Criminal Justice and Criminology, BA
As a criminal justice major, you’ll study crime and society’s responses to it. Through courses in arts and sciences you'll learn the technical and professional skills to develop your career.
About this Program
Educating Criminal Justice Leaders for Rewarding Careers
An interdisciplinary social science, criminal justice coursework spans across both the arts and sciences to provide you a deep understanding of the many facets involved with the study of crime and societal responses.
Your studies in conceptual and empirical knowledge foster sophisticated thinking, reflection and action that help you become a leader in the field.
Coursework includes criminal justice and criminology, organizational theory and criminal justice ethics, research methods and statistics with focused coursework in a particular specialization area. Faculty work closely with students to select the most appropriate degree/specialization option based on students’ individual goals option based on students’ individual goals.
No matter what aspect of criminal justice you decide to focus on, the low student-to-faculty ratio and many internship opportunities allow you to build a network of support both within the university and beyond.
Seattle University alumni carry the knowledge, critical thinking skills, values and ethical consciousness onto careers as responsible practitioners, managers, researchers and leaders in the criminal justice field.
They continue within the Jesuit spirit of inquiry and innovation to drive the field forward and help create systems that respond to the needs of a complex society.
Explore Criminal Justice
Learn about our commitment to social justice and hear from alumni about how program prepared them for rewarding careers in criminal justice.
Support for Your Development
Internships: Deep, Experiential Learning
Students may earn credits while gaining practical experience working as interns and volunteers in the criminal justice system, including prisons and jails, local and federal law enforcement agencies, law firms and court services, medical examiners offices and crime labs.
Hands-On, Field Learning in Seattle
With our campus located in the heart of Seattle, we help foster professional relationships for students throughout all the local halls of justice. Students have valuable hands-on experience through opportunities for applied field learning such as police ride-alongs, prison tours, courtroom observations and academic/criminal justice collaborative research opportunities.
Crime and Justice Research Center
We recognize that crime and its prevention, response and reparation are community concerns. Students collaborate with faculty on research, in classroom service-learning projects, and projects for community organizations. We address those through the integration of perspectives, strategies and approaches based on evidence-based practices and collaborative engagement.
Popular Careers and Career Paths for Criminal Justice Majors
Criminal justice graduates seek careers in law enforcement, public safety, court services, corrections, forensic science, private security and investigation, crime prevention, juvenile justice, victim services, mental health and social service.
They also pursue graduate study in criminal justice, criminology, forensic psychology, forensic science or law.
The following are examples of career and/or graduate school routes criminal justice students tend to pursue, based on our degrees and specializations.
Bachelor of Arts (BA) with specialization in:
Administration of Justice
- Employment in city, county, state, federal law enforcement, courts, institutional and community corrections, juvenile justice, victim services, private security, investigation.
- Graduate school in criminal justice/criminology, public administration, political science.
- Law School
Criminology & Criminal Justice Theory
- Employment in city, county, state, federal law enforcement, courts, institutional and community corrections, juvenile justice, victim services.
- Graduate school in sociology/criminology or criminal justice/criminology.
- Law School
Forensic Psychology
- Employment as a correctional counselor, community corrections officer, juvenile justice or social service caseworker, victim advocate.
- Graduate school in forensic psychology.
- Law School
Bachelor of Science (BS) with specialization in:
Forensic Psychology
- Employment as a correctional counselor, community corrections officer, juvenile justice or social service caseworker, victim advocate.
- Graduate school in forensic psychology.
Forensic Science
- Employment as a forensic scientist or forensic technician in a local, state, federal, or private crime lab.
- Employment as a medicolegal death investigator at a Medical Examiner or Coroner’s Office.
- Graduate school in Forensic Science.
From Our Student
Brenna Fain, ‘25
“My experience in the Department of Criminal Justice, Criminology, and Forensics has been fantastic. Thanks to the small class sizes and caring faculty, I have always felt like more than just a number. I have had the opportunity to get to know my professors on a personal level, and I am currently working with one of them as a research assistant. This program has helped me build connections and skills to thrive in postgraduate and professional settings in the criminal justice field.”
BA in Criminal Justice, Forensic Psychology
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Contact Us
Matt Hickman, Ph.D.
Chair, Department of Criminal Justice, Criminology, and Forensics
Professor, Criminal Justice, Criminology, and Forensics