St. Charles / St. Louis / Online
Criminology and Criminal Justice (BA)

Criminal justice is the academic study of the criminal justice system, including police, courts, and corrections. It analyzes the nature and extent of crime and the reactions of criminal justice agencies to the breaking of the law. If you plan on a career or continuing your studies in a graduate program, criminal justice is the program for you. Careers in criminal justice include law, public administration, law enforcement (local, state, and federal), court systems, corrections agencies, juvenile delinquency, probation and parole, as well as nonprofit community service organizations.

A Criminology and criminal justice degree from Lindenwood University offers plenty of internship opportunities in areas such as police departments, probation/parole facilities, law offices, cybercrime unit, juvenile facilities, and victim assistance programs. There are also ample opportunities for field trips to various criminal justice related institutions and to hear professional speakers representing every major component of criminal justice.

The Lindenwood University St. Louis criminology and criminal justice degree program has an active Criminal Justice Student Association and has a Partnership with St. Louis County and Municipal Police Academy. A ;bachelor of science in chemistry with an emphasis in forensics is also offered.

Lindenwood University Criminology and Criminal Justice Faculty

Criminology and criminal justice program faculty at Lindenwood University has practical and professional experience within the criminal justice system, and they will pass the knowledge gained with that experience along to you. Every St. Louis criminal justice faculty member is also an academic advisor who will work closely with you to help you select a career path that will suit your interests.

Earning a Degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice at Lindenwood University

The criminology and criminal justice department will prepare you to enter the work force with a generalist bachelor of arts degree, which is an overall survey of criminal justice, or with a specified emphasis in criminal justice.

The criminology and criminal justice bachelor of arts (BA) generalist degree requires 51 credit hours, with 27 hours from the core group and 24 hours from the major elective group. A concentration is also available for law enforcement with a police academy option.

If you would like to continue your education after you have completed your undergraduate studies, Lindenwood offers a master of arts degree in criminal justice.

Earning a Minor in Criminal Justice at Lindenwood University

Lindenwood University offers a minor in criminal justice at Lindenwood University. A minor is simply a secondary academic subject to add to your knowledge, whether it is of professional or personal interest.

The minor in criminal justice requires 18 credit hours. You will study criminology, victimology, criminal justice systems, criminal law, and study a choice of subjects such as policing in America, corrections, criminal minds, and the juvenile justice system.

What You Can Do with a Criminology and Criminal Justice Degree from Lindenwood University

Lindenwood University criminology and criminal justice program graduates typically find careers in police and sheriff's departments, federal agencies, courts, correctional institutions, probation and parole services, social service agencies, juvenile facilities, and private enterprise. Some students also attend law school to earn their Juris Doctor. There are many career opportunities open to criminal justice graduates and options are not limited to those mentioned.

Contact the Lindenwood University Criminology and Criminal Justice Program

For more information about this St. Louis criminology and criminal justice degree program, contact Pernell Witherspoon, Department Head of the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice at pwitherspoon@lindenwood.edu (636) 949-4987 or Billi Patzius, Program Coordinator at bpatzius@lindenwood.edu (636) 949-4511.