Find your law and criminal justice degree at Carlow

You will learn to understand crime and law when you choose one of Carlow University’s criminal law and justice degree programs. You will delve into the concept of law, the types and measurements of crime, criminal behavior theories, the U.S. criminal justice system, law enforcement, and the courts. Accelerated options are available.

Understand why people break the law and the reasons for their behavior

With a bachelor’s in Criminology,  you will learn the nature of crime and the effectiveness and fairness of society’s efforts to prevent and control it.

You will engage in a cross-disciplinary approach to the study of crime, offenders and victims, as well as the agencies, laws, policies and processes of the criminal justice system. You will train to become an agent of change by developing critical thinking skills through problem-based learning in order to impact  the fields relevant to criminology professionals regardless of setting.

A psychology concentration is embedded within the program to ensure that you have the knowledge relevant to direct-practice professions in the field. This emphasis on psychology will help you develop an awareness of the critical role mental health plays in criminal behavior. 

Criminology major curriculum

Carlow University’s major in Criminology focuses on prevention and remediation strategies. Notable courses include Crime and Mental Health and Race, Class and Justice.

Quick facts

• Pair studies with additional minors in Pre-Law, Counseling, or Crisis and Trauma
• Enjoy flexible options for degree completion for non-traditional students and those outside of the region
• Benefit from internship opportunities

Alternate degree completion options

Online Degree

Gain the knowledge you need at your convenience with our online degree option. When applying, indicate your interest in the online option.

3-Year Degree

Finish your bachelor’s degree in three years by following a 3-year academic plan. Courses are taken across fall, spring and summer terms with summer courses completely online. When applying, indicate your interest in the 3-Year Degree option.

Accelerated

Fast track your way to a master’s by taking graduate courses as an undergraduate student. Course credits count toward both degrees. Apply for the accelerated option after your sophomore year.

Admission requirements and application process

Criminology faculty

Joseph Roberts, PhD Professor, Department Chair, Program Director of MA in Psychology and MS in Criminology & Criminal Justice

Mary C. Burke, PhD Professor, Program Director

Learn fraud prevention, fully online: MS in Fraud and Forensics

Acquire in-demand, up-to-date skills in Carlow University’s IACBE-accredited online Master of Science in Fraud and Forensics. One of the first of its kind in the nation, the program is consistently ranked as one of the top forensic accounting programs.

Accreditation

The College of Arts and Sciences Department of Business Management, Accounting, and Ethics at Carlow University has received specialized accreditation for its business programs through the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE) located at 11374 Strang Line Road in Lenexa, Kansas, USA.

For a list of accredited programs and retention information, see Accreditations.

Earn your graduate certificate in forensic accounting online

You can pursue a new career or seek promotion in the field with a graduate certificate in fraud and forensics. The program combines case-based learning with top anti-fraud resources from the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) to help prepare you to investigate, remediate and prevent fraud.

Forensic accounting certificate curriculum

You will learn key strategies to minimize fraud, build an understanding of required personal ethics and hone the skill of financial statement examination. Courses include lectures and videos from experts in the forensic accounting field.

Upon completion, you will be prepared to pursue ACFE certification. Credits earned in this certificate program can be used toward a master’s in fraud and forensics.

Quick Facts

• Learn through case-based learning
• Be prepared for ACFE certification

Admission requirements and application process

You can apply for free online, and must submit the following materials:

Fraud & Forensics faculty

Joseph Roberts, PhD Professor, Department Chair, Program Director of MA in Psychology and MS in Criminology & Criminal Justice

Prepare for graduate and professional study of law

With the Pre-Law minor, you will prepare for the rigors of graduate or professional education by enhancing skills in analytical reasoning, critical reading and effective communication. You will be ready for success in graduate studies or law school, and for a variety of careers in addition to law. The minor is a valuable addition to students in any major.

Pre-Law minor curriculum

The selection of required and elective courses for this multidisciplinary minor is based on recommendations established by the Association of American Law Schools. You will be required to take courses in American constitutional law and persuasion and a writing course.

Find your nursing degree at Carlow

Public Notice of CCNE Re-Accreditation Visit and Invitation for Third-Party Comments

The Carlow University School of Nursing will be hosting an on-site evaluation of the baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master’s degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program, and Post-Graduate APRN Certificate program with the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)from April 3 to 5, 2024. The purpose of this visit is to achieve re-accreditation of its nursing programs. 

