Various Departments restructures degrees

(Tahlequah, Oklahoma)--Northeastern State Universitys Department of Criminology, Justice Studies and Global Security recently restructured its program and even changed its name to reflect new directions and new opportunities within the field of study.

To Dr. John Clark, department chair and professor of criminal justice, it was important to capture a new name for the department.

Our department has many dimensions. In sum, we attempt to understand and evaluate the administration of justice in the United States. We are proud that sociology has joined forces with us. This truly provides us with a theoretical foundation in the attempt to understand human behavior, Clark said. Whether its criminal justice, homeland security, legal studies of even cyber, there is the human behavior.

In the past, a student could pursue a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with concentrations in other areas, but now the newly named Department of Criminology, Justice Studies and Global Security offers unique degrees for what used to be those concentrations.

We now offer four degrees: A Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, Legal Studies, Homeland Security and Cyber Security, Clark said.

In addition to those, a Master of Science in Criminal Justice and a Bachelor of Arts are also available.

These changes allow the department to provide the best possible product for the student. The department offers contemporary and well-balanced curriculum and excellent teachers.

I would call it a department upgrade, we unified the department and took everything to the next level so that we can be competitive nationwide, especially with our online degrees, Haley Stocks, administrative assistant, said.

According to Clark, the department is proud to offer the new Cyber Security degree. He said the degree is an interdisciplinary degree combining computer science and information systems and is a great opportunity for students.

The employment opportunities of Cyber Security include both government jobs and private sector jobs with starting salaries of $80,000 and $90,000, Clark said.

The department offers some degrees online and in a classroom setting including Cyber Security and the masters and bachelor degrees in Criminal Justice. Clark explained that it doesn't matter where a student is located, they are welcomed into these programs.

If you are a government official or military member serving a tour in another country, we are here for you, Clark said.

Clark plans to promote these degrees and more at the International Association of Chiefs of Police conference this month. With more than 16,000 attendees expected, Clark hopes to put NSU on the map for new students.

We don't want students to have to find us, we want to take the Department of Criminology, Justice Studies and Global Security to the world.

For more information, please contact Clark at 918-444-3518 or clarkiii@nsuok.edu.