Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice

In this program, students will: learn how a society maintains social control while protecting individual rights; learn how to apply the constitution to everyday life; learn what causes criminal behavior, and what makes effective crime policy; learn how to control, deter and punish crime; understand the role of police, prosecutors, the courts, defense attorneys, juries, jails and prisons; and learn how the American criminal justice system compares to other countries. This program prepares graduates for successful careers in policing, homeland security, courts, corrections, juvenile justice, child and victim advocacy, security and associated support agencies; prepares graduates to become effective leader/practitioners who are responsible for serving their community in a highly ethical and effective way; prepares graduates for supervisory and management roles in the increasingly diverse field of criminal justice; provides a foundation for law school and continuing life-long professional development as a policy-maker; fosters dedication toward a global, service-oriented, leadership perspective with the implementation of professional values in the criminal justice field; prepares graduates to become informed consumers of information, to share that information with public and agencies, and to deliver justice in an ethical and socially conscious manner; and both degree programs will prepare the student for advanced education in graduate school. The criminal justice program prepares students for careers in the following fields: criminal investigator, corrections management, security consulting, federal law enforcement, state law enforcement, conflict resolution and negotiation, public relations spokesperson, probation/parole case management, and law enforcement.