Our criminal justice program offers a broad liberal arts education coupled with a specialization in criminal justice. Our faculty employ innovative teaching styles and techniques to help you analyze substantive issues, develop verbal and writing skills, acquire proficiency in research methods, statistical analysis and computer applications, and enhance critical thinking. Integrating criminal justice theory, research, administration, and policy into our curriculum, our students develop a proficiency in statistical analysis, computer applications and critical thinking-skills required for careers in today’s criminal justice system, or for further education. The various concentrations blend the university’s core curriculum with our own core of criminal justice requirements as well as a wide variety of electives designed to meet students’ specific areas of interest.

A degree in criminal justice offers a wide range of outstanding professional opportunities and is one of the nation’s fastest-growing academic disciplines. The criminal justice program fosters the necessary skills for careers in the field including critical thinking skills, ethical decision-making, communication skills, quantitative reasoning, an understanding of diversity and technology and computing skills. With over 30 years of experience, Salem State University’s criminal justice program is well qualified to provide students with the necessary skills for a successful career in this field, advancing the career of current professionals and for entry into graduate school. To ensure our graduates are well prepared for the professional workforce, our faculty provides a challenging and intellectually stimulating classroom environment combined with real world experience in the field through supervised internships and service learning options.