Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
The Bachelor of Science program offers students a comprehensive education by providing a fundamental understanding of crime causation and the criminal justice system, together with the skills and knowledge useful in pursuing professional careers.
Emphasis on analytical and writing skills is consonant with the growing sophistication of criminal justice agencies. Law enforcement agencies, including police departments and correctional facilities, as well as court administrators' offices, require an increasing number of personnel with quantitative analytical abilities, computer skills, personal interaction skills, excellent command of the English language, knowledge of foreign languages and the ability to understand legal materials.
The curriculum in criminal justice is structured to meet the educational standards of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences and provides students with a multidisciplinary understanding of crime and justice within the framework of broader social processes. Required courses expose a criminal justice major to all aspects of the justice system and foster a systemic view rather than a specialization in a single component of this field. Within this broad framework, courses deal with specific substantive topics. Practical field experience can be arranged under the guidance of the internship coordinator.
Accelerated Graduate Enrollment program
The Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice actively participates in the Accelerated Graduate Enrollment (AGRADE) program, which enables qualified seniors in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences to enroll simultaneously in the undergraduate and graduate programs of the department and to apply a maximum of 15 credits toward both an undergraduate and graduate degree in criminal justice.
Students interested in the criminal justice AGRADE program should contact Academic Advisor, Marianka Holloway prior to completing twelve credits towards the criminal justice major requirements. A more complete discussion of the master of science in criminal justice degree program appears in the Graduate Bulletin.
Honors in criminal justice
The Honors Program in criminal justice is open to students of superior academic ability who are majoring in criminal justice. To be eligible for a bachelor of science in criminal justice honors, a student must maintain a cumulative honor point average of at least 3.3.
Learn more about the honors requirements (see the Honors section at the bottom of the bulletin).
Program assessment: Report to stakeholders
B.S. in Criminal Justice Program Assessment Report for Academic Year 2016-2017
Career insights
This tool provides a broad overview of how major selection can lead to careers and is provided without any implied promise of employment. Some careers will require further education, skills, or competencies. Actual salaries may vary significantly between similar employers and could change by graduation, as could employment opportunities and job titles.