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Criminal Justice (B.S.)

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THERE’S SO MUCH MORE to the field of criminal justice than the producers of CSI can show you on TV. But we’ve also got some of that cool tech stuff to teach you too!

JWU’s renowned Criminal Justice program is more than learning law enforcement best practices. You re-think justice. Our faculty will highlight the influences of individual and group dynamics, and will inspire you to apply your ideas in ways that influence today’s society.

There’s crime scene analysis to do, but there’s interdisciplinary work as well, within political science, psychology and sociology courses that allow you to examine the global and domestic criminal justice issues of today.

If it’s that CSI stuff that stokes your passion, our crime lab and crime scene room give you the chance to learn forensic analysis skills in fingerprinting and blood splatter analysis, bullet trajectory research, and collection of crime scene evidence.

Our faculty come from all aspects of the CJ system, from legislators and policy experts to police captains and detectives. Follow their lead towards careers in law enforcement, the court system, cyber and homeland security industries, counseling, advocacy and many more.

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My first class of my college career was Introduction to Criminal Justice and from that point forward, I knew the curriculum, professors, and Johnson & Wales community were the right fit for me. DAN MOTT '16

Infographic: University Student Faculty Ration

This program is available in Providence, Denver and North Miami. To view a full course listing for each on-campus location, see the JWU Catalog links below.

Featured Faculty

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Kara Hoofnagle

Assistant Professor

My desire to research and influence policy is driven by my passion to help victims and Criminal Justice practitioners.

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Paul Sylvestre

Associate Professor

I hope that my enthusiasm and passion for the field of criminal justice will be infectious and a catalyst to inspire my students to achieve academic and professional success through lifelong learning.

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James Desmarais

Associate Professor

Prior to coming to JWU, I accrued 27 years of law enforcement experience across a wide spectrum of positions.

Sample Courses

  • Criminal Courts
  • Law Enforcement
  • Criminal Investigation
  • Homeland Security
  • Criminalistics
  • Internship

Explore the full JWU Catalog course listing for your respective campus:

Providence North Miami Denver

In addition to classes, free elective credit can be applied to a number of options such as Directed Experiential Education (DEE), internship, minor or study abroad. You are encouraged to contact an advisor before scheduling free elective credits.

Occupational Outlook*

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.

Occupation Growth Median Salary
Career and Technical Education Teachers -1% $56,750
Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, postsecondary 8% $61,900
Emergency Management Directors 5% $74,420
Forensic Science Technicians 14% $58,230
Information Security Analysts 32% $98,350
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates 3% $133,920
Lawyers 6% $120,910
Police and Detectives 5% $63,380
Private Detectives and Investigators 8% $50,090

*Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook. Job outlook: 2018-2028. Median salary: 2018.

Beyond the Classroom

“In a state-of-the-art crime lab, students learn how to keep people from getting away with murder.” Read Providence Journal staff writer Amanda Milkovits’ profile of JWU’s Criminal Justice program.

Criminal Justice Lab

Considering an advanced degree?

Law School: Earn your JD in 6 Years

If you are eligible, you can apply for our 3+3 Law Program to earn a bachelor’s degree from Johnson & Wales University and a juris doctor (JD) degree from Rhode Island’s Roger Williams University School of Law in 6 years.

JWU’s Online Accelerated Master’s degree

While completing your B.S. degree at JWU, you can also begin work on an online Master’s in Criminal Justice degree through our College of Online Education. Students in the online Accelerated Master’s degree program in Criminal Justice increase their expertise in the subject through courses such as Contemporary Criminology and Crime Prevention, and Research and Inquiry.

How JWU Ranks