Bachelor of Science
Criminal Justice
Re-Think Justice & Change Communities
Criminal Justice is about more than catching criminals — it’s also about serving communities, advocating for victims and striving to create a better system. This program at JWU Providence offers a holistic view of criminal justice and emphasizes the humanistic side of the field.
You’ll explore the interdisciplinary nature of the criminal justice field with courses in political science, psychology and sociology to fully examine the global and domestic criminal justice issues of today. You’ll learn from faculty with years of experience as policy experts, legislators, police captains and detectives. They can offer firsthand insight into how your lessons are applied in the field.
Our Crime Lab and Crime Scene Room also allow you to learn forensic analysis skills in fingerprinting and blood spatter analysis, bullet trajectory research and collection of crime scene evidence.
Students in the Criminal Justice program can choose to add a minor in Community Justice or Forensic Science to dive deeper into specific areas of the criminal justice field.
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Experiential Education
From the interactive courses in our industry-standard criminal justice labs to the numerous internship opportunities with local agencies and organizations, you’ll get to experience different parts of the criminal justice field firsthand throughout your education here.
Why Study Criminal Justice at JWU?
- You’ll gain hands-on experience in forensic analysis and crime scene processing.
- You’ll have internship opportunities at locations such as the public defender’s office, the attorney general’s office, local and state law enforcement agencies, federal agencies and more.
- You can participate in experiential field trips – recent trips include the RI Department of Corrections and visits to local police departments.
- The Criminal Justice program has its own annual career fair to help you pursue internships and jobs in the field with recruiters from Homeland Security, Secret Service, Target, Justice Assistance, the RI Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), RI State Police and other local police departments.
- New students can participate in a Collaborative Learning Community, taking core courses together during their first year at JWU.
- JWU has partnered with The Washington Center to offer students an interactive experience in Washington, D.C. where they can learn about careers in cybersecurity, national security, law and more.
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Sample Courses
- Criminalistics with Lab
- Victimology
- Criminal Justice Ethics
- Juvenile Justice
- Serial Killers
- Community Justice
- Change and Innovation in Law Enforcement
- Cultural Awareness & Diversity in Criminal Justice
In addition to classes, free elective credit can be applied to a number of options such as internships, minors or study abroad. You are encouraged to contact an advisor before scheduling free elective credits.
Career Possibilities
- Law Enforcement
- Loss Prevention
- Attorney
- Fraud Analyst
- Victim Advocate
- Forensic Crime Lab Technician
- Customs/ Border Patrol Agent
- Corporate Security
Some professions may require additional study, background checks, certifications, licenses, exams and/or experience as required qualifications for employment. Students are responsible for verifying that they can meet the employment requirements of potential employers.
Featured Faculty
Our professors and instructors are dedicated to the success of our students. Learn more about our expert faculty members.
Professor and Department Chair
Prior to joining academia, Professor Sylvestre served on the Pawtucket Police Department in Rhode Island for 22 years
Professor
Prior to coming to JWU, Professor Desmarais accrued 27 years of law enforcement experience across a wide spectrum of positions.
Assistant Professor
Professor Frazier worked in the patrol, community policing and detective divisions of the Warwick, RI police department for 20 years.
