Criminal Justice

The criminal justice program is committed to preparing students through education, research, and public service. The program offers students a state-of-the-art education in criminal justice by providing a comprehensive and critical understanding of the criminal justice system and the society in which it functions. 

As part of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, the program also prepares students for criminal justice careers and postgraduate work as liberal-arts educated, intellectually mature, ethically aware, and culturally sensitive professionals. The program provides students with opportunities to examine critically the broad questions of how justice is administered in American society and globally as well as confront the fundamental issues of criminal justice which they face as professionals and involved citizens. 

Students in the program have opportunities to assist faculty engaged in research and scholarship to address local and state issues in criminal justice. In addition, students work in the field and perform internships to prepare for a variety of careers in areas such as law enforcement, corrections, juvenile justice, security, and beyond. The program engages students in discipline-related clubs, activities, events, scholarship showcases, and academic conferences and provides extraordinary experiences through interaction with criminal justice professionals and visits to sites such as prisons and police training facilities. Practitioners throughout the field of criminal justice teach courses in the program, bringing real work experience into the classroom and providing exceptional career preparation and connections for students.

Four-year Suggested Course Sequence