Criminal Justice and Criminology Learning Goals

Students who major in criminal justice and/or criminology can expect to achieve the following:

Understand of the role, function, and central components of the criminal justice system.
Identify theories that explain the causes of crime or victimization and the evidence-based policies and practices that address crime or victimization.
Determine the role of research in criminal justice and the various quantitative and qualitative methodologies used to study issues in the field.
Argue a position on a criminal justice issue and support this position with empirical evidence, and synthesize and summarize existing literature to support the argument.
Understand how race, class, and gender intersects with criminal justice decision-making and the disparities that can result.
Understand the role and function of law as well as its capacity and limits in solving crime problems.
Create and deliver a professional presentation that applies acquired knowledge to a contemporary justice issue.
Hone effective speaking, writing, and critical thinking skills.