Criminal Justice Major

Regina Armstrong, Ph.D. Program Director

The Criminal Justice program at The University of Olivet enables graduates to pursue responsible careers in law enforcement and corrections, emphasizing crime prevention and the reduction of violence in our society. Students examine the causes of violence and crime, including moral and social processes, while taking into accounts the role of pathology, socialization, employment and community support.

A special focus of the major is the analysis of violent crime in terms of widespread racial and ethnic inequalities, lack of sound policies related to unemployment, and disruption of family and community life due to job migration. It also examines the lack of support systems for individuals and families facing poverty during challenging economic times.

In addition, the Criminal Justice program at The University of Olivet is one of few programs in the nation to offer a minor in forensic science. Students will complete coursework in chemistry, physics, biology, crime scene processing, criminal investigation and criminal law and police procedure (for more information about this minor, see Chemistry).

Typical careers related to the criminal justice major include working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; state crime labs; insurance companies; Friend of the Court; corrections; juvenile case work; probation/parole officers; justice administration; and other entry-level human service occupations. The major also provides a solid liberal arts foundation for those interested in graduate work in criminal justice, law, social work, criminal justice administration and related areas.

Criminal Justice Learning Outcomes

With the completion of this degree program, the following learning outcomes can be expected:

• Students can identify issues in society and analyze, synthesize, and evaluate information to reach conclusions in criminal justice organizations and occupations through projects, debates, scenarios, and/or research papers.
• Students can identify ethical dilemmas and apply ethical principles to deter negative consequences through complex scenarios.
• Students can acknowledge differences, analyzing discriminatory behaviors, and formulating strategies to encourage positive relationships within the community.
• Students can demonstrate competence in writing research papers, police reports, and/or pre-sentence investigation reports.
• Students can actively communicate and apply de-escalation techniques to the criminal justice setting as demonstrated in mock scenarios and internships.