Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Justice Studies

About the Program 

Kent State University's Criminology and Justice Studies Programs offer a four-year program leading to the Bachelor of Arts in Criminology & Justice Studies.  We also offer a minor in Criminology & Justice Studies.   

Our curriculum integrates knowledge and skills acquired in disciplines such as sociology, psychology and political science with a range of justice subjects including crime and delinquency, law enforcement, courts, corrections, and law.   

Our program provides an opportunity to understand contemporary adult criminal and juvenile justice systems and problems and suggests approaches to the solution of these problems. The program strives to be both academic and professional; both conceptual and applied.   

Program Curriculum and Major Concentrations   

Criminology & Justice Studies prepares its graduates for professional roles in the varied fields of criminal and juvenile justice and for graduate study in the social sciences or law school.  To accomplish that, we offer course concentrations in the following subjects: 

• Policing is for students intending careers in law enforcement and other occupations related to security and public safety.
• Corrections is for students interested in pursuing careers in institutional corrections for adults or juveniles, or in such community corrections fields as probation and parole. 
• Criminology & Deviance is for students interested in understanding the origins and nature of deviance and crime, their patterns and society responses; this concentration is appropriate for students preparing for graduate studies in sociology, criminology, criminal justice, public policy and social work.
• Justice & Human Relations is for students interested in such fields as social work, counseling, clinical psychology, victimology, victim advocacy, juvenile justice, public/community relations in criminal justice, community organizing, diversity or social justice; interdisciplinary training and/or specialized graduate training are necessary for careers in many of those fields.
• Law & Society is for students interested in the social relevance of law and social influences on law; this concentration is appropriate preparation for law school or graduate studies in the social sciences. 
• General Criminology & Justice Studies is for students who either choose not to pursue specializations within the major or wish to pursue an individualized program of study (through general electives), which do not align with the other concentrations.   

University Catalog Entry and Roadmaps for Criminology Justice Studies - B.A. 2018 - 2019