Criminal Justice Degree
Criminal Justice Degree
Program Description
Built on our strong liberal arts foundation, Rockhurst University’s Bachelors in Criminal Justice introduces students to the complexity of our nation’s criminal justice system. As a criminal justice major, you’ll explore causes and prevention of criminal behavior, as well as gain expertise on the meaning and application of the legal process, law enforcement, court management, and correctional treatment.
We aim to be one of the best colleges for criminal justice degrees in Kansas City, and we do so by fostering a humanistic understanding of the study of crime and the criminal justice system. Our criminal justice program emphasizes critical thinking, application and analysis, and is structured to prepare students for graduate programs in criminal justice and related social science fields, as well as preparation for law school or direct entry into one of many fulfilling criminal justice jobs. Graduates go on to find success in criminal justice careers as competent, effective and compassionate leaders.
In addition to the criminal justice major, RU also offers a minor.
What is Criminal Justice?
Criminal justice is a growing field that spans everything from law enforcement to the court system to the justice administration. With a need for increased security across the globe, criminal justice degree graduates are in high demand. Criminal justice jobs are a good fit for those looking for a rewarding career while also giving back to their communities.
Learning Outcomes
Criminal justice degree program graduates will be able to:
- Identify the three primary components of the criminal justice system.
- Develop critical thinking skills.
- Describe empirically supported correlates of criminal behavior.
- Compare rationales for punishment.
- Compare criminological theories.
- Create a valid research project.
Course Map
Experiences
- Internships
- Capstone projects
- Instruction from faculty with experience working in criminal justice careers
Outcomes
What can you do with a criminal justice degree? Graduates go on to pursue criminal justice degree jobs in areas such as:
- Law
- Federal or local law enforcement
- Research
Some examples of criminal justice jobs within these fields include:
- Crime scene investigators
- FBI agents
- Police detectives
- Probation officers
- Criminal justice professors
Criminal Justice Degree Requirements
The degree requires the successful completion of no less than 128 semester credit hours, which includes an internship and capstone. Also required are the RU core coursework and 12 semester hours of related upper-division courses chosen under the direction of the major advisor. Successful completion of the Criminal Justice program will require a criminal background check prior placement in an internship placement. The presence of any criminal conviction on a student’s record may affect his/her eligibility for participating in the internship and/or securing a job in the student’s field.
A distinguishing element to the Rockhurst University Criminal Justice program is that students have the option to pursue either a minor or certificate in paralegal studies. This option provides students with an additional professional credential: a Certificate in Paralegal Studies. As the profession has become increasingly more recognized and diversified, paralegals with a variety of skills and backgrounds are being sought. Therefore, the certificate is complementary to a major in Criminal Justice. Students would have other minor courses of study available to them as well.
