Criminal Justice

Criminal Justice Program Mission Statement:

The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice is designed to provide students with the opportunity to acquire knowledge of the roles of policing, courts, laws, and corrections as they relate to both the adult and juvenile justice systems. The program also seeks to provide students with knowledge of the history, concepts, and  critical issues related to the role of gender and race/ethnicity in the criminal justice system, victimology, and ethics in criminal justice. The curriculum further provides a theoretical foundation of the discipline, combined with a thorough understanding of the scientific method as it applies to criminal justice.

This combination is expected to sharpen students’ talents of reasoning and judgment, qualities imperative to rational functioning in criminal justice and related human service professions. Through an interdisciplinary approach to the problems of crime and society, the program also equips students to pursue legal training and/or graduate study in criminal justice or related disciplines.

Why Study Criminal Justice?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook reports that at least for the next six years, students with an undergraduate degree in criminal justice can enter occupations where growth is either average or faster than the average for all occupations in the country. For most federal and state criminal justice or criminal justice-related agencies/departments, an undergraduate degree is required for employment.

The criminal justice major at Mars Hill University equips students with the knowledge and skills they will need in order to be competitive in the labor market. Through a quality and rigorous program, with highly qualified faculty, students have opportunities for learning within the classroom setting as well as out of class opportunities through the internship program, field trips, and working one-on-one with faculty through the criminal justice independent study.