Alliant Introduces New Bachelor’s Degree Completion Program in Criminal Justice

San Diego, March 27, 2008 - Alliant International University announces a new Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice, with classes beginning in August 2008. The undergraduate program, housed in Alliant’s Center for Undergraduate Education (CUE), is a degree completion program emphasizing cutting-edge approaches to understanding and preventing crime.

The program philosophy is to provide an interdisciplinary perspective to the study of criminal justice while focusing on the individual, family, community, and society. To achieve this, classroom and field experiences will be integrated to reveal and address the psychological, sociological, neurological, economic and cultural perspectives that shape human society and contribute to criminality and social deviance.  This strong approach to curriculum, combined with flexible scheduling, will combine to form a program that’s ideal for many police and correctional officers and other criminal justice practitioners.

Dr. Linda Swanson, Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education at Alliant, states, “We feel this program will meet the needs of both current and aspiring professionals in the field of criminal justice.  The convenient eight-week sessions, with blended online and on ground class format, were designed with the working adult in mind.”

The Criminal Justice program will benefit students by exposing them to professionals who are experts in the field, and who come from a broad range of backgrounds in the social and behavioral sciences, the judiciary and medicine. “Students who complete the undergraduate program in criminal justice, and then continue on in one of Alliant’s graduate programs in forensic psychology, will be well on their way to understanding criminal behaviors and key management techniques,” said Swanson. “These Alliant graduates will find themselves very well-equipped for professional positions within law enforcement, corrections, and other related fields.”

Dr. Dawn Griffin, forensic psychologist and program coordinator adds, “First responders, including law enforcement, face various complex and interconnected issues in the field with little response time for any one situation (for example an individual living with mental health and substance abuse issues). The Criminal Justice program will give them the tools needed to address these issues swiftly and effectively.”

Eric Hickey, Ph.D., Systemwide Director for Alliant’s Center for Forensic Studies, will also instruct in the criminal justice program. Dr. Hickey has taught many courses in criminal personalities, sex crimes, homicide and psychopathology. Dr. Hickey has considerable field experience working with the criminally insane, psychopaths, sex offenders and other habitual criminals. He is also the author of several books, including Serial Murders and Their Victims, Sex Crimes and Paraphilia, and the Encyclopedia of Murder and Violent Crime. Dr. Hickey notes, “We are looking for men and women who want to be on the cutting edge of criminal justice and forensic psychology”. 

Applications are being taken now, on a rolling admissions basis. To learn more about CUE and the Criminal Justice program please contact Susan Topham, Director of Marketing and Community Relations, at 858-635-4885 or .

About Alliant International University
Founded in 2001, Alliant International University is a WASC-accredited non-profit university that prepares students for professional careers in psychology, education, business and forensics.  Alliant offers mentored field experiences and individual coaching that allows students to develop hands-on professional skills and practical experience with clients. An exceptionally diverse faculty and student body provides graduates to learn to work productively with colleagues and clients from different cultural and international backgrounds. U.S. News and World Report ranked Alliant #1 in international diversity among national doctoral universities. With headquarters in San Francisco and San Diego, Alliant also has campuses in Fresno, Los Angeles, Irvine, Sacramento and locations; it also hosts accredited programs in Mexico City, Mexico; Hong Kong, China and Tokyo, Japan.

Media Contact:
Nicolette Toussaint, Associate VP Communications    
Alliant International University     
(415) 955-2037