College Counseling: Great Schools for Criminal Justice Programs

Saturday, January 24, 2015

Emily Standish, GoLocalPDX College Admission Coach

Working with students who are interested in ultimately getting a law degree, I often hear that they are looking for a college with a “good pre-law program”. The task is to help students understand that almost any discipline is a good foundation for law, depending on their interests. For many students, an undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice is a perfect starting point for a more specific interest in law, law enforcement, juvenile justice, forensic science, psychology and other careers that require excellent writing and critical thinking skills. Many community colleges provide an associate’s degree in Criminal Justice, providing a solid and less expensive foundation for the bachelor’s degree at a four-year institution. But many opportunities in criminal justice will require a bachelor’s degree: counseling within a corrections facility, jobs with any agency of the federal justice system and most agencies in state law enforcement. Here are five colleges (out of hundreds in the US) with Criminal Justice majors:

University of Colorado, Denver, CO

The online or on-campus Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice degree is an interdisciplinary program with a foundation in the liberal arts curriculum and specialized departmental classes in topics such as family crime, corrections and treatment, gang and criminal organization, domestic violence and crime.
Undergraduate criminal justice students at CUDenver are encourage to join Alpha Phi Sigma, the National Criminal Justice Honor Society in order to further their professional growth and promote high moral standards in their profession.
By the numbers: 69% acceptance rate, Mid-range SAT scores: CR 470-600, M 490-610; Mid-range ACT Scores: 20-25

George Washington University, Washington, DC

Students may continue their study of criminal justice in GW’s combined degree programs, earning a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a master’s degree in criminology within five years
Criminal Justice students at GW are uniquely situated to experience the deliberations of the US Supreme Court, in addition to the many internship possibilities at federal law enforcement agencies and non-governmental organizations.
By the numbers: 34% acceptance rate. Mid-range SAT Scores: CR 590-690, M 610-700; Mid-range ACT Scores: 27-31

Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL

The undergraduate curriculum at LUC focuses on three areas of concentration: law enforcement, courts, and corrections. Students may major in Forensic Science, Criminal Justice and Criminology; minor in the Psychology of Crime and Justice.
Criminal Justice majors may seek internships at agencies such as the Cook County State’s Attorney, county offices of the Public Defender, Juvenile Detention Facility, Adult Probation; Loyola University campus security; corporate security division of Target, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdales; US District Court Pretrial Services, and many more.
By the numbers: 91% acceptance rate. Mid-range SAT Scores: CR 520-630, M 530-630; Mid-range ACT Scores: 24-29.

Seattle University, Seattle, WA

Students may choose a BA or BS in Criminal Justice with specialization in Administration, Criminology, Forensic Psychology, or Forensic Science.
The Center for the Study of Crime and Justice provides students with the chance to conduct research, network with industry professionals, hear differing points of view from a variety of constituents in the study of crime and the administration of justice.
By the numbers: 73% acceptance rate. Mid-range SAT Scores: CR 520-630, M 530-630; Mid-range ACT Scores 24-29.

Western Oregon University, Monmouth, OR

Students in the online or on-campus BA/BS program in Criminal Justice may choose a concentration and choose a minor from a Social Science or Writing discipline. Students outside the Criminal Justice major may minor in Homeland Security or Forensic Anthropology.
All students in the Criminal Justice major will complete a practicum comprising 400 hours of professional training in an agency related to their field of interest.
By the numbers: 91% acceptance rate. Mid-range SAT Scores: CR 420-540, M 420-530; Mid-range ACT Scores: 17-22.

Other colleges to explore are Arizona State University, Butler University (IN), California Lutheran University (CA), Cal State Universities at Bakersfield, Chico, Dominguez Hills, Fresno, Fullerton, Long Beach, and Stanislaus, Champlain College (VT), Gonzaga University (WA), Lewis-Clark State College (ID), Portland State University (OR), and Southern Oregon University. An exhaustive list of colleges that offer careers in a variety of criminal justice fields can be found at DiscoverCriminalJustice.com or College Board’s search website, Big Future.

Emily Standish is a partner in Portland, Oregon-based College Admission Coach LLC which helps students identify and gain admission to right-fit schools where they will thrive academically and personally. Contact me at [email protected].