Criminal Justice
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Mission Statement
The program in criminal justice emphasizes the university’s core values of intellectual development, diversity, service, responsible choices and actions, and social justice. The program’s vision is to be recognized for excellent teaching, research, policy advocacy in the areas of restorative justice, sentencing reform, and the problem of mass incarceration. The program’s mission is to provide students with a vigorous, intellectually enriching, positive experience that is transformative and that prepares students for graduate and professional study, employment in the field, leadership, and community engagement.
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
The Department of Criminal Justice offers the Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice. The undergraduate program provides students with a broad foundation in the social sciences while emphasizing restorative justice, social and economic justice, fairness, community involvement, and public safety.
Students are encouraged to think critically about fundamental issues regarding crime and justice as they learn about all aspects of the delivery of criminal justice services. Areas of emphasis within the Criminal Justice Major are policing, law, corrections, and juvenile justice.
The program culminates with an internship or a service learning practicum in criminal justice. Students who have six months or more work experience in the criminal justice field may elect to write a bachelor’s paper.
Upon graduation students are especially prepared for entry level positions across the range of the criminal justice field. Graduates are also well prepared to continue their study of criminal justice in graduate programs leading to the master’s degree or Ph.D.
Required Courses
Please see current catalog.
Master of Science in Criminal Justice
The Department of Criminal Justice offers the Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice. The graduate program provides advanced examination of critical issues regarding crime and justice. Students in the program develop and apply their knowledge and understanding of criminology, criminal justice, and social justice to solve problems in the criminal justice system.
Course work allows emphasis in policing, corrections, probation and parole, juvenile delinquency, and criminal justice research. Students have a choice of multiple electives that fit their interests. Courses provide a broad foundation in the social sciences, with emphasis on sociology, psychology, and law. The program culminates with an advanced internship practicum or a thesis.
Required Courses
Please see current catalog.
Minor in Criminal Justice
The Department offers a minor in Criminal Justice which is a popular option for students who are majoring in the Sciences, Psychology, Security and Intelligence Studies, Foreign Languages, Sociology, and other disciplines. The minor is designed to complement the students' major field of study and prepares the student for successful careers in multiple fields.
Substitutions will be considered for these requirements and courses in other disciplines may be considered with the prior approval of the Department and the Instructor involved. No courses will be accepted toward the minor below a grade of C and the minor must be completed prior to graduation.
Procedure
To obtain a Minor in Criminal Justice, you need to complete 18 credit hours from the requirements listed above and you will need to meet with your Academic Advisor to declare the minor along with your major in order for the minor to appear on your final academic transcript.
Please contact the Department to meet with a Criminal Justice professor if you want to learn more about course options that suit your interests or if you just want to talk about how a minor in Criminal Justice can improve the employment options within your major field!
Required Courses
Please see current catalog.
Assessment
A general education course and program assessments are conducted every semester as a part of our institutional accreditation process
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