The criminal justice program offered by Endicott College’s Van Loan School of Professional Studies has been designed to prepare students for a variety of professional careers ranging from criminal justice, to criminology, law enforcement, to child and family support, and other related fields. The curriculum is designed to take students through a multidisciplinary approach, wherein they explore comparative social sciences, and develop a comprehensive understanding of the criminal justice field. By the completion of the program, students will have learned how to predict and explain crime, and demonstrate a deeper appreciation for the complexities of crime.
Endicott’s own Campus Police officer Michael Welch A’17 ’21 will be graduating this May with his bachelor’s in criminal justice with a concentration in homeland security from the Van Loan School. Prior to earning his bachelor’s, he earned his associate degree in the same major, and will be continuing on to earn his master’s degree in homeland security next fall.
“Earning a college education provides a person with more opportunities and helps to open doors to candidates who have the training, work experience and knowledge to offer a strong foundation to an employer."—Michael Welch A’17 ’21
Welch took on this academic undertaking with an eye on career growth. “My job as a Campus Police officer compelled me to keep going forward and advancing my education," he says. “The Van Loan School offers a vast range of majors and attracts faculty members who have real world experience. The professors and academic advisors want to see their students thrive—I never felt like a number.” Given his concentration, Welch was able to take some homeland security courses, which helped to cement his interest in the field.
Welch’s course work covered topics such as technological applications in criminal justice, police process and criminal procedure, all of which are balanced by general education courses like abnormal psychology, communicating in business, and applied statistics. For his capstone assignment, Welch wrote his final thesis on the topic of “Police Worn Body Cameras on the North Shore of Massachusetts.”
He reflects on how his courses have changed the way he approaches certain aspects of his career, noting that, “My writing assignments and my most recent thesis assignment have helped me to hone my research skills and develop immense knowledge within the topics that they’ve covered. They have also improved my time management skills, which is helpful to meet deadlines. Earning a college education provides a person with more opportunities and helps to open doors to candidates who have the training, work experience and knowledge to offer a strong foundation to an employer.”
“The faculty members bring their real-world knowledge into the classroom, and it reflects in the passion of what they teach.”—Michael Welch A’17 ’21
Numerous aspects of the program helped Welch both personally and professionally. He is grateful for the support he received from his fellow students and says that, “The faculty members bring their real-world knowledge into the classroom, and it reflects in the passion of what they teach.” Regarding the program Welch shares, “It instilled me with confidence and an understanding of what law enforcement agencies look for in a candidate.” When he thinks about his upcoming graduation, he says that, “It's bittersweet. I enjoyed my experience at the Van Loan School, which is why I applied to the master’s program.”
Welch says that he was hesitant at first to return back to school as an adult learner, but he wouldn't change a thing, noting that the Van Loan School offers great programs and the content covered in each course appeals to both students and potential employers.
To learn about the Van Loan School, visit vanloan.endicott.edu.