Sociology, Criminal Justice, and Human Services

Chairs and Professors

John Kovach, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Sociology, Chair
Nancy DeCesare, IHM, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Human Services

Mary Ellen Higgins, IHM, MSW, Instructor in Human Services and Sociology

Barbara A. Hogan, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Human Services
Sara Ellen Kitchen, J.D.,Professor of Criminal Justice
 

Sociology, Criminal Justice and Human Services Organizations and Resources

National Organization for Human Services  
The United States Department of Health and Human Services 
The Children's Defense Fund  
American Sociological Association  
Eastern Sociological Society  
Pennsylvania Sociological Society  
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 
U.S. Bureau of the Census 
Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences 
American Society of Criminology  
American Association of Probation & Parole 
American Bar Association  
American Correctional Association  
National Criminal Justice Association  
U.S. Department of Justice  
Federal Bureau of Investigation  
National Association of Social Workers  
National Association of Social Workers-Pennsylvania Chapter  
National Organization of Forensic Social Work 
Association of Oncology Social Work  
 
Chestnut Hill College offers a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Sociology; a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Criminal Justice, and a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Human Services. Also offered is the combination BS in Human Services/MS in Human Services Administration. Minors are available in Sociology, Criminal Justice, Human Services, Women’s Studies and Gerontology. Interested students should contact John Kovach, Third Floor, Fournier Hall. Telephone: 215/248-7192. Email: kovachj@chc.edu.
 
A minimum Career GPA of 2.00 and a minimum Major GPA of 2.00 are required for graduation. Courses Required in the Major comprise the Major GPA. Unless indicated, students must earn a grade of C- (1.70) or better in courses both Required in the Major and Also Required in order to successfully complete the requirements for the Major. Students must earn a grade of C- (1.70) or better in courses required to successfully complete the requirements for the Minor.
 
Departmental Mission  

The goal of the Department of Sociology, Criminal Justice, and Human Services is to provide students a distinctive academic program that prepares them for immediate employment in related fields and/or admission to graduate programs or professional schools.
 
Through active, reflective learning, including opportunities for internships and other forms of experiential education, coursework empowers students to connect theory and practice, and to value the diversity of persons, perspectives, and cultures encountered in workplaces and communities. Courses are designed to prepare students to think critically and creatively about issues of social justice and social change, and to appreciate each person’s potential to contribute to a more just and humane world in the midst of profound societal changes.
 
Honors  

Outstanding students may be invited to participate in the Departmental Honors program. Sophomores of high scholastic standing (a Career GPA of 3.50 or higher) may be invited by their major department to stand for Honors in their Junior and Senior years. The Departmental Honors program provides an opportunity for independent study and research culminating in an Honors thesis submitted in the spring of Senior year. All students who have successfully completed the Honors Program will be recognized with Honors in their major field at the annual Honors Convocation and on their academic transcripts. In addition, the title of the completed Honors Thesis will appear on the academic transcript.
 
Course Options  

In addition to courses for majors, there are many courses open to students of any major wishing to fulfill the Behavioral Ways of Knowing or are interested in exploring personal interests without committing to a minor. The following are open to any undergraduate student meeting the Pre-Requisites– check the course descriptions for additional information:

  • CRJU-122: Introduction to Criminal Justice (WOK: Behavioral)
  • CRJU-223: Criminal Law (WOK: Behavioral)
  • CRJU-225: Criminal Procedure (WOK: Behavioral)
  • CRJU-210: Gender and the Law (WOK: Behavioral)
  • CRJU-220: Juvenile Justice (WOK: Behavioral)
  • CRJU-224: Criminal Investigation
  • CRJU-226: Deviance and Social Control (WOK: Behavioral)
  • CRJU-227: Corrections (WOK: Behavioral)
  • CRJU-230: Juvenile Delinquency (WOK: Behavioral)
  • CRJU-245: Inside-Out
  • CRJU-281: Special Topics in Sociology/Topics vary by semester (Repeatable for credit)
  • CRJU-321: Criminology (WOK: Behavioral)
  • CRJU-481: Advanced Special Topics in Criminal Justice/Topics vary by semester (Repeatable for credit)
     
  • HSVC-105: Introduction to Human Services (WOK: Behavioral)
  • HSVC-219: Child Welfare
  • HSVC-250: Heart of the City/HSVC with SOCI-250: Heart of the City/SOCI (WOK: Behavioral)
  • HSVC-257: Human Behavior and the Social Environment
  • HSVC-281: Special Topics in Human Services/Topics vary by semester (Repeatable for credit)
  • HSVC-481: Advanced Special Topics in Human Services/Topics vary by semester (Repeatable for credit)
     
  • SOCI-101: Introduction to Sociology (WOK: Behavioral)
  • SOCI-102: Sociology Through Film (WOK: Behavioral)
  • SOCI-103: Social Problems (WOK: Behavioral)
  • SOCI-104: Major Global Problems (WOK: Behavioral)
  • SOCI-114: Social Gerontology (WOK: Behavioral)
  • SOCI-125: The Family (WOK: Behavioral)
  • SOCI-126: Gender and Society (WOK: Behavioral)
  • SOCI-127: Ethnicity (WOK: Behavioral)
  • SOCI-128: Rights, Responsibilities and Reform (WOK: Behavioral)
  • SOCI-200: World Justice and Care for Children (WOK: Behavioral)
  • SOCI-210: Gender and the Law (WOK: Behavioral)
  • SOCI-211: Environmental Law (WOK: Behavioral)
  • SOCI-215: Sociology of Death (WOK: Behavioral)
  • SOCI-216: Sociology of Health and Medicine (WOK: Behavioral)
  • SOCI-250: Heart of the City/SOCI with HSVC-250: Heart of the City/HSVC (WOK: Behavioral)
  • SOCI-281: Special Topics in Sociology/Topics vary by semester (Repeatable for credit)
  • SOCI-300: Sociological Theory (Writing Intensive)
  • SOCI-481: Advanced Special Topics in Sociology/Topics vary by semester (Repeatable for credit)