Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Science
Fall
- Criminal Justice 101: Intro to Criminal Justice (Social Science Elective)............ 3cr.
- second language I............ 3cr.
- Core 100: First Year Seminar or Theo 111: Theological Foundations............ 3cr.
- Core 101: Co-Curricular Program............ 0cr.
- English 101: English Composition, or English Rhetoric............ 3cr.
- General Elective............ 3cr.
Spring
- Criminal Justice 102: Intro to Law Enforcement............ 3cr.
- Historical Perspectives Elective............ 3cr.
- second language II............ 3cr.
- Core 100: First-Year Seminar or Theo 111: Theological Foundations............ 3cr.
- Core 102: Co-Curricular Program............ 0cr.
- Oral Communications Elective............ 3cr.
Fall
- Criminal Justice 103: Intro to Corrections............ 3cr.
- Philosophy 100: Ethics as Intro to Philosophy............ 3cr.
- Theological Perspectives Elective............ 3cr.
- English 205: Lit & Moral Imagination............ 3cr.
- General Elective............ 3cr.
Spring
- Criminal Justice Criminology............ 3cr.
- Criminal Justice 381: Research Methods (Scientific Perspectives Elective)............ 3cr.
- ERS Elective............ 3cr.
- Mathematical Perspectives Elective............ 3cr.
- Philosophical Perspectives: Philosophy 200............ 0cr.
Fall
- Criminal Justice 201 Basic Const: Law & Amer. Justice............ 3cr.
- Criminal Justice Elective............ 3cr.
- Diversity Curriculum Requirement/DCR............ 3cr.
- Humanities Elective............ 3cr.
- Quantitative Reasoning Elective............ 3cr.
Spring
- Criminal Justice 240: Criminal Law............ 3cr.
- Natural Science Elective............ 3cr.
- Creative Perspective Elective............ 3cr.
- General Elective............ 3cr.
- Writing-Intensive Elective............ 3cr.
Fall
- Criminal Justice 482: Planned Change/Admin............ 3cr.
- Criminal Justice Elective............ 3cr.
- General Elective............ 3cr.
- General Elective............ 3cr.
- General Elective............ 3cr.
Spring
- Criminal Justice 391: Criminal Justice Practice............ 3cr.
- Criminal Justice 489: Senior Seminar/Capstone............ 3cr.
- Criminal Justice Elective............ 3cr.
- General Elective............ 3cr.
- General Elective............ 3cr.
Alumni Employers
Cincinnati Police Department, U.S. Department of Justice, Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections, Ohio State Highway Patrol, FBI
Exciting Career Opportunities
Highway patrol officers, correctional officers, correctional counselors, local and federal law enforcement officers, forensic science specialists, attorneys, probation officers
Intro to Law Enforcement (CJUS 102)
Overview of policing problems and procedures; legal and philosophical issues in law enforcement; organization and administration of police agencies.
Criminology (CJUS 206)
This course explores the cause of crime and deviance from varying theoretical perspectives in the social sciences. As an introductory survey of the classical and positivist schools of criminology, theories covered include human ecology, Social structural approaches, Social process (learning) theories, socio-biological theories, developmental theories and control theories.
Basic Const Law and Amer Justice (CJUS 210)
Studies the ratification and incorporation of the Bill of Rights. Examines judicial review, the jurisdiction and organization of federal and state court systems, and the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Fourteenth Amendment provisions relevant to law enforcement and judicial process.
Methods of Research in CJUS (CJUS 381)
This course is designed to acquaint students with basic research methodology that is useful in understanding criminological and criminal justice scholarship. By the end of the course the students should: (1) understand the language of research, (2) understand and apply the research process and data gathering strategies, and (3) have a basic understanding of research appearing in professional journals. This course fulfills students' scientific perspectives requirement.
Criminal Justice Society
The mission of the Criminal Justice Society is to provide an opportunity for students to learn about those working in and impacted by the criminal justice system. The club emphasizes educational and hands-on experiences to enhance the students' professional development.
St. Thomas More Pre-Law Society
Pre-law students are strongly advised to join the St. Thomas More Pre-Law Society. This group meets several times a year to discuss the law school application process and careers in the legal profession.
Xavier Mock Trial Club
Xavier’s Mock Trial Club participates in regional and national intercollegiate competitions. Club members—who consist of students interested in acting or Pre-Law--use legal cases to participate in trial simulations where they are assigned specific roles, such as attorneys, witnesses, etc. in order to improve their skills in public speaking, critical thinking, and legal reasoning. The advisors for this club are professional attorneys from the Cincinnati area.
