The criminal justice studies major is individualized and you can choose the path that is right for your career interests. The program is an excellent academic home for students interested in law and legal careers, intelligence, forensic psychology, federal law enforcement, probation and work with at-risk populations in the community.
Through the 3+3 J.D. Program, you can earn your Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice Studies and Juris Doctor in a total of six years.
The University of Dayton has offered a criminal justice studies major for more than 50 years. Our department embraces the Catholic, Marianist tradition of ethics, social justice, individual and community engaged inquiry and civic engagement by educating students on the root causes of injustice and providing opportunities for vocational discernment.
At UD, we are dedicated to educating students who seek to serve the common good as law enforcement officers, lawyers, social service and nonprofit providers, security professionals and the like. We extend the University's Marianist mission by placing curricular emphasis on educating the whole person through a vocational discernment process that emphasizes ethics, integrity, critical thinking, stewardship, service and connection to others.
For students with a pre-law concentration, an 3 + 3 J.D. program option allows you to finish a semester sooner, so you'll graduate in January instead of May and have the opportunity to take the February Bar Exam.
Ready to take the next step? Explore admission options or schedule an academic visit to learn more about criminal justice studies at UD.
Criminal justice is the scientific study of crime, deviance and the agencies of the criminal justice system. The Bachelor of Arts with a major in criminal justice studies is a broadly structured interdisciplinary curriculum with four available concentrations — criminal justice studies, cyber investigations, cybersecurity management or pre-law.
The criminal justice studies concentration is composed of an interdisciplinary curriculum comprised of faculty in communication, management information systems, sociology, social work, political science and psychology. Students majoring in criminal justice can construct their major from a broad array of social science courses.
The department and program offer numerous opportunities to engage in service learning and participate in our well-developed internship program that offers placements in community, corporate, or justice administration agencies at the local, state or federal level.
Students will learn how laws are debated, created and enforced through criminal justice studies and how laws protect individuals and create an orderly society. You will gain an understanding of deviance, crime and criminality as you study law enforcement, the courts, corrections, social movements and other groups and agencies
By studying crime and the systems of criminal and community justice in-depth, our interdisciplinary program prepares you for a career as a practitioner and scholar within criminal justice and related criminological professions.
View the criminal justice studies sample plan of study.
Cyber investigations play a vital role in the criminal justice field. They are critical for identifying emerging threats and helping to maintain the safety of our digital spaces. In addition, the pervasive reach of smartphones and computers means that almost all criminal investigations will have a digital component.
The complexity of cyber crimes, including their technical nature and cross-jurisdictional challenges, necessitates specialized techniques and tools for evidence collection and analysis. Law enforcement professionals increasingly require proficiency in cyber investigatory techniques in order to successfully navigate these challenges.
View the cyber investigations sample plan of study.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, cybersecurity managers have chief responsibility for overseeing the security of an information system or network. This work includes understanding the infrastructure necessary to protect the organization, developing procedures for responding to information security threats, maintaining situational awareness of cybersecurity threats and assisting with the development and enforcement of organizational policies to secure information.
To effectively respond to organizational threats, the cyber-security manager merges basic knowledge of cybersecurity technical skills with an understanding of policy, theory and business practice. Thus, cybersecurity specialists must have:
Businesses, government agencies and private citizens are all at risk of falling victim to cybersecurity attack. According to the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Careers and Studies, cybersecurity management professionals “provide leadership, management, direction or development and advocacy so the organization may effectively conduct cybersecurity work.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that information security related jobs are expected to grow 28 percent from 2016 to 2026. Thus, the need for professionals who understand cyber-security policy and how to manage, direct, deploy and enforce cyber-security practices remains high.
Criminal justice studies majors with this concentration can look beyond law enforcement and successfully pursue security careers with businesses, contracting firms, financial firms and nonprofits. We take a hands-on approach to building the student’s cybersecurity skillset.
The concentration includes a two-semester analysis and design project carried out with a local business, government agency or nonprofit organization.
Students must earn a minimum grade of B- in Math 207 and in MIS 305 to qualify to move from general criminal justice studies concentration to cybersecurity management criminal justice studies concentration.
Assumed level of proficiency with computers.
View the cybersecurity management sample plan of study.
Each year, a significant number of criminal justice majors express interest in pursuing a legal career. This interdisciplinary concentration has been designed with those students in mind. The concentration is designed so that students not only develop an understanding of the law but also develop critical thinking and communication skills.
Awareness of ethics is essential for success in legal professions. With this in mind, coursework is designed to encourage students to explore both personal and professional ethics.
Students also have the opportunity to obtain a pre-law minor by enrolling in coursework connected to the University of Dayton’s mock trial team.
In recent years, criminal justice majors have received acceptance letters from law schools such as American University, Boston College, Depaul University, Loyola University, Marquette University, Michigan State University, Villanova University, The Ohio State University and the University of Dayton to name a few.
