Criminal Justice B.A.

The Department of Criminal Justice is part of the College of Arts and Sciences. When pursuing the Criminal Justice major, you will work with a diverse group of faculty members trained in criminal justice and criminology, law, philosophy, sociology, and psychology.

The Criminal Justice major provides students with a solid foundation in the discipline, exposing you to theories of crime and deviance, broad perspectives concerning the criminal justice system, and historic, current, and alternative systems of social control. In advanced and core courses, you have the opportunity to pursue particular areas that complement your career and research interests.

The Department of Criminal Justice also offers a minor and a certificate for students majoring in other subjects.

Coursework

Getting started

You may begin your studies in Criminal Justice by selecting from one of the introductory courses that serve to establish a broad foundation in the program. Two particularly good introductory courses are:

CJUS-P 100: Introduction to Criminal Justice
CJUS-P 200: Theories of Crime and Deviance

Your academic advisors will help you choose the best courses to suit your interests.

Tracks and concentrations

The Criminal Justice major has no official tracks or concentrations. This gives you the flexibility to study those topics within the field that best align with your academic and career interests.

While selecting courses for the major, you may wish to craft an unofficial concentration. Many possibilities for specialization exist. Some examples include:

Criminal Justice and the Law
Gender, Race, and Crime
Criminal Justice and Psychology

Your academic advisors will help you choose the best courses to suit your interests.

Upper level coursework

The Criminal Justice major allows you to personalize your curriculum with 300- and 400-level Advacned courses that may be relevant to your interests. Some examples of topics include:

In upper level coursework, the general theories and research methods introduced in the foundational Criminal Justice courses are applied to particular topics. Consult with an academic advisor and faculty to discuss the best courses to suit your interests and goals.

Commonly pursued majors, minors and certificates

Your major is a concentration representing approximately one quarter of your degree requirements. With the help of a criminal justice academic advisor, you may be able to combine several areas of interest with additional majors, minors, or certificates.

Students pursuing the Criminal Justice major often complement their coursework with classes in English, History, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology.

You can also explore other disciplines, choosing coursework in fields as diverse as Anthropology, Biology, Chemistry, Folklore, International Studies, Journalism, Linguistics, and much more.

Enhance your major

Working with faculty

When pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice, you have the opportunity to work with faculty who have expertise and experience in the field. Take advantage of office hours to talk with your instructors about your performance in class, the content of assignments, and how the course helps you work towards your goals.

You can get involved in research as early as your first year. Many incoming first-year students apply to the Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research Experience (ASURE) program. ASURE students experience project-based learning enhanced by a community of supportive faculty and peers. Choose an ASURE path in the arts and humanities, social and historical studies, or natural and mathematical sciences. Consider joining one that will deepen your skills and knowledge in an area related to your major or a different one to become a more well-rounded thinker.

Research skills are important for both your academic and career pursuits. As your research interests develop, you might want to take an independent readings course or develop a research project under the guidance of a faculty member or committee. Talk with your academic advisor or your instructors about this opportunity.

If you are interested in teaching at the college or university level, then you should consider applying for a Criminal Justice Teaching Internship. This allows you to assist in an undergraduate course under the supervision of a faculty member.

Honors

Outstanding students are eligible for admission to the Criminal Justice honors program in their junior year. Once admitted, you will enroll in the CJUS-P 399 Honors Seminar course. Students in the seminar complete exploratory reading in an area of interest, select and develop a research topic, and write a prospectus for an honors thesis.

Honors students write and present an undergraduate honors thesis under the guidance of a faculty sponsor. You may earn up to 6 credits while registered for the Senior Honors Thesis course, CJUS-P 499. If interested, you should consult the Criminal Justice Director of Undergraduate Studies.

High achieving students may also be recognized for Academic Excellence in the College of Arts and Sciences, or be eligible for admission to the Hutton Honors College.

Undergraduate scholarships and awards

Incoming students who are directly admitted to the College of Arts + Sciences with Criminal Justice as their intended major may be eligible for a number of merit-based scholarships within the College.

Options for students pursuing scholarships and awards include:

The following awards are available to seniors in the Department of Criminal Justice:

Bill Selke Heart of Justice
Distinguished Hoosier Award
Outstanding Senior Award
Writing Excellence Award

Internships

Internships offer you a chance to develop both technical and transferable skills while making vital professional contacts with others in the field. Many students begin exploring internship opportunities, including overseas study programs with internships, as early as their first year.

