Bachelor of Arts: Criminal Justice
At Concordia University Chicago, students pursuing a bachelor of arts in Criminal Justice will obtain an interdisciplinary experience, rooted in the social sciences, which incorporates theory and practice.
Students will be able to tailor their degree by enrolling for courses in sociology, political science, psychology, philosophy and social work. Students can pursue a major or minor in criminal justice.
Program Overview
Our courses will allow students to critically analyze how institutions that deal with issues of law and justice impede and promote social justice.
A degree in Criminal Justice, because it is interdisciplinary, exposes students to methodological, theoretical and practical issues within areas often applied in various occupations, including those which are law and justice-related.
Grounding students in these areas better equips them to serve in careers related to criminal justice, law, corrections, social services, public relations, government, along with other fields. Students will develop an understanding of issues surrounding social, racial, gendered and economic injustices.
General Course Overview
Most courses in the Criminal Justice program derive from sociology and political science. Students will be required to take courses which set the foundation and build upon their theoretical background, research methodology, and practical application of law and justice issues.
To fulfill the remaining requirements, students can choose from many different electives that are areas of emphasis within the major, such as Sociology of Corrections, Law & Society or Procedural Criminal Law. Student specifically interested in designing a pre-law course of study should consult with their academic advisor.
Opportunities
During their academic time here, students will acquire the ability to critically analyze our correctional and legal institutions while learning practical knowledge related to how legal institutions function. In addition, jobs include positions of service in justice-related organizations.
You might also choose to continue studying at the graduate level. There are many opportunities to earn a master’s or doctorate degree in disciplines such as law, criminology, sociology and international law.
In addition to the resources at CUC, you are will participate in an internship. The internship is a supervised law and justice-related work experience. Not only will you experience first-hand the possibilities and limitations of engaging in justice-related fields, but internship sites often provide networking, which could lead to future career opportunities for students.
There are countless possibilities for internship sites in the Chicagoland region. In the past, students have interned at the Cook County Adult Probation Department, the Juvenile Court of Cook County, the Cook County Public Guardian’s Office, Cook County Jail, the Chicago Police Department and other area police departments.
In 2010, Concordia University Chicago welcomed our first ever chapter of the American Correctional Association. The ACA is the largest international organization interested in correction-related scholarship, networking, research and professional standards. With 23 members, this group receives information and field trip invitations to state and national prisons not available to regular classroom groups. Students can attend full day, extended field trips and even participate in correctional officer, warden and counselor job shadowing.