Earning the criminal justice studies degree with a concentration in pre-law does not guarantee acceptance into law school. Law school admission typically requires a high grade point average, as well as satisfactory performance on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). Students are encouraged to begin preparing for the LSAT early in their undergraduate careers. Each student is assigned an academic advisor who discusses law school admission requirements. The academic advisor also links the students with on-campus law school preparation resources.
View the pre-law sample plan of study.
The accelerated J.D. option with the pre-law concentration allows you to finish a semester sooner, so you will graduate in January instead of May and have the opportunity to take the February Bar Exam.
For undergraduate students pursuing any Bachelor of Arts degree, the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Law offers a 3+3 J.D. program, allowing students to complete their Bachelor's Degree and Juris Doctor in a total of 6 years.
Please consult with your holistic advisor for eligibility and timeline as you are scheduling your third-semester coursework.
At the University of Dayton, applying is free and test scores are optional. When you apply, you'll automatically be considered for a merit scholarship.
Learn about our admission process, then apply using UD's application or the Common App.
Rooted in our Catholic, Marianist traditions, the University of Dayton is dedicated to being transparent and ensuring student success. And with high graduation and success rates, UD is an excellent value.
To help you cover your costs, a variety of scholarships, grants, loans and part-time work study are available. The University also accepts transfer credits and credit by exam for undergraduates, giving you more flexibility to add a double major or minor or participate in a transformational experience like study abroad or co-op.
This is a sample plan of study for students starting at UD in the 2025-26 academic year. This is a recommended course sequence, but your schedule may vary depending on previously earned college credits, course availability, advisor recommendations, and your personal goals and interests. Please contact your holistic advisor if you have any questions.
At the University of Dayton, our flexible undergraduate curriculum, known as the Common Academic Program (CAP), encourages you to integrate knowledge — and put it to use.
Wondering how college credits you've already earned (e.g., transfer credit, CCP, AP/IB/CLEP exams) will apply to your undergraduate degree? Use our online Transfer Credit Evaluation tool to find out.
Visit the Academic Catalog for official major requirements, prerequisite(s), course descriptions and more.
This is a sample plan of study for students starting at UD in the 2025-26 academic year. This is a recommended course sequence, but your schedule may vary depending on previously earned college credits, course availability, advisor recommendations, and your personal goals and interests. Please contact your holistic advisor if you have any questions.
At the University of Dayton, our flexible undergraduate curriculum, known as the Common Academic Program (CAP), encourages you to integrate knowledge — and put it to use.
Wondering how college credits you've already earned (e.g., transfer credit, CCP, AP/IB/CLEP exams) will apply to your undergraduate degree? Use our online Transfer Credit Evaluation tool to find out.
Visit the Academic Catalog for official major requirements, prerequisite(s), course descriptions and more.
This is a sample plan of study for students starting at UD in the 2025-26 academic year. This is a recommended course sequence, but your schedule may vary depending on previously earned college credits, course availability, advisor recommendations, and your personal goals and interests. Please contact your holistic advisor if you have any questions.
At the University of Dayton, our flexible undergraduate curriculum, known as the Common Academic Program (CAP), encourages you to integrate knowledge — and put it to use.
Wondering how college credits you've already earned (e.g., transfer credit, CCP, AP/IB/CLEP exams) will apply to your undergraduate degree? Use our online Transfer Credit Evaluation tool to find out.
Visit the Academic Catalog for official major requirements, prerequisite(s), course descriptions and more.
This is a sample plan of study for students starting at UD in the 2025-26 academic year. This is a recommended course sequence, but your schedule may vary depending on previously earned college credits, course availability, advisor recommendations, and your personal goals and interests. Please contact your holistic advisor if you have any questions.
At the University of Dayton, our flexible undergraduate curriculum, known as the Common Academic Program (CAP), encourages you to integrate knowledge — and put it to use.
Wondering how college credits you've already earned (e.g., transfer credit, CCP, AP/IB/CLEP exams) will apply to your undergraduate degree? Use our online Transfer Credit Evaluation tool to find out.
Visit the Academic Catalog for official major requirements, prerequisite(s), course descriptions and more.
Wondering how college credits you've already earned (e.g., transfer credit, CCP, AP/IB/CLEP exams) will apply to your undergraduate degree? Use our online Transfer Credit Evaluation tool to find out.
Victoria Rivera enjoys being a criminal justice studies major at the University of Dayton because of the opportunity to connect with alumni who are working in the criminal justice field. “That is how I actually found out about the internship I’m doing in the summer.”
Get more than your foot in the door — get ready for success. At our College of Arts and Sciences, you will have the opportunity to combine the classroom and business world together in a way that allows you to further sharpen your skills. It’s a key reason why employers love hiring our students — they can hit the ground running.
Let’s explore the possibilities. Now you know what we’re about: community, personal attention, hands-on learning, integrity and global thinking. Take the next step and connect with us today.
Our faculty and staff are here to support you throughout your criminal justice and security studies journey at UD.