Criminal Justice

Criminal Justice professionals today are expected to be community builders, victim advocates, sensitive communicators, problem solvers, and public relations experts. The criminal justice field is grounded in the mission of helping people who often are socially underserved and undergoing crisis. If your motivation and abilities revolve around issues and qualities such as these, the criminal justice field may be for you.  

As a KU Criminal Justice major, you’ll benefit from one-on-one mentoring from expert faculty as you fortify your leadership and conflict resolution skills. You’ll gain hands-on experience working in agencies such as federal law enforcement, local police, probation, private investigations, and state parole. When you complete the program you’ll be prepared for employment, ready to confront challenges efficiently and professionally.

Students have the option of selecting from this Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice or pursuing the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with Paralegal Studies. Students interested in the Criminal Justice program might also be interested in the Pre-Law studies that can be incorporated into curriculum.

Field Work

After completing 60 credit hours, students will have the opportunity to participate in field work. Kutztown students have received internships with a wide range of local, state and federal agencies. Law enforcement placements have included the state police, private detectives and sheriff's departments, as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation and U. S. Marshals. Students interested in pursuing careers in courts have worked with prosecutors, defense attorneys and court administrators. Many students are placed in adult and juvenile probation agencies or in adult prisons and juvenile reformatories. One student was placed in Rwanda with the war crimes court.

Program Requirements

Review the classes that you will take as a criminal justice major.

Criminal Justice Minor

Kutztown University students can choose to minor in criminal justice. The minor requires students to complete CRJ 010 Introduction to Criminal Justice, as well as five other criminal justice courses. Half of these courses must be at the 200-level or above; and, at least half of the 18 credits must be taken at Kutztown University.

A minor in this area provides a solid understanding of the origin, aims, operation and impact of the criminal justice system. Students from a variety of majors-for example, psychology, sociology, history, computer science and social work-have selected criminal justice as a minor.

Students and potential students should always consult the latest version of the Kutztown University Course Catalog for an official listing of course offerings.

Sample Career Options

Student Learning Outcomes