A degree in criminal justice one of the nation’s fastest-growing disciplines, offering outstanding professional opportunities. Our degree programs foster critical thinking skills, ethical decision-making, communication, quantitative reasoning, and an understanding of diversity and technology.
With over 30 years of experience, Salem State's criminal justice program provides students with the necessary skills for a successful career, advancing the careers of current professionals, and entry into graduate school. Our dedicated faculty has a wide range of expertise and experience. They provide a challenging classroom environment combined with real-world experience in the field through supervised internships and service-learning options.
Our program is Quinn Bill certified and is designed to prepare you to meet the demands of today’s criminal justice system.
A Commitment to Serving the Community
From student to community leader, this Viking is making a difference.
Daneé Allen '18
BS/MS Criminal Justice 4+1 Program
"One of the most exciting professional opportunities I've had since graduating is establishing a juvenile delinquency prevention program in my hometown. This program provides inner-city youth with opportunities and services that meet their personal needs, from the basics to college readiness and academic preparation."
Our criminal justice program offers a liberal arts education coupled with a specialization in criminal justice. Our faculty employ innovative teaching styles to help you analyze substantive issues, develop verbal and writing skills, understand research methods and statistical analysis, and enhance critical thinking.
Integrating theory, research, administration, and policy, students develop a proficiency in skills required for careers in today’s criminal justice system.
Beyond the traditional undergraduate experience, students can also earn their bachelor of science in criminal justice entirely online or in an in-person evening/hybrid formatthrough the School of Continuing and Professional Studies.
Our new Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and Spanish combines the university’s established criminal justice program – which prepares students for a variety of careers in one of the nation’s fastest growing disciplines – with courses from its world languages program, which offers a concentration in Spanish.
The new combined major is designed to fill a high demand for criminal justice professionals who have professionalized their Spanish and who have demonstrable intercultural competence. The program is designed for both heritage-Spanish speakers and non-heritage-Spanish speakers. The BS in Criminal Justice and Spanish provides an avenue for students to combine professional preparation in criminal justice with Spanish language skills, making them stand-out candidates in a growing criminal justice field.
The criminal justice department also offers an accelerated 4 +1 program that allows eligible students to earn both a bachelor of science degree and a master of science degree in only five years instead of the traditional six years. The program allows students to count four graduate courses toward their undergraduate degree. This innovative program saves students time and money.
Criminal investigation is an essential part of the functioning of the criminal justice system. All law enforcement agencies -- federal, state, local, and special -- conduct criminal investigation employing different methods. The criminal investigation concentration in criminal justice introduces you to various aspects of criminal investigation, i.e crime scene analysis, search and seizure, interrogation and witness interview, profiling of offenders economic offenses investigation, and use of forensics.
Criminology is the study of crime and its causes as well as its effects and social impacts. Criminologists study crime data to better understand the many causes of crime and to assist criminal justice professionals and officials in implementing the most effective ways to prevent and reduce crime. The field of criminology is interdisciplinary and draws from a number of other fields including psychology, sociology, biology, economics as well as many others.
The minor in criminal justice is open to Salem State undergraduate students who want to focus on criminal justice administration or technology and research.
With the increase in computer-related and internet-based opportunities comes an increase in the capacity to exploit those opportunities and a broadening of the any potential victim base.
The minor in cybercrime provides students with a strong, focused, foundation of the legal, technical, investigative, behavioral, and ethical issues faced by the public and private sector law enforcement and asset protection community.
Computers and the internet provide a new method for committing old crimes and an avenue for the innovative criminal. The curriculum combines key courses in criminal justice, computer science, law, and social science. Students are exposed to the criminological and sociological explanations of cybercrime, types of cybercrimes, ethical dilemmas, identifying and preventing cyber-attacks, networking technologies, and the strengths and limitations of federal and state laws, statutes, and policies.
The criminal justice security management minor provides students with understanding of the criminological theories and practical approaches to Homeland security, national defense, emergency management, cybercrime and cyber security, private security and loss prevention, and related fields and topics. Through criminologal and criminal justice lenses, students will gain insight into the nature and extent of security threats, and how to prevent, detect, and deter them. Highly motivated students will be prepared for entering fields such as in homeland security, intelligence collection and analysis, foreign relations, Department of Defense, Department of State, diplomacy, policy analysis and reform, and more.
The master of science in criminal justice is a fully online (asynchronous) program designed for those who want to advance or pursue careers in criminal justice as well as those who plan to secure a doctoral degree in the field. A robust combination of theory and research, our program is Quinn Bill approved and adheres to the standards of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences for graduate programs.
All criminal justice agencies, including the courts, police, and correctional facilities, require managers at various levels. The administration concentration in criminal justice focuses on the organizational structure and functions of such agencies and is an ideal program for students aiming to gain working knowledge of criminal justice agencies.
Criminology is the study of crime and its causes as well as its effects and social impacts. Criminologists study crime data to better understand the many causes of crime and to assist criminal justice professionals and officials in implementing the most effective ways to prevent and reduce crime. The field of criminology is interdisciplinary and draws from a number of other fields including psychology, sociology, biology, economics as well as many others.
"There are so many milestones in the long, storied history of the American criminal justice system. From landmark cases to prolific serial offenders, this field has more than its fair share of excitement. In the future, I want to be a part of the next big piece of pivotal progress."
"The conversations in my classes have always been dynamic, engaging, fruitful, and often challenging. Students have expressed anticipation of taking courses together again a number of times. It is a spirit of diverse perspectives that complement us to one another."
"I definitely learned a lot in the program, which allowed me to pursue a PhD in criminology. For me, deciding to do the thesis option was very helpful because I learned a lot about research methods. Hopefully, it will someday turn into a career in academia."
Our program is meticulously designed to align with the job market's ongoing demands, equipping students with a comprehensive skill set vital for success in diverse roles within the criminal justice field.
Coursework integrates cutting-edge theories with practical applications, fostering critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and ethical decision-making, which are crucial for navigating complex legal landscapes.
An emphasis on experiential learning facilitated through internships, research opportunities, and engagement with local criminal justice agencies sets us apart. It gives students a distinct advantage in today's competitive job market.
Occupations with Growing Need for Criminal Justice Skills Related Occupations Outlook
"No other discipline really focuses on racial and social issues than does criminal justice, and so there are many opportunities for students to pursue from that concentration."
Whether you want to learn more about our program, or partner with us for a community initiative or event, we encourage you to get in touch with us. If you're looking for a specific criminal justice faculty or staff member, select 'See All Contacts' for our complete directory.
