Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Shorelight Group - Carroll University, USA

Carroll University’s criminal justice major prepares you to understand the complexity of the criminal justice system and criminal behaviors. The program is rooted in social and criminal justice, sociology and criminology. You’ll be challenged to explore some of the most difficult and immediate concerns facing American society, and think critically about the issues that create an environment where criminal behavior can thrive. You’ll dive into questions that require you to think deeply about the role of punishment as a deterrent, the growing focus on victim’s rights and the impact of rehabilitation and prevention in reducing crime. The field offers a variety of career options, including working in the court system, law, law enforcement, private investigation, community rehabilitation, advocacy, corrections, loss prevention, probation and parole, teaching and graduate school.

Our program builds in time for discussion, group work and field experiences. It explores the history, structure, functions and operations of the primary components in the criminal justice system in the United States including law enforcement, courts and corrections. We analyze current issues such as sentencing practices, disparities in sentencing related to race and ethnicity and alternatives to incarceration. There are opportunities to investigate the experiences of victims in the system and the victim offender relationship, and connect the interrelationships between criminal behavior and societal factors such as drug use and abuse, family dynamics, poverty and delinquency.

Carroll’s criminal justice program is structured so you can double major or double minor and still graduate in just four years. Suggested options include psychology, forensic science, professional writing, communication and organizational leadership.