Criminal Justice Sciences

Earning a criminal justice degree empowers you to make positive contributions to society.

The field offers plenty of variety that leads to an exciting and engaging career. Professionals enforce laws, protect citizens, rehabilitate offenders, help victims, and develop programs to help prevent crime. 

The criminal justice program at Illinois State examines policing, courts, and corrections. We do this with a social science point of view. As a student, you'll explore human behavior and take an in-depth look at the issues and circumstances that lead to crime. This gives you a well-rounded perspective and prepares you to be a leader for positive change.    

You'll also gain all the skills you need to be successful in your career. We'll teach you how to interview, develop programs, promote community well-being, and analyze crime hotspots.

Why Study Criminal Justice Sciences?

Criminal justice at Illinois State is dedicated to helping you be a force of good in the world. Everything we teach and do focuses on social justice and human rights. We'll train you to be a thoughtful leader who innovates and promotes positive change in the field.

Our program gives you plenty of hands-on experience. Civic engagement is a core value and we are active participants. You'll have opportunities to work with our agency partners in the community. The projects you do will be meaningful and make a real impact. Our internship requirement also lets you take what you learn in the classroom and apply it to the career path that inspires you.

The Illinois State criminal justice faculty will be with you every step of the way on your academic journey. Our students work closely with tenure track faculty on projects, coaching, and mentoring.

Related Skills

Criminal justice professionals have a broad skill set that can be applied to a variety of career paths. Our program will help you develop these skills so you can feel prepared to accomplish your goals.

Communication

Criminal justice professionals need strong written and verbal communication skills.

Reports are a major part of many criminal justice careers. You have to be able to articulate facts and write clearly. Good writing can sometimes mean the difference between seeing justice for a criminal or letting them go free. It could also determine whether you get additional funding for a program or not.

Criminal justice professionals also need a diverse and strong verbal communication skill set. You'll find yourself conducting interviews with witnesses and victims, interrogating suspects, and collaborating with colleagues. Knowing how to speak effectively in various situations to many audiences will serve you well.

Research and Analysis

Whatever path you take in criminal justice, you need to know how to collect and make sense of many kinds of data. 

If you're trying to solve a crime, you have to gather information. Collecting evidence, interviewing victims and witnesses, and putting all the pieces together is part of the research and analysis process.

Criminal justice isn't just about responding to crime. There's also an element of preventing crime and building stronger communities. You have to understand societies and their crime patterns. Having the ability to research and analyze data will determine the most effective means to accomplish your goal.

Empathy

Empathy is being able to understand someone's emotions and why they feel the way they do.

As a criminal justice professional, you'll interact with people who might be scared, angry, distraught, or suffering from a mental illness episode. Whatever the emotion may be, they are often strong and intense. Knowing how to interact with people at these vulnerable times is essential.

Using empathy during interactions can build trust. When people trust you, they are more willing to comply and provide information you need to solve a crime or mediate a difficult situation.

Our program helps develop empathy by giving you a strong background in the humanities and participating in civic engagement opportunities.

Technology

Technology plays an important role in criminal justice. No matter what path you take, you'll need to embrace technology and keep an open mind when it comes to learning new ways of doing things.

Leadership

The criminal justice field includes political and social climates that constantly evolve over time. Having strong leadership skills can help you navigate these challenges and make a positive and lasting impact in your career. 

If you want to advance in your career, taking initiative and developing your leadership skills can help you accomplish your goals. 

Being Successful in the Field

It takes motivation and lots of work to accomplish your criminal justice career goals. 

Get a diverse education.

Take courses in a variety of areas such as computer science, business, psychology, and sociology. This helps give you a well-rounded perspective and prepares you for a variety of opportunities in the field.

Depending on your career goals, you might need to earn a master's degree to work in higher levels of administration or research.

Seek opportunity.

Get as much experience as you can. Volunteer and seek internship opportunities to find a career in criminal justice that's a good fit for you.

Make the most of entry-level positions.

The job you get right out of school might not be your ultimate goal, but it will give you a solid foundation in the field. Take the initiative to learn from those with experience. 

Related Fields

There are a variety of career paths you can take with a criminal justice degree. Here are a few examples.

Policing

Many criminal justice alumni work in the police force. This includes local, state, and sheriff's departments. It can also lead you to work at the federal government level.

There are lots of roles and paths you can take in policing. Some of these include:

• Uniformed officer - Take on general law enforcement duties such as patrolling and responding to emergency calls
• Detective - Investigate crime scenes
• State and Highway Patrol - Keep an eye on the state's roadways and help assist local departments when needed
• Air Marshal - Protect passengers and crew on airlines
• Border Patrol - Perform customs checks at the airport or at the country's borders
• FBI - Work for the country's national security organization

Corrections

The corrections path can lead you to work with adults or juveniles. You could also work in probation or court services.

Public and Law Offices

Criminal justice could lead to work in a law office or legal services. There are also several public offices that look for individuals with a criminal just degree, including:

• State's Attorney
• Attorney General
• Public Defender
• Coroner
• Inspector General

Business

The business sector includes jobs where a criminal justice degree comes in handy.

Many retailers have a loss prevention department where employees protect the company's inventory from theft. The insurance and financial industry also hire people to investigate and prevent fraud and theft.

Park Districts and Environmental Services

Earning a criminal justice degree could lead you to a career in the great outdoors. Whether local or national, there are lots of rules in place to protect land, wildlife, and the environment. Our local and national parks need people to patrol and enforce rules. These rules can relate to boating, hunting, fishing, camping, and more.

Social Services

Helping people is another career option. Areas such as domestic violence, family and social services, and addiction services often hire individuals with a criminal justice degree.

This field might have you helping those in need get back on their feet or supporting individuals who have a higher risk of being victims of crime. You might help a family find resources and support during stressful times.

Career Industry Liaison

Internship Coordinator

Applying to Illinois State

Applying by our priority deadline is encouraged for best consideration for your academic program and for scholarships. Start your application today!

Applying to Illinois State

Applying by our priority deadline is encouraged for best consideration for your academic program and for scholarships. Start your application today!

Minimum GPA

2.40

Middle 50% GPA

2.63 - 3.33

Required Courses

None

Recommended Courses

To find the course equivalencies at an Illinois community college, please review our Course Articulation Guides.

• Introduction to Criminal Justice Sciences (CJS 101)
• Fundamentals of Psychology (PSY 110) or Introduction to Psychology (PSY 111)
• Composition (ENG 101)
• Introduction to Sociology (SOC 106)
• Contemporary Corrections (CJS 200)
• Crime & Behavior (CJS 201)
• Contemporary Policing in America (CJS 207)
• Criminal Law (CJS 208)

Academic Advising

Minimum GPA

2.40

Middle 50% GPA

2.63 - 3.33

Application Period

Admission decisions are made twice a year.

• Fall Application Filing Period: February 1 to the first Friday of the first week of fall classes. The Department will notify students of their admission decisions by email prior to September 1.
• Spring Application Filing Period: September 1 to the first Friday of the first week of spring classes. The Department will notify students of their admission decisions by email prior to February 1.

Application Information

Current students can use the Apply to Your Program tool on My.IllinoisState.edu.

Major Requirements

Admission is competitive and the department may limit enrollment due to space limitations. To apply to the major, the following two courses must be completed with Cs or better:

• Introduction to Criminal Justice Sciences (CJS 101)
• Composition as Critical Inquiry (ENG 101)

Preference will be given to those who earn a C or better in Fundamentals of Psychology (110) or Introduction to Psychology (PSY 111), Introduction to Sociology (SOC 106), and Individuals, Society, and Justice (CJS 102).

Academic Advising