Criminal Justice is an interdisciplinary field drawing on the social sciences, legal studies, and the humanities. Teaching and research are carried out by a diverse group of scholars trained in criminology, law, history, political science, anthropology, sociology, geography, and psychology.
We focus on social norms, rules, and laws, considering the causes of criminal violations. We also examine the social and legal response to law breaking, looking at the history of criminal punishment, strategies for dispute resolution, and current systems of regulation. We evaluate these systems within their context, as organizational, social, and cultural processes.
The Criminal Justice major offers you the flexibility to complete coursework that aligns with your particular career goals. You can craft a concentration in gender, race, and crime, in criminal justice and psychology, or in many other focused topics of interest.
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A minor in Criminal Justice can add depth and specialization to many other degree programs in both the arts and the sciences—in fields as diverse as biology, sociology, chemistry, informatics, and journalism.
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A Criminal Justice certificate is available for students who complete departmental requirements for a major in Criminal Justice and earn either a B.S. or B.F.A. degree in the College of Arts and Sciences or a bachelor's degree from another school within Indiana University Bloomington.
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The IU Online Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice explores crime, criminals, and the criminal justice system through an interdisciplinary approach. You study a myriad of topics related to theories about crime, public policy, law, criminal courts, policing, corrections, juvenile justice, and the practice of criminal justice.
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