Hendricks Hall Home of the Department of Political Science & Criminal Justice

Welcome to the home page of the Department of Political Science & Criminal Justice at Edinboro University. Here you will fine useful information about the department and our programs in political science, criminal justice, and pre-law. If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, don't hesitate to call, e-mail, or stop by our office in Hendricks Hall. 

 

James Daniel Fisher, J.D., Ph.D

Chair, Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice  

 

Overview

The Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice houses the University’s programs in political science, criminal justice, and pre-law. The Department is also home of the Edinboro Labor Education Institute.

The Department and its programs are distinguished by the following features.

Outstanding faculty

The Department’s faculty members possess wide-ranging expertise in politics and international affairs, law, policing and criminal investigation, forensic science, computer forensics, corrections, and criminology.

In addition, faculty members combine academic expertise with real-world experience as forensic scientists, criminal investigators, probation officers, criminal and civil attorneys, political analysts, labor negotiators, and political activists.

Fascinating and challenging courses

The Department offers a broad range of challenging courses that cover all areas of political science (American politics, international relations, comparative politics, political theory, law and politics, and public administration), criminal justice (policing, criminal investigation, criminal prosecution and defense, corrections, forensic science, computer forensics, and criminology), and law (constitutional law and civil liberties, criminal law and procedure, and jurisprudence).

In short, the Department’s courses in political science, criminal justice, and pre-law offer students the opportunity to obtain a broad-based, sophisticated, and highly marketable education.

Great facilities

The Department of Political Science and Criminal justice, housed in Hendricks Hall, possesses enviable facilities, including high-tech classrooms, a forensic science laboratory, a computer forensics lab (which also serves as a training center for Pennsylvania law enforcement), and a pre-law study center.

Valuable internship opportunities

Students have the opportunity to serve in an internship for academic credit. The Department’s internship program has great success in exposing students to all facets of the political system, criminal justice system, and legal profession.

Active student organizations

The Department’s students participate in a wide range of student organizations, including Model United Nations, Model NATO, Edinboro Political Awareness Club, Alpha Phi Sigma (the national honor society for criminal justice students), Criminal Justice Club, and the Pre-Law Society.

A record of alumni success

Graduates from the Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice have found success in all parts of their chosen fields. For example, Edinboro graduates work as lawyers, elected officials, campaign managers, legislative staff, police officers, federal law enforcement agents, criminal investigators, computer forensic investigators, probation officers, prison managers, college professors, and high school teachers.