Department of Criminal Justice Studies

Our program

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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.

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.

Minor in Forensic Psychology

• See requirements and suggested course sequence

Certificate in Police Ethics

• See certificate details

Wondering if Criminal Justice is right for you?

Take our Intro to Criminal Justice (Course # 3800:100) 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.

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.

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. You can contact the department chair from any of our three partner departments listed below: Political Science, Sociology, and Criminal Justice Studies.