New bachelor’s degree designed to address the growing needs in
corrections in California
California has one of the largest state-run prison systems in the United
States, consisting of 33 adult correctional institutions, 13 adult
community correctional facilities and eight juvenile facilities.1
The state also employs more than 30,000 correctional officers who work
inside California’s juvenile facilities and prisons.2 To
address the needs faced by correctional facilities, and to better serve
the professionals who seek sustainable solutions to the effective
reintegration of offenders into society, University
of Phoenix® College of Social Sciences today announced the Bachelor
of Science in Correctional Program Support Services at its Central
Valley Campus in Fresno, Calif., as the Central Valley is home to
several correctional facilities.
The undergraduate program provides correctional and criminal justice
industry professionals an advanced understanding of where criminal
justice and community services intersect, allowing them to expand their
skillsets to help address mental health, rehabilitation and recidivism
issues that affect U.S. communities.
Driven by a rising national concern over public safety, and with the
rate of mental illness among people incarcerated in U.S. prisons and
jails significantly higher than that of the non-incarcerated population,3
there is a heightened need for professionals who understand the
systematic realities for offenders, both during incarceration and after
their release.
“There are critical roles in today’s society for correctional program
support services,” said Dr. Constance St. Germain, executive dean for
University of Phoenix College of Social Sciences. “As home to one of the
largest state-run prison systems in the nation, there’s a great
opportunity and need to ensure well-trained professionals in California
are equipped with the skills needed to help break the cycle for
offenders who struggle with reintegrating into their communities and
relapse into criminal behavior.”
The Bachelor of Science in Correctional Program Support Services was
designed in collaboration with University of Phoenix College of Security
and Criminal Justice and corrections industry subject matter experts,
all of whom reflected the real-world needs of professionals in the
field. The degree provides individuals who work in a myriad positions in
the correctional and criminal justice systems the education necessary to
fulfill functions in a broad range of institutional and community
correctional domains by using a multidisciplinary approach of
psychology, human services, behavioral and criminal justice theories.
Students will be trained to serve in positions such as case managers,
program directors and program managers, which are designed to assist
with the societal reintegration of offenders. The program will equip
students with foundational skills to address correctional field trends
such as prison overcrowding, gangs, and mental health and substance
abuse issues that impact correctional facilities and court-mandated
programs.
“The corrections industry is vital to the health and well-being of our
society. Research shows that two-thirds of prisoners released are back
in prison within three years.4 We want to further educate
professionals on how to reduce that number,” said Dr. St. Germain.
“University of Phoenix’s Central Valley Campus is located in an area
with several correctional facilities, and we have instructors with years
of experience as correctional counselors and other roles in the security
industry profession, who bring their knowledge and expertise to the
classroom.”
The Bachelor of Science in Correctional Program Support Services is an
educational degree program that provides a foundation of knowledge in
the field of correctional program support services and is also available
online. This program does not prepare students for any type of
professional certification or licensure as a correctional officer,
social worker or counselor.
For more information about this program, including on-time completion
rates, the median debt incurred by students who completed the program
and other important information, please visit phoenix.edu/programs/gainful-employment.
About University of Phoenix® College of Social Sciences
University of Phoenix College of Social Sciences offers programs in
human services, psychology and counseling. The college’s curriculum
seeks to empower individuals who wish to enhance their skills for career
entry or advancement in the helping professions. Curriculum is regularly
updated to meet accreditation and/or national and state professional
standards. University of Phoenix College of Social Sciences faculty
members are experienced professionals, holding advanced degrees. Many
sit on state licensure and accreditation boards as well as professional
committees. For more information, visit www.phoenix.edu/socialsciences.
About University of Phoenix
University of Phoenix is constantly innovating to help working adults
move efficiently from education to careers in a rapidly changing world.
Flexible schedules, relevant and engaging courses, and interactive
learning can help students more effectively pursue career and personal
aspirations while balancing their busy lives. As a subsidiary of Apollo
Education Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: APOL),
University of Phoenix serves a diverse student population, offering
associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs from
campuses and learning centers across the U.S. as well as online
throughout the world. For more information, visit www.phoenix.edu.
1 California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation: CDCR
Facility Locator Map: http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/map/
2
California Correctional Peace Officers Association: About Us: https://www.ccpoa.org/about-us/
3
The Council of State Governments Justice Center: http://csgjusticecenter.org/reentry/issue-areas/mental-health/
4
Bureau of Justice Statistics: http://www.bjs.gov/index.cfm?ty=pbdetail&iid=4986
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