CJA Act 120 Pathway Program
Only at Mansfield University: You can earn a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice Administration AND certification to work as a police officer in Pennsylvania in four years.
Mansfield University, in association with the Mansfield University Public Safety Training Institute, offers the CJA/Act 120 Pathway Program leading to a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice Administration along with certification to work as a police officer in Pennsylvania, all within a four-year program.
This is a unique program and Mansfield University is the only state university in Pennsylvania to offer such a plan.
Under the CJA/Act 120 Pathway Program the student takes traditional criminal justice and general education courses during the freshman and sophomore years. At the conclusion of the sophomore year the student attends the Municipal Police Act 120 Police Academy located on-campus at Mansfield University. The student spends the summer following the sophomore year and the first semester of the junior year as a cadet at the police academy. Upon successful completion of the academy the student is eligible to take the Pennsylvania police officer certification exam and apply for certification as a municipal police officer.
Regular classroom instruction resumes with the second semester of the junior year. The senior year completes the Criminal Justice Administration Bachelor of Science program.
Upon successful completion of the CJA/Act 120 Pathway Program the graduate will have a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice Administration and certification to work as a police officer in Pennsylvania. The graduate could begin applying for employment as a police officer immediately following graduation.
During the student's first two years at Mansfield University the student will be actively mentored by the staff of the police academy. The academy staff will contact the student regularly to ensure that the student will be ready to meet the rigorous academic, behavioral, and physical fitness entrance requirements of the police academy.
Additional information is available at the police academy website and at the MPOETC website.