Undergraduate Programs

The University of Massachusetts Lowell offers a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice and Criminology. The department seeks to provide students with a comprehensive knowledge of the criminal justice system. However, students are simultaneously assured of receiving a traditional, well-rounded liberal arts education. We not only get students familiar with criminal justice facts and concepts, but more importantly, we teach students 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 also provides students with a balanced presentation of the issues of the field.

Undergraduate Students

We provide students with multiple courses to represent these substantive areas. Our core curriculum focuses specifically on the areas below:

• Criminal justice and juvenile justice processes (law, crime and administration of justice)
• Criminology (the causes of crime and typologies)
• Law enforcement (police organization, discretion, subculture and legal constraints)
• Law adjudication (criminal law, prosecution, defense and court procedures, and decision-making)
• Corrections (incarceration, community-based corrections and treatment of offenders)
• Crime prevention (social, community, situational interventions and public policy)
• Research and evaluation (principles of social science research and policy evaluation)
• Technology and crime analysis

Our department is committed to providing a better understanding of social problems and policy. In an effort to provide a well-rounded education on the many key areas of the criminal justice system, we offer six degree concentrations:

• Police
• Corrections
• Violence
• Research and Evaluation
• Information and Technology
• Homeland Security

For concentration requirements and a course of study, go to the undergraduate catalog.

We use either a three or six credit Practicum/Field Placement for upper level students as a mechanism for students to assess their interest and apply their classroom knowledge in an area of criminal justice. Like other academic fields, our department does not offer courses nor award credit for vocational training courses designed for specific job preparation or advanced job training. These courses are characterized by training for specific job skills rather than education involving conceptual learning.

In addition, students majoring in the administration of criminal justice will fulfill a professional skills requirement. This consists of either attaining intermediate proficiency in a foreign language, or completing four courses in computers and statistics. In the event that a student chooses a foreign language skill, the department recommends Arabic or Spanish. In addition, a strength of our department is its emphasis on students developing applied skills in areas such as information technology and data analysis.

Students wishing to enter or transfer into criminal justice from another major or from another accredited Institution must present a grade point average of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.