In accordance with CCNE’s procedures, the Commission provides the opportunity for program constituents and other interested parties to submit, in writing, third-party comments concerning a program’s qualifications for accreditation.  These qualifacitions can be found in the CCNE Standards for Accreditation (2018).

Written third-party comments regarding the Carlow University nursing programs must be received by CCNE 21 days before the scheduled evaluation or no later than March 13, 2024. Only signed comments are accepted by CCNE. All third-party comments submitted to CCNE must be written in English, consistent with CCNE’s policy on Conduct of Business in English.  CCNE shares third-party comments with members of the evaluation team prior to the visit, but at no time during the review process are these comments shared with the program. Please submit comments to thirdpartycomments@ccneaccreditation.org.

Or, if you prefer, mail comments to:

 Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
 Attn: Third-Party Comments
 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750
 Washington, DC 20001

Positively transform health care

Patient outcomes are better when highly educated and compassionate nurses have a seat at the table. Earning your DNP degree in our low-residency online program with synchronous components, in which you learn alongside others virtually or in-person, offers a unique opportunity to move into leadership roles without disrupting your current nursing career.

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Family (Individual) Across the Life-Span Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program

Gain the clinical knowledge, hands-on training and confidence to become a skilled, compassionate provider and ethical leader in Carlow’s CCNE-accredited Master of Science in Nursing Family (Individual Across the Lifespan) Nurse Practitioner degree. 

Rooted in the traditions and values of the Sisters of Mercy, the CCNE-accredited MSN FNP program has a reputation for producing some of the region’s most highly qualified and well-prepared board-certified nurses. With 760 hours of clinical experience built in, you’ll graduate both confident and competent in your ability to deliver compassionate, ethical care in your ability to deliver ethical and compassionate patient-centered care. Students complete the program in an average of two and a half years and are prepared to sit for AANP or ANCC national board certification. 

The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) is educated to provide comprehensive longitudinal care to patients with a focus on health promotion and disease prevention (NONPF, 2024). The FNP manages patients with episodic illness and injury, chronic disease management, and patients requiring palliative or end-of-life care. The FNP curriculum prepares graduates to care for individuals across the lifespan, including infants through the end of life (NONPF, 2024).   

Master of Science in Nursing Family Nurse Practitioner curriculum

Quick facts

• Enroll part time or full time

• Hybrid available at Oakland location and online.

• Build a professional, resourceful network for your future

• Clinical sites provided for students

Program Outcomes: These overarching outcomes for all MSN Program Tracks reflect the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Essentials. 

• Provide Comprehensive Care: Formulate medical diagnoses, develop treatment plans, prescribe medications, and order/interpret diagnostic tests for patients of all ages. 

• Achieve Certification: Meet all educational requirements to successfully sit for the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) or American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) board certification exams. 

• Lead and Collaborate: Supervise healthcare teams, lead interdisciplinary collaborations, and integrate cost-containment and care coordination strategies. 

• Advocate and Educate: Design community health education programs and collaborate with policymakers to improve patient access to care. 

• Serve Underserved Communities: Apply specialized training—bolstered by Carlow’s Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) initiatives—to treat medically underserved and disadvantaged populations. 

Admission requirements and application process

You can apply for free online, and must submit the following materials:

Post MSN Certification Program – NP graduates in another NP specialty must show evidence of current licensure and certification. A gap analysis will be completed to determine study plan.

Applicants with pre-licensure master of nursing degrees may be required to take additional courses from the graduate nursing common core curriculum to meet all program requirements, if equivalent coursework was not completed in their prior master’s program. 

The program director will schedule an interview with qualified applicants.

Family Nurse Practitioner Faculty

Carlow University’s FNP program faculty are clinically active in their specialties and engage in evidence-based scholarly activities.

Joseph Roberts, PhD Professor, Department Chair, Program Director of MA in Psychology and MS in Criminology & Criminal Justice

Our responsive faculty and supportive community care deeply for students and work hard to help you meet your goals. With the assistance of a dedicated program-level faculty adviser, you’ll prepare to grow your healthcare career.

HRSA IMPACT Grant

Carlow University was approved for a 2.6-million-dollar HRSA Grant with disbursement of funds over the next 4 years ending in 2027. This grant focuses on placing FNP students into medically underserved areas to complete their primary care rotations and a specialty rotation with a focus on women’s and behavioral health.  The goal of the grant is to make a BIG IMPACT on students, preceptors, and the underserved population through “Impacting Diversity and Education of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses for Healthy Communities”.  Current full time FNP students are eligible to apply for up to $23,000 in tuition reimbursement. The impact grant application is closed to new students.

