The criminal justice field can be filled with emotional and spiritual challenges. It takes a person with a true calling to the field and to help others to persevere in times of need. Azusa Pacific University's Criminal Justice BA Completion Program gives students of all ages and backgrounds the opportunity to earn their BA and live out their calling to serve others in a variety of jobs. Criminal Justice is often the preferred degree for those looking to go into law enforcement, but it also offers a broad range of opportunities for those looking to go into researching, advocacy, law, politics, forensics, policy writing, business management, higher education teaching, and more. “Our students can enter the field in a variety of careers,” said Candice Williams, PhD, associate professor and chair of the Department of Criminal Justice. “Our faculty are excited to share their knowledge of the field with students from their own professional experiences.”
Flexibility, Foundations, and Support
The program is designed with non-traditional undergraduate students transferring in from community colleges and state schools in mind. It provides schedule flexibility by offering night classes that are hosted Monday-Friday from 6-10 p.m. once a week, allowing full time students to graduate in just 18 months. The program has six entry points each year including two in the spring, fall, and summer.
Coursework in the program is organized into core courses and electives. Students begin by taking courses in policing, theory, victimology, crime, the courts, and other classes that address broad aspects of the field regardless of specific career goals. Students also take five elective courses that benefit from faculty’s diverse research expertise.
Students in the program have the chance to earn scholarships to help them complete their studies. Since 2023, the Jennifer Mendoza Scholarship awards $2,000 to students for expenses related to their education. Faculty are also involved in research and grants including Williams’ work through two grants from the Office of Violence Against Women to partner with students as research assistants, funding three students for a year of their education. Four students are awarded the President’s Scholarship, a grant that allows them to gain experience as research assistants and present their findings at conferences.
Strength Through Faith
For students, being able to talk about and explore their faith in the classroom is an integral part of their experience in the program. The Criminal Justice program exposes students to a wide variety of topics, many of which deal with real cases of victims and tragedies. "Faith integration was the guiding light of the program," Nicole Castilleja ’24 said. “Some of the classes and assignments were emotional on top of the normal challenges that come with being a full time student and worker, but when I felt that heaviness, I would write to my professors and ask them to pray with me.” Faculty in the program are experienced professionals in the field and understand the challenges of being a student in an intense curriculum. Professors encourage their students not only to reach out to them in times of need, but to also rely on their peers. “The faith integration aspect allowed me to collaborate with my classmates and build a strong educational foundation from working and praying together,” said Anahi Duran ’24.
Faith is not only a topic of discussion in the classroom, but also in the criminal
justice field.
Williams said. “We want our students to be the light for others even when they can’t
use Jesus’name, reference Scripture directly, or pray on the job.” The program focuses
on how people treat others through forgiveness, hope, and second chances. “We tell
students that people should be able to see your faith in the way you speak, love,
and carry yourself,” Williams said. “In addition to prayer and Scripture, being Christian
is also about respecting people of all religions, backgrounds, and ways of life that
you come in contact with in this field.”
Experienced Faculty
Another aspect of the program that students find to be influential in their academic and career development is the faculty’s professional experience. “The faculty and staff in our department are so diverse in their education, leadership styles, and professional experience,” Williams said. “It replicates the world off campus and adds to the discussions and experiences our students have in the classroom.” The department hires adjunct professors that are active police officers, lawyers, judges, forensic scientists, and even mental health professionals so that what’s current in the field becomes current in APU’s education. “The professors had hands-on experience that they shared with us,” Duran said. “They were there to share resources and study materials, and they were always available to answer questions about assignments and class material.” Castilleja added that the faculty were extremely thorough in answering students’ questions related to their assignments and career goals. “After reading about the subjects, our professors could tell us how what we were learning works in real time and how the systems and laws are always changing,” she said.
Career Preparation
Research projects are a great way for students to find their passion within the field while learning about the inner workings of the jobs. In the second of the program’s writing classes which focuses on research methods, students submit a proposal for a topic that is researchable. In the third writing course which focuses on research design, students attempt to answer their question from the previous course through data collection, interviews, and gathering statistical information. “Doing research on what I’m passionate about has helped me be an advocate for others,” Duran said. “These classes strengthened my faith integration, academic skills, and professional skills. I am able to analyze real life situations that relate to criminal justice through various criminological lenses."
This program has helped me advance into my vocational calling.
After they’ve put together a finalized research project, students have opportunities to present their findings at local, state, and national conferences. “They’re not just practicing public speaking in class, but how to speak to an audience about data and findings in the real world,” Williams said.
In addition to their research project, students also complete a senior capstone portfolio in their final semester to be used after graduation. The portfolio contains work from the duration of students’ time in the program. “Each portfolio looks different depending on the students’ path from going into law enforcement to continuing on to law or other graduate school,” Williams said. Students’ portfolios showcase documents that highlight who they are, their work ethic, and perseverance throughout the program when they go to apply for jobs or schools.
APU’s Criminal Justice BA Completion Program provides students with an environment to begin pursuing their calling to help others with the help of dedicated peers and knowledgeable faculty. Those who are looking to return to school or transfer from state and community colleges are encouraged to apply for the program. “The completion program is so beneficial because I can have a full time job, take care of things in everyday life, and attend school,” Castilleja said. “The program has helped me communicate with others with empathy and sympathy while broadening my worldview.” At the center of the program is a strong faith and desire to integrate Christian values into an emotionally challenging field. Together, faculty and students work to strengthen their faith and pursue their callings to help others.