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The Criminology and Criminal Justice program at Saint Martin’s University prepares candidates for positions in the criminal justice field and providing a solid background for further education in graduate school or law school.

Program Highlights

A dedicated faculty – with strong ties to local law enforcement agencies – provides students with a rich, practical environment for exploring the world of criminal justice. Student who participate in Saint Martin’s Criminal Justice Program:

  • Study with professionals working in the field, as well as with our regular faculty.
  • Gain hands-on experience during internships within agencies that form part of the criminal justice system.
  • Complete a required capstone project that allows students to identify and pursue a contemporary issue of significant and substantial concern.

In addition to more traditional coursework addressing the police, corrections and the courts, Saint Martin’s students can broaden their perspective through a wide range of specialty courses, including:

  • Victimology
  • Drugs and society
  • Social justice
  • Deviant behavior
  • Juvenile justice and rehabilitation
  • Restorative justice

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  • Research and internships

    Research and internships are championed by the criminal justice faculty. Students are encouraged to reach out to local agencies for internship opportunities and graduates who wish to pursue publication can petition faculty for assistance in the publication process.

    Opportunities within criminal justice include:

    • Senior thesis publication (e.g. DNA Evidence: Examining Police Officer's Knowledge of Handling Procedures in a Mid-Size)
    • Washington State Department of Corrections
    • Washington State Medicaid Fraud Control Unit
    • Lacey Police Department
  • Career paths

    A broad range of career opportunities are available to a student majoring in criminal justice. In addition to the field of law enforcement, graduates are prepared for positions in such areas as:

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

    Graduates are also prepared for advanced study.

    Students who pursue a minor in criminal justice can use this concentration to enhance a major field of study such as psychology, social work, political science, business or history.

    For a complete list of professional applications, visit "What Can I Do With This Major?". For additional information about how Saint Martin’s can help you find the career for you, visit our Career Center.

Requirements

Major

  • 40-46 semester hours of CORE requirements
  • 12-15 semester hours of Lower-Division courses
  • 24-27 semester hours of Upper-Division courses

All students majoring in criminal justice are required to complete a senior capstone project (CJ 499 Senior Seminar) and apply for Saint Martin's yearly scholarly presentation event, Scholars Day.

  • Upper-Division courses (24-27 semester hours)
    CJ 304Law and Evidence
    CJ 308Impact of Correctional Methods
    CJ/SOC 325Criminology and Juvenile Delinquency
    CJ/PLS 430Constitutional Safeguards and Individual Liberties
    CJ/PLS 379
    -or-
    CJ 410    		Judicial Process
    -or-
    Law and Society 
    CJ 499Senior Seminar
    Remaining semester hours chosen from Upper-Division semester hours in criminology and criminal justice courses 

     

Minor

  • 21 semester hours in criminal justice, including CJ 101 Introduction to Criminal Justice

Faculty