Criminal Justice

Start your standout story.

Criminal Justice

Northwestern criminal justice graduates enter law enforcement, courtrooms and correctional institutions committed to seeking God’s vision for justice. You’ll gain an understanding of the criminal justice system’s strengths—and shortcomings—in preventing and responding to crime. Whether your next step is police academy or law school, Northwestern’s criminal justice program will prepare you to engage challenging topics and to serve victims, offenders, and communities with truth, compassion, and justice.

Major requirements

Criminal Justice
Why NWC?

Why NWC?

As a criminal justice major or minor, you’ll learn evidence-based tools that apply the science of criminal justice in real-world settings. You’ll also study the impact of racial, gender and socioeconomic differences on citizens’ experiences with criminal justice—and law enforcement officers’ ability to serve the public with fairness and respect.

Major course topics include the criminal justice system, ethnicity and power, policing and law enforcement, corrections, and deviance and social control. To learn more about the different peoples and cultures you might encounter, consider a minor in cultural studies, Middle East studies or mission and justice. 

CONTACT
Dr. Chris Hausmann
Dr. Chris Hausmann
Department Chair

Outcomes

With recent national conversations about police accountability and reform, the need for professional, trustworthy law enforcement is at an all-time high. Legal positions are also projected to grow—increasing 9 percent before 2030 and resulting in nearly 117,000 new jobs. The U.S. News & World Report also cited lawyers and patrol officers as the top two best social services jobs in 2022.

Join our standout alumni at:

Drake University Law School
Des Moines, IA
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services
Omaha, NE
San Diego Sheriff’s Department
San Diego, CA
Sioux Center Police Department
Sioux Center, IA
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA

Experience

Internships

Internships

As a criminal justice major, you will complete a one-semester internship in a police station, courtroom or correctional institution. Students have interned with local police, Conservation Offices, the Iowa State Patrol, and nonprofit organizations that serve people on society’s margins.

Compass Center for Career & Calling

Compass Center for Career & Calling

Whether you stick close to campus or venture to a more urban area, Northwestern’s Compass Center for Career & Calling will help you find internship opportunities that match your interests. The center also offers help writing resumes and cover letters, practice interview sessions, job shadowing and more.

Off-campus study

Off-campus study

Study abroad programs in dozens of other countries are a great opportunity to meet people and experience different cultures—skills that are important in the criminal justice field.

Pre-law at NWC

Pre-law at NWC

Northwestern graduates who attend law school major in a wide variety of disciplines—everything from political science and criminal justice to mathematics and business. Introduce yourself to various areas of law by taking our recommended pre-law courses or begin the process of earning your J.D. through a partnership with Drake University. Either way, Northwestern will prepare you for the academic rigor of law school while broadening your perspectives on the world and the pursuit of justice.

Internships

As a criminal justice major, you will complete a one-semester internship in a police station, courtroom or correctional institution. Students have interned with local police, Conservation Offices, the Iowa State Patrol, and nonprofit organizations that serve people on society’s margins.

Compass Center for Career & Calling

Whether you stick close to campus or venture to a more urban area, Northwestern’s Compass Center for Career & Calling will help you find internship opportunities that match your interests. The center also offers help writing resumes and cover letters, practice interview sessions, job shadowing and more.

Off-campus study

Study abroad programs in dozens of other countries are a great opportunity to meet people and experience different cultures—skills that are important in the criminal justice field.

Pre-law at NWC

Northwestern graduates who attend law school major in a wide variety of disciplines—everything from political science and criminal justice to mathematics and business. Introduce yourself to various areas of law by taking our recommended pre-law courses or begin the process of earning your J.D. through a partnership with Drake University. Either way, Northwestern will prepare you for the academic rigor of law school while broadening your perspectives on the world and the pursuit of justice.

  • Faculty

    Brilliant scholars. Committed Christians. Invested in you. That’s Northwestern’s faculty.

  •  Hausmann Dr. Chris Hausmann Professor of Sociology; Department Chair
  •  Monsma Dr. Scott Monsma Professor of Sociology