HRSA Grant Faculty
Shannon Robertson, MSN, MBA, CRNP, FNP-C, CMC, Project Coordinator 
Deborah Mitchum, DNP, ANP-C, WHNP, Project Director, Clinical Coordinator 
Monte Stone, Administrative Assistant 

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Women’s Health Gender related Nurse Practitioner (WHNP)   

Gain the clinical knowledge, hands-on training and confidence to become a skilled, compassionate provider and ethical leader in Carlow’s CCNE-accredited Master of Science in Women’s Health and Gender Related Nurse Practitioner degree. 

Rooted in the traditions and values of the Sisters of Mercy, the CCNE-accredited MSN WHNP program has a reputation for producing some of the region’s most highly qualified and well-prepared board-certified nurses. With 760 hours of clinical experience built in, you’ll graduate both confident and competent in your ability to deliver compassionate, ethical care in your ability to deliver ethical and compassionate patient-centered care. Students complete the program in an average of two and a half years and are prepared to sit for NCC national board certification. 

The Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) is educated to provide common and complex gynecologic, sexual and reproductive care for women as well as sexual and reproductive care for men; medical and behavioral healthcare for women, including uncomplicated, high-risk prenatal, antepartum, and postpartum care (NONPF, 2024). The WHNP curriculum prepares graduates to provide care from the start of puberty through the adult lifespan and is inclusive of all gender identities, including transgender and non-binary individuals. WHNP curriculum also prepares the NP graduate to support patients younger than puberty who have congenital, genetic, or other reproductive health disorders (NONPF, 2024).

Our high-tech, learner-centered curriculum focuses on your development towards advanced nursing practice. You will gain the necessary knowledge and skills to manage acute and chronic conditions, promote health, prevent disease, educate, and provide counseling services to women.

MSN: Women’s Health Gender related Nurse Practitioner curriculum

Quick facts

• Enroll part time or full time

• Hybrid available at Oakland location and online

• Build a professional, resourceful network for your future.

• Clinical sites provided for students.

Program Outcomes: These overarching outcomes for all MSN Program Tracks reflect the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Essentials. 

• Provide Comprehensive Care: Formulate medical diagnoses, develop treatment plans, prescribe medications, and order/interpret diagnostic tests for patients of all ages. 

• Lead and Collaborate: Supervise healthcare teams, lead interdisciplinary collaborations, and integrate cost-containment and care coordination strategies. 

• Advocate and Educate: Design community health education programs and collaborate with policymakers to improve patient access to care. 

• Serve Underserved Communities: Apply specialized training—bolstered by Carlow’s Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) initiatives—to treat medically underserved and disadvantaged populations. 

Admission requirements and application process

You can apply for free online, and must submit the following materials:

Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner Faculty

Margaret Smith DNP MSN CRNP FNP-BC  Associate Professor, Family Nurse Practitioner Program Director

Zachary Walker, DNP, CRNP, FNP-C  Assistant Professor 

Michelle Vitale, MSN, CRNP, WHNP-BC  Coordinator, Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner Program

Jean Dean, DNP, MSN, RN Director of Clinical Education 

Marissa Cullen PharmD, BCPP  Adjunct Faculty

Carl A. Ross, PhD, FNP-BC, CNE, FAANP Adjunct Faculty

Dawn Ball DNP FNP-BC, FNP-C Adjunct Faculty

Nicholas Pertile, MSN, CRNP, FNP-C Adjunct Faculty

Megan Rodriguez, DNP, MSN, FNP-C Adjunct Faculty

Miranda E. Jones DNP, FNP-BC, MSN, IBCLC Adjunct Faculty – Pediatrics

Our responsive faculty and supportive community care deeply for students and work hard to help you meet your goals. With the assistance of a dedicated program-level faculty adviser, you’ll prepare to grow your healthcare career. 

HRSA IMPACT Grant 

Carlow University was approved for a 2.6-million-dollar HRSA Grant with disbursement of funds over the next 4 years ending in 2027. This grant focuses on placing FNP students into medically underserved areas to complete their primary care rotations and a specialty rotation with a focus on women’s and behavioral health.  The goal of the grant is to make a BIG IMPACT on students, preceptors, and the underserved population through “Impacting Diversity and Education of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses for Healthy Communities” .  Current full time FNP students are eligible to apply for up to $23,000 in tuition reimbursement. The impact grant application is closed to new students.

