A statue of blind justice.

Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice

At the University of St. Thomas, we explore the criminal justice system in its complex social context and strive to create justice by focusing on theory, research, and practice. The criminal justice program engages in critical questions about law enforcement, courts and corrections, preparing you for a wide range of exciting careers.

Why Study Criminal Justice at St. Thomas?

Our program prepares you to be a leader. You gain skills in social scientific research and intercultural competence, integral skills for our increasingly globalized world. You learn to innovate, communicate and solve problems for the 21st century. We promote academic excellence with a focus on transferable skills in research, theoretical analysis of crime and criminal behavior, and much more. Our students go on to work in a variety of fields, such as law enforcement, court services, victim services, and research. A degree in criminal justice also prepares students to continue their education in graduate school and law school.

Interdisciplinary Knowledge and Skills

  • Course Requirements
  • Four-Year Plan
  • Degrees Awarded
  • Scholarships
  • Outside of the Classroom
  • Course Requirements

    The criminal justice program is an interdisciplinary study of crime and deviance, borrowing heavily from sociology, psychology, and political science. You explore topics such as the role police play in our society, while examining the intricacies of the judicial process and the effectiveness of current correctional policies and practices. In addition, you have opportunities to take courses on topics related to constitutional rights and liberties, psychopathology and the anatomy of violence.

    Four-Year Plan

    We recommend connecting with a faculty member to plan your career at St. Thomas so you can ensure you are completing courses matching your interests, and most importantly, graduation requirements.

    Degrees Awarded

    • Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice
    • Minor in Criminal Justice

    Scholarships

    The Mikulay and Misencik Criminal Justice Scholarship is for St. Thomas students who have completed 92 credits with a major or minor in criminal justice, with preference given to students pursuing a career in law enforcement. The criminal justice scholarship supports educational diversity at the university; recipients demonstrate how they overcame adversity, engage in volunteerism, and/or contribute to educational diversity.

    Outside of the Classroom

    Our students regularly participate in internships throughout the year. We support students in locating these opportunities with our annual Career Expo, which brings a variety of community partners to campus to speak with students about opportunities with their organizations. In addition, we offer service-learning opportunities in our courses that allow students to learn about and work to address complex social issues, such as family homelessness and domestic violence.

    Course Requirements

    Course Requirements

    The criminal justice program is an interdisciplinary study of crime and deviance, borrowing heavily from sociology, psychology, and political science. You explore topics such as the role police play in our society, while examining the intricacies of the judicial process and the effectiveness of current correctional policies and practices. In addition, you have opportunities to take courses on topics related to constitutional rights and liberties, psychopathology and the anatomy of violence.

    Four-Year Plan

    Four-Year Plan

    We recommend connecting with a faculty member to plan your career at St. Thomas so you can ensure you are completing courses matching your interests, and most importantly, graduation requirements.

    Degrees Awarded

    Degrees Awarded

    • Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice
    • Minor in Criminal Justice

    Scholarships

    Scholarships

    The Mikulay and Misencik Criminal Justice Scholarship is for St. Thomas students who have completed 92 credits with a major or minor in criminal justice, with preference given to students pursuing a career in law enforcement. The criminal justice scholarship supports educational diversity at the university; recipients demonstrate how they overcame adversity, engage in volunteerism, and/or contribute to educational diversity.

    Outside of the Classroom

    Outside of the Classroom

    Our students regularly participate in internships throughout the year. We support students in locating these opportunities with our annual Career Expo, which brings a variety of community partners to campus to speak with students about opportunities with their organizations. In addition, we offer service-learning opportunities in our courses that allow students to learn about and work to address complex social issues, such as family homelessness and domestic violence.
    Ramsey County Attorney Office Director of Child Support Enforcement Division Mark Ponsolle and third-year law student Kirsten Zewers.

    Career Paths

    We equip you with tools and knowledge that are valuable in a variety of careers after graduation.

    • Law Enforcement
    • Law
    • Victim Advocacy
    • Counseling
    • Research/Data Analysis
    • Grant writing

    Talk About Opportunities

    We strive to connect you with various community partners throughout your undergraduate career at St. Thomas.

    Community-Engaged Coursework

    Our faculty collaborate with a variety of community partners so we can understand today's most pressing social challenges and work toward innovative solutions for the common good.

    POST-Certified

    The Minnesota Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training certifies our law enforcement program.

    Study Abroad

    Students have studied abroad in Italy and Ghana, and opportunities now include trips to Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom.
    Criminal Justice video image.

    Know the System

    Criminal justice at St. Thomas prepares you to be a leader. Our curriculum equips you with social science research and intercultural competence skills to navigate the complexities of our modern society.

    Take the Next Step

    best-value-logo-2022-transparent.pngThere is more to learn about St. Thomas; including our ranking as a Best Value School by U.S. News & World Report, the many classroom and extracurricular activities that will be part of your student experience and so much more. Schedule a visit to see our beautiful campus or start your application today.