grow from a small program to a larger program filled with different kinds of students and opportunities.
"The criminal justice program today includes both part time and full time students. The major attracts individuals who are working in the field as well as those with no formal criminal justice experience. Students in the program are interested in a variety of professional positions related to criminal justice including law, management, graduate school, etc.," said Dr. Jacobs.
She also said that the accreditation gives hope to a successful future for many students and that the Master's program gives undergraduates a guaranteed option after graduation.
"Accreditation is an important step forward. Students can now be secure in the fact that they will achieve their diplomas from a recognized institution of higher learning. Prior to accreditation I could understand a potential student's uneasiness about entering the program. Our first students were pioneers both literally and figuratively," said Professor Matthew Semel.
Recently, the Master of Arts in criminal justice program at Sacred Heart obtained accreditation from the Connecticut Department of Higher Education.
The undergraduate criminal justice program only just became its own department in July 2007. Now the masters program is on it's way to the top as well.
"We developed a Master of Arts in Criminal Justice to assist recent graduates in entering the field at an advanced level and to help employed professionals progress further in their careers. The State Board of Higher Education accepted our approach and allowed us to become an accredited program," said Dr. Pearl Jacobs, department chair of criminal justice.
Dr. Jacobs, who has been with the department since 1988, has watched it grow from a small program to a larger program filled with different kinds of students and opportunities.
"The criminal justice program today includes both part time and full time students. The major attracts individuals who are working in the field as well as those with no formal criminal justice experience. Students in the program are interested in a variety of professional positions related to criminal justice including law, management, graduate school, etc.," said Dr. Jacobs.
She also said that the accreditation gives hope to a successful future for many students and that the Master's program gives undergraduates a guaranteed option after graduation.
"Accreditation is an important step forward. Students can now be secure in the fact that they will achieve their diplomas from a recognized institution of higher learning. Prior to accreditation I could understand a potential student's uneasiness about entering the program. Our first students were pioneers both literally and figuratively," said Professor Matthew Semel.
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