A study by the Police Executive Research Forum provided a good description of the University’s criminal justice program. It noted that police agencies do not want higher education to provide technical training. Instead, agencies need students who can look at issues critically, make informed judgments and decisions, have an understanding about human nature and social arrangements, recognize cultural diversity, understand basic research, and communicate effectively.

The criminal justice degree program places emphasis on academics, oral and written communication and research potential. The curriculum is largely concentrated in social and behavioral sciences with core courses in government, law, psychology and sociology. Students take courses in other departments, as well as in criminal justice, giving them the ability to look at a problem from many viewpoints. This system exposes students to a wide diversity of faculty to explore different ideas and issues. In addition, every student must complete a major research paper during the senior seminar in criminal justice.

The Criminal Justice programme is offered at Bowling Green State University.