Majoring in criminal justice provides you with a broad education that speaks to your interest in law and justice. You will be prepared for a wide range of careers in federal and local criminal justice agencies. The major also provides continuing education for professionals already employed in criminal justice positions and offers a strong academic foundation for graduate or law school. The criminal justice BS is unique in its broad core curriculum, the scope of professional course offerings, an intensive field experience where students blend knowledge gained in the classroom with a career-oriented internship, and opportunities for cooperative education.
RIT's Criminal Justice BS
Develop your understanding of crime and the criminal justice system responses. You will explore contemporary public safety issues, especially those involving technology, and evaluate the intended and unintended consequences. This framework offers opportunities to consider policy responses and engage in hands-on research in local agencies. A focus on theory and social science provides you with the problem-solving skills necessary for addressing today's most pressing social issues.
RIT's approach to the study of criminal justice combines theoretical perspectives with practical experience. The emphasis within the areas of crime, criminal behavior, social control mechanisms, administration, planning, and management is on problem-solving techniques based on the growing body of research in the field as well as students' own guided research.
Advising
Students are assigned a faculty advisor who assists in formulating career goals and planning a field of study to achieve professional aspirations. Through core courses, students are exposed to the widest possible range of perspectives from which to view crime and the nature of criminal justice administration, thus broadening their career options.
Center for Public Safety Initiatives
The Center for Public Safety Initiatives is housed in the criminal justice department and works with the Rochester Police Department and other community groups. Several students work at CPSI and gain valuable experience working with crime mapping, data gathering, and data analysis. Students work closely with faculty on various projects, including Operation IMPACT, Ceasefire and Project Safe Neighborhoods, and the Rochester Police Department. The CPSI supports the development, implementation, and evaluation of criminal justice and community-based anti-crime and anti-violence interventions.
Careers in Criminal Justice
Many graduates are engaged in law enforcement careers in agencies at all levels of government, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Secret Service, U.S. Marshals Service, Naval Intelligence Service, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, Immigration and Naturalization Service, Centers for Disease Control, Department of the Interior, and the National Park Service, among others. The Rochester Police Department, Monroe County Sheriff's Department, and suburban departments throughout the greater Rochester area employ our graduates. A number have advanced in rank to positions of command, including several chiefs and deputy chiefs.
Other alumni work as correctional officers, counselors, probation officers, and parole officers; with many advancing to administrative positions. A significant number of alumni have used the program as a foundation for law school and have entered the legal profession as prosecutors, public defenders, and private practice lawyers. Many graduates serve in U.S. Attorneys General offices. Others serve the legal profession as investigators or paralegals.
Consistent with the liberal arts/social science nature of the major, some graduates have attained advanced degrees in related areas and entered teaching careers at the secondary and college levels. Others have become psychologists, social workers, drug and alcoholism counselors, youth service specialists, and victim assistance/rape crisis counselors. Many have completed advanced degrees in business, public policy, public administration, criminology, and criminal justice.
RIT's Pre-Law Program
Law schools welcome applications from students majoring in a wide range of academic programs. RIT's pre-law program will help you navigate the admission process for law school, explore a range of legal careers, and guide you through course selection to ensure you build the skills and competencies required of competitive law school applicants. The program is open to students in all majors who are interested in pursuing a career in law.
RIT/Syracuse University College of Law 3+3 Option
RIT has partnered with Syracuse University's College of Law to offer an accelerated 3+3 BS/JD option for highly qualified students. This option provides a fast-track pathway to law school where you can earn a bachelor's degree and a Juris Doctorate in six years. You may apply to the 3+3 option directly. Successful applicants are offered admission to RIT and given conditional acceptance into Syracuse University's College of Law.
RIT's criminal justice degree is one of the approved majors for the 3+3 option. Learn more about the RIT/Syracuse University College of Law 3+3 Option, including admission requirements and frequently asked questions.
Combined Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's Degrees
Today's careers require advanced degrees grounded in real-world experience. RIT's Combined Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's Degrees enable you to earn both a bachelor's and a master's degree in as little as five years of study, all while gaining the valuable hands-on experience that comes from co-ops, internships, research, study abroad, and more.
+1 MBA: Students who enroll in a qualifying undergraduate degree have the opportunity to add an MBA to their bachelor's degree after their first year of study, depending on their program. Learn how the +1 MBA can accelerate your learning and position you for success.