Criminal Justice
About This Program
You are fascinated by the study of crime and the enforcement of law. You want a career that helps keep people safe—and serves society at large. Criminal Justice may be the major for you.
Why Utica University
Utica University's celebrated major in Criminal Justice is one that combines a solid foundation in core academics with a practical learning approach emphasizing research, technology, and real-world professional experiences. The program has earned a national reputation for its innovative curriculum, exceptional facilities, and highly accomplished faculty.
Bull Hall, which houses Utica University's Criminal Justice program, is currently looking to the future with a Crime Lab expansion project (as seen in the rendering above), with the help of $717,000 via Community Project Funding through the Fiscal Year 2023 Federal Omnibus Appropriations Bill.
Criminal Justice at Utica
Career Opportunities
Organization of Justice Studies (OJS)
National Criminal Justice Honor Society
What You'll Learn
Criminal Justice is the study of crime, its causes, and its effects on society. It is concerned with preventing and deterring criminal behavior, providing a system where justice and legal rights are served, and rehabilitating the offender. Utica University’s Criminal Justice Program promotes professional and international learning experiences as well as opportunities for active participation in departmental research. The Criminal Justice major culminates in a capstone experience that can include an internship at the federal, state, or local government level, or in private industry.
Criminal Justice Faculty
- Professor of Criminal Justice
- Professor of Practice - Economic Crime Mgmt
- Professor of Practice-Criminal Justice
- Director - Criminal Justice Program
- Professor of Practice - Criminal Justice
- Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice
- Associate Professor of Management & Administrative Studies
- Adjunct Lecturer of Cybersecurity
A Degree That Works
Graduates of the program have opportunities in a variety of criminal justice fields including policing, law, probation, juvenile services, private security, public administration/planning, counseling, research, and regulatory enforcement. Graduates may also pursue advanced study in fields such as public administration, criminal justice and criminology, management, and law.
Utica University Criminal Justice alumni have taken leadership positions in Criminal Justice-related fields across the county, and at all levels of government, including agencies such as:
- FBI
- U.S. Secret Service
- New York State Police
- Oneida County Sheriff's Office
- Utica Police Department
- Rome Police Department
- U.S Treasury
- Veteran’s Affairs Administration
- N.Y. State Attorney General’s Office, and many others!
Student Voices: Danielle Alpi
A brief conversation with Danielle Alpi, a graduate of the criminal justice major now enrolled in Utica University's M.S. in Cybersecurity.
Experiential Learning
Students enjoy a rich variety of real-world learning opportunities, including trips like the program's recent tour of the New York State Homeland Security and Emergency Services, State Preparedness Training Center. (see image).
Documenting a Crime Scene
Students in Professor Shanna Van Slyke's CRJ 222 Criminal Justice Communications class examine clues and document a "crime" scene, set up in Bull Hall.
Video shot by Gabriella Hudziak and edited by Isabella Hudziak for The Tangerine.
Hands-On Forensics
Criminal Justice Professor Robert Swenszkowski teamed with Dr. Jessica Thomas, Professor of Biology, to develop a Crime Scene Forensics course in Bull Hall, providing another opportunity for students to engage in experiential learning.
The Latest from Justice Studies
Hometown Hero
A Taste of the Real Thing: Utica University Mock Trial Goes to Regionals
New Crime Scene Lab to provide students with state-of-the-art, hands-on learning in incident response
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