Bachelor's of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice at The University of Akron.

Bachelor's of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice

Begin a rewarding career in law enforcement, the courts, corrections or public safety with a Criminology and Criminal Justice degree from Akron.

Fast growing field

Bureau of Labor Stats data from May of 2020 indicate the following for CJ careers (Mean Average Salary):

  • Forensic Science Technician - $65,700
  • Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists – $62,400
  • Detectives and Criminal Investigators – $89,300
  • All protective service occupations – $62,220.

Is this right for me?

After taking core and foundational courses in Criminal Justice, Political Science and Sociology, you then will; choose a concentration in policing, courts and law, corrections, or criminology.

This degree is a good fit if you are new to criminal justice, and already employed in the field but seeking career advancement or new opportunities including law or graduate school.

Flexible learning options

We offer our degree two ways:

  1. 100% online: Concentrations in Policing, Corrections, and Criminology can be achieved completely online.
  2. Hybrid: Courts and Law concentration can be achieved as a hybrid with a combination of in-person and online classes.
Concentrations in Policing, Corrections, and Criminology are 100% online. The Courts and Law concentration is not 100% online but can be achieved as a hybrid with a few in-person classes.

What will you learn?

Curriculum: See the degree requirements for a B.S. in Criminology and Criminal Justice

You will begin your degree requirements with basic courses in each concentration before choosing one of the following as a focus area:

  • Policing
  • Courts and law
  • Corrections
  • Criminology
Forensics Lab faculty member, Brenda Butler, showing her student how to check a bullet hole's direction.

Forensics Lab faculty member, Brenda Butler, shows her student how to examine the direction of a bullet.

Skills you need to succeed:

  • High moral character
    • To enforce the law
    • Administer justice
    • Be responsible with sensitive or confidential information
    • Will likely need to pass a background check prior to employment
  • Excellent communication skills
    • Spoken and written
  • Ability to work extensively with the public and diverse populations
  • Tolerance and understanding of human behavior

Practical experience:

You will gain real hands-on experience in our extensive internship program with a range of placement options:

    • Locally
    • State agencies
    • Federal government i.e. Washington, D.C.
    • Part-time or full-time internships
          UA student dusting for fingerprints in a mock crime scene.

          Students are given hands-on experience in criminal investigation, physical security and forensic methods in our mock crime scene investigation lab also equipped with forensic computer workstations.

          What can you do with a degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice?

          By graduation you will be prepared for employment at any level or specialization in the criminal justice field. The opportunities for you will widely range from local to federal agencies.

          Careers include:

            Policing and investigation at the local, county, state and federal levels

            • Police and Sheriff's Office
            • State Highway Patrol
            • U.S. Marshalls
            • FBI, Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF)

              Work in the courts

              • Bailiffs
              • Victim advocates
              • Lawyers and Judges

                Work in corrections

                • Correctional administrators
                • Probation officers
                • Substance abuse/mental health treatment

                  Homeland security

                  • Counter-terrorism
                  • Critical infrastructure protection
                  • Intelligence analysis

                  Corporate investigation and fraud examination

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