The Criminal Justice department offers the following internship opportunities:

Field Experience in Criminal Justice allows you to apply content knowledge in a real-world setting. Our internship coordinator will pair you with local and state organizations, such as the following:

You also have the option of arranging your own internship with other organizations in Bloomington, the state, or the nation. With either option, you can earn 3 or 6 credit hours of CJUS-X 477, which counts towards the Criminal Justice major requirements.

A Research Internship offers you the opportunity to actively participate in a research project under the direction of a faculty member while earning 1-3 credit hours of CJUS-X 498. This internship course may be repeated for a maximum of 6 credit hours.

The Teaching Internship gives you experience assisting in an undergraduate course in Criminal Justice while earning 1-3 credit hours of CJUS-X 371. This internship course may be repeated for a maximum of 6 credit hours.

Learn more about internships, including the possiblity of receiving credit, through the Walter Center for Career Achievement, where you'll find many resources for both domestic and international internships.

Foreign language study

If you are considering a career with the federal government, specifically with the FBI or CIA, we encourage you to think about studying a language deemed as critical by those agencies. Speak to your academic advisor about which languages best fit your interests and objectives.

As one of the premier institutions in the U.S. for the study of languages, IU Bloomington offers courses and resources in over 80 languages.

Below is a sampling of the resources available to students at IU Bloomington:

Overseas study

Study abroad is an important part of undergraduate education in our increasingly interconnected world. Criminal Justice students often pursue language study and other course work through the following exchange programs:

The College of Arts + Sciences also directly hosts a variety of study aboard programs, some even featuring IU faculty, that might be right for you. Learn more about study aboard opportunities and locations through conversations with Criminal Justice faculty, your academic advisor, and through the Office of Overseas Study.

Student groups

The Criminal Justice Student Association is available to any IU student who has an interest in Criminal Justice issues. This student-run group meets once a month for events such as tours, guest speakers, volunteering, community outreach, and social gatherings. Contact cjsa@indiana.edu for more information.

Alpha Phi Sigma is the nationally recognized honor society for students with a declared major or minor in criminal justice. To become a member, you must have completed one-third of your total hours required for graduation at Indiana University. Additionally, you must maintain a minimum of 3.2 overall, and a 3.2 GPA in criminal justice courses. You must also rank in the top 35% of your class, and have completed a minimum of four courses within the criminal justice curriculum.

Explore beINvolved to connect with any of the 750+ student organizations that already exist, or to start a new one.

Volunteer opportunities

There are numerous opportunities for volunteer engagement. The organizations below can help you connect with community members and contribute to your professional development.

Sign up to receive weekly emails from the Bloomington Volunteer Network to learn about additional local opportunities and organizations.

Professional organizations

Students in the field of criminal justice may be interested in affiliation with professional associations in a number of fields, including criminology, law, philosophy, sociology, and psychology.

Use the Indiana University Library system to search Associations Unlimited, an online directory of associations, professional societies, nonprofit organizations.

Build your skills

Through the major

The B.A. in Criminal Justice degree provides you with a set of skills and qualities that are relevant and transferable to many areas of study and work. These include:

Depth of understanding of the nature of crime and the administration of justice through formal and informal systems of social control
Ability to identify and apply theoretical, legal, and empirical approaches to the study of crime and criminal justice
Recognition of persistent and emerging problems in the criminal justice system and application of theory and research to suggest solutions
Skills for critical reading and thinking, team work, research, and writing

Through a College of Arts and Sciences degree

Your coursework provides many opportunities to develop the following five foundational skills that will serve you well in ever career path:

Question critically
Think logically
Communicate clearly
Act creatively
Live ethically

These foundation skills will aid you in landing your first job, and advancing professionally throughout your working life. Not only are these the skills that employers say they value most in the workplace, they provide the best preparation for lifelong success in a world of complexity, uncertainty, and change.

Skills desired by employers

Each year, the National Association of Colleges and Employers asks employers what skills and qualities they are looking for in recent college graduates.

The following abilities are sought in the job market across many employment sectors:

As you explore various career fields, pay attention to specific job descriptions and requirements. If there are areas where your skills or knowledge are lacking, then talk with your academic advisor and career coach about how you can develop in those areas while you are at Indiana University.

Your academic advisor and your career coach can also help you find ways to strengthen and deepen the knowledge you already have, becoming more prepared for whatever path you select after your college career.

Launch your career

Plan your search

A good starting point for exploring your career options is an appointment with the Criminal Justice career coach early in your undergraduate experience.

