Criminal Justice Major
The criminal justice practitioner deals with the broad areas of law enforcement, courts, corrections, and social services. Professional positions may include federal law enforcement, municipal law enforcement, juvenile and adult probation, counseling and correctional work in institutions, victim advocacy programs, and halfway houses. Within these broad areas the practitioner enjoys exciting professional challenges and opportunities for serving society and helping people.
Examples of agencies that have employed NDSU graduates include: the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, local police departments, sheriff's departments, Border Patrol, juvenile courts, Bureau of Criminal Investigation, US Secret Service, probation and parole departments, juvenile and adult correctional instructions, halfway houses, and crime and delinquency prevention programs.
The Criminal Justice curriculum is an interdisciplinary program drawing on the social sciences, behavioral sciences, humanities, computer sciences, and accounting. A total of 58-59 credits (depending on coursework) is required for a major in criminal justice. A basic background in the social sciences, behavioral sciences, and civics is helpful.
Requirements for Admission to the Criminal Justice Program
The student must complete a formal application. The application is available online (Criminal Justice Program Application) or in the main office of the Department of Criminal Justice and Political Science. The Department Application Deadline Dates are: February 15th (fall admission) and September 15th (spring admission). Applications received fater midnight on these dates WILL NOT be reviewed. Students must apply to be a major or minor no later than the first day of classes of the semester in which they intend to graduate.
Criminal Justice Minor
The minor in Criminal Justice provides an opportunity for students with majors in fields outside of the Criminal Justice program to gain valuable knowledge regarding criminological theory and the history, operation, and effectiveness of various parts of the criminal and juvenile justice system.
Fraud Investigation Minor
The Department of Criminal Justice and Political Science, in collaboration with the Department of Accounting and Information Systems, offers a minor in Fraud Investigation. Students will study the causes of fraud, as well as the detection, investigation, and prevention of fraud. Students will learn about the criminal justice system, including law making, criminality, and prosecution of fraud and other types of crime. This minor will prepare students for possible careers in crime investigation, litigation support, or forensic accounting. See the Interdisciplinary Programs section in the NDSU Undergraduate Bulletin, or contact either the Department of Accounting and Information Systems or this department for further information and course requirements.
