Release | Media Contact: Mandi Enger
HENDERSON, Nev. Expanding to meet demand of both the local and national job market, Nevada State College (NSC) has announced the addition of a Bachelors of Arts in Criminal Justice program. The college received approval to add the degree to its roster of over 24 majors and minors by the Board of Regents during a meeting held in early September.
Our vision at Nevada State College is to align our degree offerings with the needs of the state as well as student interest, said NSC Provost and Executive Vice President Erika Beck, Ph.D. With the addition of the Bachelors of Arts in Criminal Justice program, NSC looks forward to preparing career-ready and technology-focused graduates in this high-demand field.
Students will be able to declare a criminal justice major beginning with the spring 2014 semester. The college estimates that 40 new students will begin the program in its first year; a number of classes required for the program are currently being offered with growing interest.
Our department of social science is already receiving inquiries from students and prospective students that are interested in registering for coursework within the new program, said Gwen Sharp, Ph.D., social science and business administration department chair. We’ve put together a unique program that we believe will open up tremendous opportunity for our students.
Developed by Assistant Professors Lance Hignite, Ph.D. and Nicholas Natividad, Ph.D., the program curriculum will provide students with a solid foundation of knowledge of the criminal justice system with an emphasis on social justice and global perspectives on crime and criminal justice.
Graduates will be prepared for employment opportunities in areas such as adult and juvenile probation and parole and public and private correctional facilities at the local, state, and federal levels. The social justice emphasis in the program will also help prepare students for careers at social service agencies, non-profit organizations, and treatment facilities.
Criminal justice graduates have a traditionally high rate of employment, added Sharp. According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, private detectives, probation officers, correctional treatment specialists, and legal assistants are estimated to be some of the fastest-growing professions in the nation over the next decade. A degree in criminal justice can prepare students for employment in each of these areas.
Program graduates will additionally be equipped to enter law school or graduate programs.
Criminal justice is the first major to be added at the college since 2008. Students interested in the criminal justice program are encouraged to contact the Office of Recruitment by calling 702-992-2170 or by visiting http://archive.nsc.edu/admissions.