The Walter Center for Career Achievement offers job search resources, career courses, job fairs, information about internships and full-time jobs, and help with social media networking through professional organizations. Get advice about how to write your resume, ask for letters of recommendation from faculty and workplace supervisors, and prepare for job interviews.

Explore and enroll in Career Communities to learn more about industries relevant to your interests. These offer unique information about each field, including alumni spotlights, opportunities and resources, and in-person events.

Maximize your career preparation with a career course. Criminal Justice majors should consider enrolling in ASCS-Q296 College to Career II: Navigate Your Arts and Sciences Experience. The section dedicated to the Social and Historical Studies provides the opportunity for you to explore the relationship between your field of study and life after graduation, while developing an academic and career development plan for post-collegiate success. If you are considering continuing your studies after graduation, you may wish to enroll instead in the section dedicated to graduate school preparation. Regardless of the section you select, you will leave the class with your resume, a cover letter or personal statement, and a LinkedIn profile ready to go!

You may want to consider taking specialized criminal justice internship courses to assist you in developing transferrable skills for your future career. There are currently three experiential learning courses offered by the department:

CJUS-X 371: Teaching Internship
CJUS-X 477: Field Experience in Criminal Justice
CJUS-X 498: Research in Criminal Justice

The job market

Your Criminal Justice B.A. degree is versatile and can lead you towards a large number of successful career paths. Some of the more common paths include: working in state and local law enforcement, the federal government, forensics, corrections, courtrooms, law firms, nonprofits, corporations, and many other work sectors. Careers in this area are expanding and the outlook is bright.

Roughly half of Criminal Justice majors continue their education by pursuing a professional or graduate program. The other half goes directly into a career.

Initial and long-term destinations for graduates include positions in many job sectors: law enforcement, courts and corrections, psychology and counseling, social services and advocacy, private security and investigations, federal and state government, and military or civil service.

Criminal justice majors can become lawyers, paralegals, court reporters, police officers, detectives, crime scene investigators, forensic analysts, federal agents, criminologists, probation and corrections officers, or social workers and advocates, among many other job options.

Want to see where your fellow majors go right after graduating from IU? Check out the Walter Center's First Destinations survey!

The Occupational Outlook Handbook from the Bureau of Labor Statistics offers career information about hundreds of occupations.

Talk with Criminal Justice faculty, the academic advisor, career coach, and other students to gain insights into the career paths taken by graduates of the criminal justice program.

Post-graduate short-term experiences

The beginning of your post-graduate career might be an ideal time to explore an international internship or other short-term experience through organizations such as these:

Fellowships for post-graduate study

Fellowships are temporary opportunities to conduct research, work in a field, or fund your education. Most opportunities can be found through universities, non-profits, and government organizations.

Good resources for finding fellowships include:

Graduate and professional study

When applying to graduate or professional schools, you'll need letters of recommendation from faculty members who are familiar with your work. Make a practice of attending office hours early in your academic career to get to know your professors and discuss your options for advanced study in the field.

A Criminal Justice major can prepare you for entry into graduate programs in a variety of fields, such as criminal justice, law, public affairs, social work, and counseling.

With a graduate degree in criminal justice you can prepare for almost any job in the field, depending on your specialization. You could work in law enforcement (local, state or federal), consulting, correctional positions, forensic science, legal/court appointments, or private security.

The majority of students with an advanced criminal justice degree go on to work in academia and research. This is due to the large-scale need for understanding, creating, and improving current parameters within the justice system.

With careful planning, and in consultation with the Health Professions and Prelaw Center, you could also prepare to enter law school, medical school or other professional programs.

Examples of relevant programs at IU include:

Alumni connections

The College of Arts and Sciences has thousands of active alumni. Check out the College Luminaries program, which connects students with the College's most influential, successful, and inspiring alumni.

Join the Walter Center Success Network to remain in touch, network directly with College of Arts + Sciences Alumni, and let other know where your path takes you.

Is it for you?

The Department of Criminal Justice draws students from a variety of backgrounds and interests. They typically share some of the following qualities:

Interest in causes of crime, criminals, and how society responds to crime
Desire to help others
Fascination with the law and the legal system
Commitment to social justice and fairness
Awareness of how race, class, and gender intersect within the criminal justice system

Learn more

Contact a Criminal Justice academic advisor and schedule an appointment to explore your options.Complete information about the requirements of the major can be found in the College of Arts and Sciences Bulletin.

Department website: https://criminaljustice.indiana.edu/
Advisor email address: cjusadv@iu.edu