The SVSU Criminal Justice Department ’s goal is to provide a liberal arts education with an inter-disciplinary focus on crime and criminal justice. The program requirements provides students with an overview of policing, criminal courts, corrections, and criminal justice policy. In addition, the program offers instruction based upon the current criminal justice trends and policies. Such courses may include: juvenile justice, correctional policy and treatment, human relations, community corrections, and other contemporary issues.

The Criminal Justice degree is designed to provide students with a broad education based in the social sciences and, at the same time, introduce them to the goals and processes of the entire criminal justice system.

This program aims to prepare students for positions in a variety of public and private agencies related to criminal justice, provide the opportunity for practitioners in the criminal justice field to enhance their professional knowledge and abilities, and equip students with the background necessary to pursue graduate studies or law school.