Ohio Innocence Project-u
OIP-u is Ohio's collegiate network of innocence advocates. Their mission is to bring awareness to wrongful convictions, specifically in Ohio. The Xavier OIP-u chapter works to prevent wrongful conviction by promoting awareness on college campuses and to generate student and community support for the nonprofit Ohio Innocence Project.
Program Features
Our 150-hour field placement offers real-world experience in law enforcement, courts or corrections, including agencies like the FBI.
Our program allows you to explore specialized areas of interest through elective courses in topics like women in the criminal justice system, criminalistics, crime prevention, and legal aspects of corrections.
Our professors bring a wealth of real-world knowledge into the classroom, providing you with insights from the front lines of law enforcement, legal practice and social justice advocacy.
Guided by our Jesuit values, you'll explore the moral dimensions of justice, learn to advocate for marginalized communities and develop a strong sense of civic responsibility.
Jonson says one of the greatest features of Xavier’s program is its focus on practical experiences, whether that’s through internships, community-engaged learning or classroom projects.
The Inside Out program offers Xavier students the chance to engage in meaningful dialogue with incarcerated individuals at nearby correctional facilities.
FAQ
Prepare for a rewarding career on the frontlines of law enforcement, corrections or legal advocacy with Xavier's BS in Criminal Justice program. Learn more.Law Enforcement
- Police Officer: Enforce local laws and protect citizens.
- Sheriff's Deputy: Maintain county law enforcement and security.
- State Trooper: Enforce state laws and provide highway patrol.
- FBI Agent: Investigate federal crimes and protect national security.
- DEA Agent: Enforce drug laws and investigate drug-related crimes.
- Homeland Security Agent: Protect the nation from terrorism and other threats.
Corrections and Rehabilitation
- Correctional Officer: Oversee inmates in correctional facilities.
- Probation and Parole Officer: Monitor offenders in the community.
- Juvenile Corrections Officer: Work with young offenders and their families.
- Rehabilitation Counselor: Assist individuals with reintegrating into society.
Legal and Court Services
- Lawyer: Provide legal advice and representation in court.
- Paralegal: Assist attorneys with legal research and documentation.
- Court Administrator: Manage court operations and procedures.
- Victim Advocate: Support crime victims and assist in the legal process.
- Juvenile Court Officer: Handle juvenile cases and ensure the well-being of children.
Other Related Fields
- Private Investigator: Conduct investigations for individuals or organizations.
- Security Officer: Protect people and property.
- Homeland Security Analyst: Analyze data to identify potential threats.
- Fraud Investigator: Detect and prevent financial crimes.
- Criminal Profiler: Analyze crime scenes and offender behavior.
- Crime Scene Investigator: Collect and analyze evidence.
- Forensic Scientist: Examine evidence in a laboratory setting.
- Intelligence Analyst: Gather and analyze information to support law enforcement.
Students earning a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice at Xavier can choose to have a concentration in criminalistics.
Criminalistics involves the collection, preservation, analysis, and interpretation of physical evidence from crime scenes (blood splatter, hostage negotiation, crime scene reassembly, gaining control in a riot, fingerprinting).
Yes. The University Scholars Honors Program offers incoming students a more challenging curriculum and close support from professors while completing their undergraduate degree. Acceptance into the program is highly selective and includes a $2000 travel grant.
Criminal Justice Program at Xavier University
The Criminal Justice program at Xavier University has a long history of preparing graduates for careers in law enforcement, the judicial system and corrections. Membership on its Advisory Board includes judges, prosecutors and police, corrections and rehabilitation professionals. These longstanding relationships with community organizations provide students with multiple out-of-classroom opportunities to learn from professionals in the field. Graduates work in all facets of the criminal justice system, while some complete Xavier’s online master’s in Criminal Justice in preparation for administrative careers or go on to earn law degrees.
Xavier University's College of Professional Sciences prepares undergraduate and graduate students intellectually, morally and spiritually for careers and professions of service. CPS challenges students to strive for academic excellence and life-long learning through promoting collaboration and community partnerships, and incorporating research, scholarship and innovation.
Xavier University is a private university located in Cincinnati, Ohio, providing a liberal arts education in the Jesuit Catholic tradition. Founded in 1831, the University is the sixth-oldest Catholic university in the nation. It has been ranked among the top 10 master's-level universities in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report for the past two decades. The Princeton Review names it one of the "Best 385 Colleges in America."