“In the criminal justice system, the people are represented by two separate yet equally important groups: The police, who investigate crime, and the district attorneys, who prosecute the offenders. These are their stories.” DUN DUN.
When you hear “criminal justice” you’re probably imagining one career path: police, but there are a lot of options and paths for students interested in criminal justice programs. From protecting national security to taking the stage in a courtroom, a solid education in criminal justice is a must-have for anyone looking to become a lawyer or work at the FBI or any of the other alphabet-soup agencies. With this in mind, we’ve curated a list of our favorite criminal justice programs for students looking to become the next Olivia Benson.
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
John Jay, in the City University of New York system, is entirely devoted to the study of criminal justice. If you know this is your path, this school is going to have everything (and everything) you need. They provide a massive selection of options to specialize in programs such as crime prevention, terrorism, and cybercrime studies. For those interested in pursuing law school after graduation, John Jay’s Pre-Law Institute provides programs that allow students to work with local attorneys to gain experience in the field. Courses include Criminal Responsibility, Understanding Criminal Behavior, Crime Prevention and Control, and more.
Northeastern University
Located in Boston, Northeastern University has an expansive criminal justice program that lets students work with faculty to tailor their classes, research, and co-ops to give them the exact skills they’ll need to meet their short and long-term career goals. Northeastern also offers an accelerated master’s program, giving students the chance to take some extra classes and graduate with both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees simultaneously. Courses include Criminology, Corporate and White-Collar Crime, Addiction and Recovery, and more.
University of Pennsylvania (UPenn)
UPenn’s criminology program is housed within their College of Arts and Sciences, meaning it’s perfect for students looking for a more liberal arts education. Unlike some of the other schools on this list, UPenn has really small class sizes and more opportunities to work with professors. The program lets students work with faculty to pick the classes that best fit their strengths and career goals. Beyond the classroom, UPenn is a research institution that offers students hands-on opportunities to gain valuable experience and knowledge for their field in real-world scenarios guided by faculty. Courses include Forensic Analysis, American Death Penalty in Theory and Practice, Biopsychosocial Criminology, and more. For things you can do now that will give you an edge on your UPenn application, check out our extracurricular activities guide here.
UC Irvine
UC Irvine’s criminal justice program is built to provide an interdisciplinary approach to the American legal system, including “anthropological, economic, historical, political, and sociological approaches to the study of law, behavior, and institutions of social control.” Coursework includes U.S. Legal Thought, Family Law, and Miscarriages of Justice. If you’re looking to double down, UC Irvine provides opportunities for students to pursue their Juris Doctorate after graduation at their law school.
Boston University
Boston University (BU) has a robust criminal justice undergraduate program that lets students really lean into their specializations of law, policing, adjudication, and corrections. Overall, expect BU to give you a well-rounded foundation that you can apply to your field of choice. Examples of courses include Drugs and Society, Violence in the Family, Individual and Society, and more. For those interested, BU also lets students pursue degrees in law and specialized fields in their graduate and legal programs.
Honorable Mentions
While they didn’t make our main list because they don’t have dedicated criminal justice undergraduate programs, Yale, Harvard, and Stanford (shocking, we know) all deserve a mention when considering what students want to do with their careers. Majors like history, political science, sociology, and anthropology can give you a solid foundation if you’re thinking about pre-law.
These three Ivy League universities are all affiliated with their own law schools, providing an opportunity for students to earn a bachelor’s degree in a different field before looking to earn their Juris Doctorates. If you are considering law school as a career goal, these three should be on your list of options when deciding where to work on your undergraduate studies.
Criminal justice is a hugely diverse field that provides opportunities for students with all sorts of interests. Because of the range of career path options, we advise students considering criminal justice to find a specialization that appeals to them and build up related skills and resources. Having a clear academic “brand” and direction is important when applying to college – it’s basically evidence that proves you’re actually interested in the subject area. Check out our resources for finding good summer programs and extracurricular activities that will help you develop the skills you need to rock your college applications!
Interested in starting to build your academic brand? We’re experts at helping you get started on pursuing your academic interests. Reach out to us today.