Criminal Justice, BS

Major
On Campus, Day
Behavioral Sciences
Students working with fingerprinting equipment in CJ class

In Short

The Criminal Justice program leads to a BSCJ degree. You will dig into the nature and functioning of police, courts and corrections. Why do people commit crime, and what can be done to prevent crime? You will learn about current issues, such as criminal justice reform, and classic issues, such as how society tries to balance the need for order and the protection of individual rights. 

Concentrations

Police Program (4+1) Concentration, Criminal Justice, BS
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What will I do?
  • Be equipped to go directly into criminal justice jobs, or continue on to graduate school or law school. (If interested in law school you should be aware of the 3+3 program with UMass Dartmouth Law School.)
  • Upon graduation you will have a broad view of the issues in criminal justice, as well as skills in writing, communication and research.
  • Be exposed to current issues and opportunities in criminal justice, such as the new field of crime mapping.

Criminal Justice is a broad field of study, covering topics such as juvenile justice, white-collar crime, gangs, hate crime, domestic terrorism, ethics, and many others. You choose from an array of electives and a variety of opportunities, including an internship in your senior year, Moot Court, the Honors Program, study abroad programs, and an internship with the Washington Center in Washington, D.C. The program is PCIPP approved.

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Criminal Justice majors can earn their bachelor’s and master’s degrees, as well as complete police academy training, within five years with the Police Program (4+1) Concentration, Criminal Justice, BS.

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Projects and Features

Criminal Justice honors student theses:

  • “Women in Policing”
  • “Analysis of the American War on Drugs”
  • “A comparison of the U.S. interrogation technique developed by Reid Associates with the PEACE Method used in the United Kingdom”

Experiential Opportunities and a Look Inside the Courses

Skyla Vaudo CJ student on internship at Shirley Police Department

Internships

Several Criminal Justice seniors have interned with the U.S. Marshals Office.  Others have interned with local criminal justice agencies, such as the Fitchburg and Shirley Police Departments, probation offices, and courts. Several recent Criminal Justice grads went on to law school after graduation. Internships leading to academic credit are available both locally and (in partnership with the Washington Center) in Washington, D.C.
Read more about: Internships
GIS Environmental Mapping in Peru students at Machu Picchu

Study Abroad

Faculty-led study abroad course opportunities increase student life-transforming experiences, as do student/faculty cooperative research projects.
Read more about: Study Abroad
Student dusting for prints in CJ fingerprint lab

Criminal Justice Courses and Events

Check out our blogs that highlight classes like criminal investigation, fingerprint and footprint labs, as well as defensive training and health and wellness as part of our Recruitment Officer Course (ROC).
Read more about: Criminal Justice Courses and Events
Police program candidates in combat training after being pepper sprayed with instructors

Police Program Courses and Events

Check out our blogs that highlight classes like accident reconstruction and emergency vehicle operator training,  as part of our Recruitment Officer Course (ROC).
Read more about: Police Program Courses and Events

Curriculum and Other Information

  • Municipal Policing
  • State Police
  • Transportation Safety Administration
  • Probation
  • Community Corrections
  • Juvenile corrections
  • Sheriff’s Deputy
  • Correctional Program Officer
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the criminal justice institutions and their foundational principles
  • Apply criminological theories, strategies, and research to examine crime causation
  • Analyze and produce criminal justice information in a manner consistent with relevant professional standards
  • Critically examine ethical issues and crucial challenges facing the criminal justice system