Cleveland State University has stepped up as Northeast Ohio's first to offer integrated degrees - a cross-disciplinary approach meant to equip undergraduates for careers demanding a varied skill set. According to Cleveland State University, a recent announcement, these degrees are the result of a concerted effort among CSU faculty and local employers to align educational offerings with the workforce's needs.
"What do our employers need?" That was the guiding question for CSU Provost Nigamanth Sridhar, who is leading this innovative initiative. It seems the answer lies, in part, in the new Psychology + Criminology Bachelor of Science degree. Describing the region's demand, Chair and Associate Professor of the Department of Psychology, Eric Allard, Ph.D, noted, according to Cleveland State University, "As of Fall 2023, CSU had a total of 106 students who declared a dual-major or major/minor combination that included psychology + criminology." These figures, he detailed, reflect a clear interest by students at the intersection of these fields.
In essence, the integrated degree fuses crucial elements of psychology and criminology to forge a comprehensive educational path. "It also includes classes that encompass both criminology and psychology that align at this interface," Eric Allard explained. According to the same CSU news release, students will delve into everything from social psychology to how policing and corrections function within the scope of the law and society. This depth and breadth of study are meant to prepare graduates for a gamut of specialized roles, whether that be in graduate education or entry into relevant professions.
Practical experience hasn't been sidelined either. The program promises to provide ample hands-on training, ranging from internships to fieldwork, all framed within the criminology and psychological sciences. "The degree is designed to combine the study of criminal justice systems with a comprehensive understanding of human behavior, mental processes, and the factors that contribute to criminal behavior," said Allard in a statement obtained by Cleveland State University, ensuring that graduates aren't just confined to theoretical knowledge, but are also versed in the practical aspects of these intersecting disciplines.
