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If you dream of pursuing a career in law enforcement, corrections, legal studies or victim services, criminology and criminal justice may be the best major for you.

Why Saint Martin's University

Saint Martin's criminology and criminal justice major is an interdisciplinary social science program preparing candidates for positions in the criminal justice field and providing a solid background for advanced education in graduate or law school. A major in criminal justice may be complemented by minors in sociology, psychology, political science or social work.

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CCJ program highlights

  • Personalized career advising
  • Low 1:11 student to faculty ratio
  • A dedicated faculty with strong ties to local law enforcement agencies
  • Students study with professionals working in the field, as well as with our regular faculty
  • Hands-on experience through internships within agencies that form part of the criminal justice system
  • ​Capstone project allowing students to identify and pursue a contemporary issue of significant and substantial concern
  • Students broaden their perspective through a wide range of specialty courses, including victimology, drugs and society, social justice, and deviant behavior

Hear it from a Saint

"Saint Martin’s has helped me develop an empowered voice for not only myself, but also my peers and my community; because of Saint Martin’s University, I have a clear understanding of what I need to do to get to where I want to go."
Jeneva Burton '15
Criminology and criminal justice
 

Research & internships

Photo of lights on top of a police care

Research and internships are championed by the criminal justice faculty.

Opportunities include:

  • Senior thesis publication
  • Washington State Department of Corrections
  • Washington State Medicaid Fraud Control Unit
  • Lacey Police Department

View internships »

Enhanced study

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Students who pursue a minor in criminal justice can use this concentration to enhance a major field of study such as:

View all programs »

Careers

Photo of a judge with a gavel

A broad range of career opportunities are available to a student majoring in criminal justice:

  • Law enforcement
  • Legal research or representation
  • Outreach
  • Counseling
  • Administration
  • Security
  • Teaching

Who to Contact

William Stadler, Ph.D.

William Stadler, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Criminal Justice,
College of Arts & Sciences
360-688-2604

Requirements

Major

All students majoring in criminal justice are required to complete a senior capstone project and apply for Saint Martin's yearly scholarly presentation event, Scholars Day.

  • University core requirements
  • 12 credit hours of core criminal justice system courses
  • 6 credit hours of social science foundation courses
  • 9 credit hours of nature of crime, delinquency and criminal justice processing courses
  • 12 credit hours of criminal justice elective courses
  • 6 credit hours of capstone in criminal justice career and advanced studies preparation courses

Minor

  • 15 credit hours of core criminal justice system courses
  • 9 credit hours of criminal justice elective courses

2019-2020 academic catalog

Popular criminology and criminal justice courses

  • Drugs, the family and society
  • Forensic science
  • Gender, crime and law
  • Philosophy of law
  • White collar crime

Criminology & criminal justice concentrations

  • Corrections

    This pathway is designed to prepare students for future careers in correctional settings. Graduates may choose to pursue a career as a correctional officer or jailer in institutional corrections settings, such as prisons, jails and detention facilities. Alternatively, students may choose a career as a probation or parole officer, case manager or correctional counselor within a variety of community supervision settings.

  • Law enforcement & investigation

    This pathway is designed to prepare students for future careers in law enforcement and investigation settings. Graduates may choose to pursue a career as a sworn agent, police, or public safety officer for local, state or federal agencies. Many law enforcement careers are available in these categories, including: sheriff, bailiff, state trooper, FBI agent, park ranger, border patrol agent, US marshal, DEA agent, Secret Service agent, fish and wildlife police, and US park police. Alternatively, students may choose a career working in the private sector as investigators, loss prevention agents or security personnel.

  • Legal studies

    This pathway is designed to prepare students for future careers in legal settings. Graduates may choose to pursue graduate education in law school as the next step toward a career as a lawyer. Alternatively, students may choose a career as a court clerk, legal researcher, court services officer or paralegal.

  • Victim services

    This pathway is designed to prepare students for future careers in serving victims of crime, violence or trauma. Graduates may choose to pursue a career as a victim advocate, victim coordinator or victim specialist, witness coordinator or specialist

Saint stories

Jeneva Burton '15

I am their story

“I am Martin Luther King’s dream, Harriet Tubman’s walk, Wilma Rudolph’s run and Malcolm X’s fight — I am their story.”

Jeneva Burton Criminology and criminal justice Class of 2015

Read full story

Faculty