The Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice acquaints pre-service and in-service students with the principles and practices of criminal justice in America. Specifically, the curriculum provides: opportunities for students to develop a knowledge and understanding of different theories and methods of studying criminal justice and criminology, proficiency in the use of various tools of analysis, including research and data analysis techniques, an interdisciplinary approach to relate intellectual issues and practitioner perspectives to the challenge of crime in a free society, the practice of criminal justice through internships and other experiential programs, and the ability to communicate clearly, critically and intelligently about crime, criminals and criminal justice. A major in criminal justice prepares students for: law school or graduate school, government employment in local, state and federal agencies, employment in law enforcement, courts and corrections agencies, employment in non-profit and human service organizations, teaching, and leadership in civic activities.
Criminal Justice is the study of the causes, consequences and control of crime. Like other new and developing fields, criminal justice is difficult to define, as it draws from a number of different disciplines, including psychology, public administration, philosophy, political science, sociology and law. It is both academic and professional in that it is an interdisciplinary attempt to relate intellectual issues and practitioner perspectives to the challenge of crime in a free society.