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Criminal Justice Degree (BS, BA, Minor)

If you're interested in finding a job in the criminal justice field—whether that means law enforcement, crime-related sciences, or a legal career—then a Criminal Justice major from Lincoln can help you stand out and give you the tools you need to succeed.

Ranked in the Top 100 Most Affordable Criminal Justice Colleges by University HQ, Lincoln's Criminal Justice degree program is designed to provide you with substantial knowledge of how the criminal justice system works on local, state, and federal levels. It also focuses on developing a deep understanding of the changing nature of interactions between criminal justice institutions and the people in these environments.

You will gain an awareness of the impact of different social forces on the types and rates of criminal conduct. We offer three different specialized tracks with different courses and outcomes: Law Enforcement, Legal Studies, and Forensic Science.

Contact the Sociology and Criminal Justice Department if you have questions. Or you can learn more about the program, courses, and requirements in the current academic year University Catalog. You may also view program outcomes below.

The career choices for criminal justice majors are diverse and can include work in corrections, probation, the court system, or in a wide range of law enforcement agencies. Majoring in criminal justice also provides excellent preparation if you are interested in pursuing graduate work in the fields of law, public and criminal justice system administration, political science, or social work.

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Program Outcomes

Program Outcomes

Upon graduating with a major or minor in Criminal Justice from Lincoln, you will have developed the following skills and practices:

  • You will be able to define and describe the basic principles of organization of the government and criminal justice system.
  • You will understand and be able to describe concepts of crime and punishment.
  • You will apply the ethical standards required of a criminal justice professional and incorporate interpersonal skills into a multi-cultural environment.
  • You will apply analytical and critical thinking skills to become an autonomous thinker, creative problem solver, and informed decision-maker.
  • You will use current technologies and demonstrate the knowledge of basic concepts of sciences used in the field of Criminal Justice.

Courses and Requirements

Please see the current academic year University Catalog for more information on program requirements and detailed course descriptions.