HRSA Grant Faculty

Shannon Robertson, MSN, MBA, CRNP, FNP-C, CMC, Project Coordinator 
Deborah Mitchum, DNP, ANP-C, WHNP, Project Director, Clinical Coordinator 
Monte Stone, Administrative Assistant 

Understand human behavior and create real change: Psychology major 

Are you curious about why people behave the way they do? Do you want to learn about factors that lead to racism? Are you interested in understanding mental health challenges how to treat them? As a Psychology major at Carlow, you will gain broad-based knowledge in human behavior and experience from a scientific perspective by exploring research methodology and critical analysis in various fields of psychology, such as counseling, developmental, cognitive, social and biological psychology. In addition, the Psychology program at Carlow offers optional concentrations in counseling, crisis and trauma, and child development for those interested in a deeper dive into those areas of interest. 

By the time you graduate from Carlow’s Psychology degree program, you will be ready to enter training in social service and mental health programs in areas such as therapeutic activities, rehabilitation, casework, child care work and service coordination. In addition, the Psychology degree program provides a solid foundation for graduate study in psychology and counseling, and can serve as a path to other careers, such as law, business, education or other fields. 

Bachelor’s in Psychology curriculum

The bachelor’s in Psychology program requires 34 credits in psychology plus 9 credits in supplemental coursework in English and Communication. Psychology coursework includes Introduction to Psychology, Lifespan Development, and upper-level courses in Social Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Personality Theory, and Biological Bases of Behavior. In addition, you are trained in statistics and research methods via a three-course sequence. A series of “Designing Your Life” courses help you prepare for careers in psychology and beyond, culminating in a senior capstone course that integrates different knowledge you have gained in psychology. A variety of elective courses allow you to explore your own areas of interest, such as Forensic Psychology, Psychology of Women, Abnormal Psychology, and more. You may also opt for an internship experience in a local facility or conduct faculty-led research. In addition, you may choose one or more concentrations in, counseling, crisis and trauma, and child development.

Concentrations

Counseling 

This track will acquaint you with pre-professional-level counselor training and professional knowledge and skills needed ot help people in a variety of social service and mental health settings. You will satisfy the regular requirements for the psychology major plus complete at least 12 credits in counseling, such as. Introduction to Counseling, Family Counseling, Substance Abuse Counseling, and more. This concentration cannot currently be completed online. 

Child Development 

In the Child Development concentration, you will investigate the biological, behavioral, emotional, cognitive and social factors that shape how humans grow and change. This concentration is helpful if you wish to pursue employment or graduate training in developmental psychology, counseling and fields in which additional knowledge of children’s growth and development is helpful. You will satisfy the regular requirements for the psychology major plus complete at least 9 credits in human development, such as Child Psychology, Adolescent Psychology, Children’s Play, Parenting, and more. This concentration can be completed online asynchronously. 

Crisis and Trauma 

The Crisis and Trauma track will acquaint you with pre-professional-level trauma and crisis counselor training and provide a solid foundation in theory and research pertaining to crisis, abuse and trauma. You’ll focus on crisis assessment, intervention and management and study specific issues such as child abuse prevention and treatment, partner violence and the impact of trauma on individuals and families as well. You will satisfy the regular requirements for the psychology major plus complete at least 12 credits in crisis and trauma, such as Impact of Trauma, Crisis Intervention, Grief and Loss Across the Lifespan, and more. This concentration can be completed online; some classes are offered in an online synchronous format. 

Quick facts

• Collaborate with faculty on research 
• Complete an internship at a local facility
• Start taking Master’s courses as an undergraduate and earn a graduate degree faster for less money

Alternate degree completion options

Online Degree

Gain the knowledge you need at your convenience with our online degree option. When applying, indicate your interest in the online option.

Concentrations include:

• Counseling
• Child Development
• Crisis and Trauma

3-Year Degree

Finish your bachelor’s degree in three years by following a 3-year academic plan. Courses are taken across fall, spring and summer terms with summer courses completely online. When applying, indicate your interest in the 3-Year Degree option.

Accelerated

Fast track your way to a master’s by taking graduate courses as an undergraduate student. Course credits count toward both degrees. Apply for the accelerated option after your sophomore year.

Admission requirements and application process 

Psychology faculty

Clara M. Cheng, PhD Interim Associate Dean of Faculty Professional Development; Director of Undergraduate Psychology Program; Professor

Patricia Jameson, PhD, NBCCH Associate Professor

Jennifer K. Roth, PhD Professor of Psychology, Counseling, Criminology and Behavioral Neuroscience