The mission of the criminology and criminal justice department is to instill in the student a respect for the rights of all persons before and after coming into contact with the criminal justice system. We also desire to imbue in our students a commitment to a series of values which prepare them for leadership but also provide them with the ability to think critically with respect to the important issues facing them. This is achieved by offering a balanced curriculum with courses in the etiology of crime, law enforcement, adjudication, corrections, and field internships.

Niagara’s challenging faculty, balanced curriculum, fascinating outside speakers, and stimulating internships provide a broadly based educational experience that combines an education in the liberal arts with a comprehensive background in the field of criminal justice.

The primary goals of the program are to prepare students for positions in the field of criminal justice and, for qualified students, graduate work in the social sciences or law.