Department of Criminal Justice Studies
Begin your path to a career in criminal justice with our interdisciplinary program. We combine resources from Sociology, Political Science and Criminal Justice. You will become prepared for a wide range of public and private sector careers in policing, the courts, corrections, and intelligence analysis; or continue to graduate or law school.
Our program
Faculty & Staff | Scholarships | Research | Events| Career
In our program you can choose from two bachelor's degrees, an associate degree and a minor, and you can also add a certificate to your credentials. You will learn from faculty in Sociology, Political Science and Criminal Justice, who are internationally known researchers, award-winning teachers, and experienced criminal justice and security administration professionals.
- See a tentative two-year course list (matrix) you can use to plan ahead.
- Please note: This is our best estimate, but things change so you need to stay in conversation with your adviser.
In a Forensics Lab, an instructor makes a point while examining a mock crime scene with students.
B.S. Criminology and Criminal Justice
- See the degree details
- Choose a focus area:
- Law and Courts Track
- Policing Track
- Corrections Track
- Criminology Track
B.S. Criminal Intelligence Analysis
- See the degree details
- We are the only university in Ohio to offer this degree.
Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice
- See the degree details
- Satisfy core courses in Criminal Justice, and several electives allow you to tailor your degree to your personal goals.
- You may step-up to one of the bachelor’s degree programs.
Minors
- Forensic Psychology: requirements and suggested course sequence
- Forensic Studies: requirements and suggested course sequence
Certificate in Police Ethics
Wondering if Criminal Justice is right for you?
Take our Intro to Criminal Justice (Course # CRJU:100) class to get a general overview of the field, plus it counts towards your general requirements.
The course covers: Criminal justice history; development and evolution within the United States; subsystems of police, courts, and corrections; Constitutional limitations; current criminal justice practices and issues, including human relations, professionalization, prevention; topics that are relevant today.
Why choose Akron?
1. Our Criminal Intelligence Analysis degree
We are the only university in Ohio to offer you a Criminal Intelligence Analysis bachelor's degree. Analysts are on the front line in the fight against crime and terrorism. You'll learn how to use data and information to help prevent and solve crimes and security problems. Career opportunities on a local and federal level are continuously increasing.
2. Variety of subjects
You will take a wide range of courses and learn from professors in multiple subjects: Political Science, Sociology, and Criminal Justice. Our goal is to prepare you for success by exposing you to all aspects of the criminology and criminal justice field. Additionally, there are a variety of scholarships available.
3. Real experience = hireable
Our program is designed to make you desirable to employers. Between what you learn in the classroom mixed with the hands-on experience you get through labs and our internship program you gain skills employers seek. Our close proximity to downtown helps you get a foot in the door of local agencies and businesses, plus our professors use our location as an urban learning lab.
In Intro to Police Studies, Dr. David Licate requires you to engage with police officers through ride-alongs, observing specialized units, and interviewing officers.
Get involved at UA
Internships
BS in Criminology and Criminal Justice requires you complete at least one internship, but we encourage you to participate in an internship no matter which degree you are seeking. Internships are a major asset to employment after graduation. Our established internship program can place locally and nationally, including Washington D.C.
Placements include, but not limited to:
- Law enforcement
- Non-government agencies
- Federal agencies (Drug Enforcement Agency, Homeland Security, Marshals)
- State agencies (Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections, Ohio State Patrol)
- Counseling and social service agencies (Victim Assistance Program, Shelter Care, Battered Women's Shelter)
See a list of current internships on Handshake, UA's networking and job board.
Student Organizations
UA has several active student organizations that will improve your educational and social experience by connecting classroom insights to real world problem solving, and boost your networking in the field.
- Alpha Phi Sigma
Faculty adviser, Stephanie Yuhas - Criminal Justice Association
Faculty adviser, Sarah St. George - Ohio Innocence Project
Faculty adviser, Daniela Jauk-Ajamie - Pre-Law Society
Faculty advisers, Jim McHugh and Phil Marcin - Sociology Club
Faculty adviser, Insun Park
Career options and outlook
UA graduates have been successful in many different fields post-graduation, including law, business, research and teaching. The career outlook is strong for people holding criminal justice degrees.
Professions include:
- Border Patrol Agent
- Child Protection Worker
- Compliance Managers
- Correctional and Patrol Officers
- Crime Data Intelligence Analysis
- Detectives and Investigators
- Digital Video Evidence Technician
- Drug Enforcement Agent (DEA)
- Fire Marshal
- Forensic Science Technicians
- Fraud Examiners
- Lawyer
- Sheriff
- Substance Abuse Counselor
See a wide variety of current full-time job openings on Handshake, UA's networking and job board.
Hear about our program
Our faculty give you an overview of what a Criminal Justice degree can do for you. They delve into career options and projections, median salaries, why you should choose UA and more degree details.
CONTACT US
If you have any questions or want to schedule a visit, call 330-972-6451 or email us. We also have campus-wide admissions events and visit days to give you a feel for our campus.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Dr. David Licate
Olin Hall 235
Department Chair & Professor
Licate@xgcr.net
330-972-7392