Georgian Court College, Lakewood, has announced that major programs in criminal justice and clinical laboratory sciences will be added to the college’s undergraduate catalog this fall.
"The addition of criminal justice and clinical laboratory sciences to our degree of offerings not only addresses the needs of our students, but also bolsters Georgian Court College’s continuing commitment to social justice and service to the community," said Dr. Michael Gross, associate provost for academic program development at Georgian Court College. "These programs will provide students with the opportunity for specialization and greater career options upon graduation."
According to a press release, the criminal justice program was ushered in by the success of Georgian Court College’s criminal justice minor, introduced by the department of sociology in 1996.
Available to both day and evening students, the program will provide professional training in criminal justice with a strong liberal arts background for undergraduate students planning a career in law enforcement or social services, students considering graduate studies in criminal justice or law, and professionals interested in enhancing their expertise or advancing their career through education. The major will emphasize not only technical proficiency, but also the humanistic and behavioral aspects of the field.
Research conducted by Georgian Court College shows that criminal justice is one of the top 10 areas of inquiry for Georgian Court students, and that 94 percent of high school guidance counselors sampled in Monmouth, Ocean and Burlington counties believe the addition of a criminal justice major at Georgian Court College would fill an unmet need, according to the press release. Moreover, the New Jersey Division of Labor Market and Demographic Research projected high rates of job growth over the next 10 years in many related fields, such as 10.1 percent for social science, 31 percent for legal assistants, 16.5 percent for police and 20.9 percent for correctional officers.
Georgian Court College also responded to students’ needs and a corresponding labor force demand by approving a clinical laboratory sciences program for its Day Division. Offered in cooperation with the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey’s School of Health Related Professions, the clinical laboratory sciences program would prepare students for a career in cytotechnology (the examination of cells to determine the presence of disease), medical technology or toxicology.
"This program will arm students with the specialized knowledge needed to explore a variety of careers in health care and its related fields, including pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and forensics," said Dr. Linda James, dean of the School of Sciences and Mathematics at Georgian Court College. "The Northeast is currently experiencing high vacancy rates — in some cases as much as 45 percent — in many allied health professions. This is a result of a lack of student awareness combined with an increasing, aging population. Ocean and Monmouth counties are among the fastest growing counties in the state, and Ocean County has the largest proportion of elderly citizens in the state. The introduction of this program satisfies both a growing student interest and a critical need for skilled laboratory scientists."
To learn more about these and other programs offered at Georgian Court College, contact the office of admissions at (732) 364-2200, Ext. 760.