Shot of the exterior of the Health & Social Sciences building on South Campus

Looking to the Future

The School of Criminology and Justice Studies at UMass Lowell looks to the future by focusing our research on emerging issues confronting the criminal justice system, including violence and victims, justice-involved mental health populations, police innovations, data-driven practice and national and international security.

Applying Knowledge to Social Problems

The school boasts highly ranked undergraduate and graduate programs both on campus and online. We not only familiarize students with the facts and concepts of criminal justice, but, more importantly, we teach them how to apply this knowledge to related social problems and changing situations. The development of critical thinking, communication skills and the ability to conceptualize ideas is reflected in our curriculum, which provides students with a balanced presentation of the issues in the field.

Faculty Committed to Community and Students

We pride ourselves on excellence in scholarship and are equally committed to using our knowledge in the real world. Our faculty are leaders in conducting large-scale, national and international research projects and in working collaboratively with communities and agencies around the world to assist with strategic problem solving, crime analysis, evaluation research and policy analysis.

In the process, we are preparing the next generation of leaders in the field. The school provides strong support for new faculty, including research collaboration and support, seed grants and pre-tenure sabbaticals. Our Ph.D. students begin publishing their quantitative and qualitative research as early as their second year, with strong mentoring by faculty.