Wherever your passion lies, the Criminal Justice major will equip you to make a difference.
Major Roadmap
Explore your options — classes, internships, research and study abroad. Using the Criminal Justice Major Guide, find what interests you, discover what you love, and create a major experience that jumpstarts your future.
Protect the innocent. Maintain public order. Identify crime trends and risk factors in the community. 干预那些犯了错误的年轻人的生活，帮助他们回到正轨. 帮助服完役的人重新进入社会，成为有生产力的公民.
这是一个头脑和心灵都需要参与的领域:你需要了解法律，能够处理信息并做出明智的决定, but you’ll also need people skills, empathy, and a desire to contribute to something greater than yourself.
By studying Criminal Justice, 您将学习识别犯罪行为的模式，并了解刑事司法系统的不同方面. 你将学习罪犯的康复和治疗过程, and learn about the law and judicial philosophy.
向在该领域有经验的教授和包括奥斯汀律师在内的演讲嘉宾学习, law enforcement officers and counselors. 以社区为基础的实习将为你提供在一个对社会至关重要的领域从事职业所需的实际经验.
What do our graduates do?
Criminal Justice majors go on to a variety of careers and graduate schools from St. Edward’s. Here’s a sample.
- Officers in the Austin and Dallas Police Department
- Investigator for the Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office
- Intelligence analyst for the U.S. Department of Justice
- Investigator for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services
- Law students at The University of Texas at Austin and the University of Houston Law Center
54 Alumni Who Inspire
St. Edward’s University counts more than 25,000 alumni around the globe. Some are making their mark in the job they started right after graduation. Others have excelled in multiple careers. Read about how they’re all building on the education they received at St. Edward’s.
The Classroom and Beyond
您的刑事司法课程将通过实地考察向您介绍现实世界的设置, observation, volunteer work and hands-on projects. You can apply the knowledge you gain through this experience in an internship. 致力于刑事司法的学生组织为你提供了一个了解职业的论坛，并与有相似兴趣的学生见面.
Experiential Education
In Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice, 你将采访在该领域工作的人，以获得刑事司法职业的专业视角.
In Criminology, 你将研究19世纪奥斯汀连环杀手被称为午夜刺客的案件, using modern crime data information and patterns. In studying the case, which was never solved, 您将了解影响调查的社区的文化和价值观. 你将在一个模仿专业刑事司法调查的团队中工作.
In Principles and Practices of Science and Law, and in Mock Trial, you’ll visit one of the Travis County District Courts that handles criminal cases. Your professor will introduce you to the attorneys and judge, who will explain more about the process. A criminal attorney will also visit your class to discuss the profession.
在模拟审判中，您将通过对虚构案件进行审判来了解陪审团审判制度. Each student in your class will act as both a lawyer and a witness. You’ll learn how to present opening statements and closing arguments, direct and cross-examinations of witnesses, and introduction of evidentiary exhibits. 本课程将向你介绍在审判辩护的背景下的法律推理和辩论.
In Victimology, you’ll complete the Texas Victim Assistance Training, 这是一个全州范围的教育项目，培训新的受害者辩护律师提供基本的服务. Then, 你可以选择在受害者服务培训中额外完成30个小时的专业学分. Or, 你可以在一个为犯罪受害者提供服务和教育的组织做20个小时的志愿者. Students have worked with Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Austin Police Department Victim Services, and the SAFE Alliance. In these settings, you’ll see real-world applications of what you’ve learned in class. 这种培训背景也会让你在未来的工作和实习中成为更有吸引力的候选人.
Student Organizations
The St. Edward’s Criminal Justice Club is a chapter of the American Criminal Justice Association, Lambda Alpha Epsilon. The club meets twice a month to hear guest speakers, go on field trips, offer community service, and complete training together.
Alpha Phi Sigma is the national criminal justice honor society.
Phi Alpha Delta, the pre-law organization, meets weekly to listen to guest speakers, learn about the law school admission process, participate in mentorship programs, do service work and learn about internships. 俱乐部还有一支模拟审判队，参加由美国模拟审判协会和Phi Alpha Delta组织的活动. The team has traveled to Washington, D.C., to compete.
Degree Requirements
Major Requirements: The BA in Criminal Justice requires 21 hours of criminal justice major courses, which include a combination of foundation courses about the criminal justice system, corrections, and law enforcement. In addition, 21 hours are taken to add an area of emphasis from Administration of Justice, Pre-Law or Law Enforcement.
Electives: Students complete 12 hours of elective courses in any area of study they choose. These courses do not have to relate to the major.
General Education Requirements: 除了主修课程和选修课外，该学位还要求学生在四年内完成54小时的通识教育课程.
View and download the full degree plan for the major (PDF).
A few examples of courses students in this major take:
- American Court System – The history, structure, law and mechanics of criminal prosecution and adjudication in the United States.
- Death Investigations -审查警官和侦探/调查员在各类死亡调查中的作用. 这包括但不限于溺水、他杀、自杀和意外死亡.
- Mock Trial – Explores effective advocacy, appropriate professional conduct, and trial preparation. Students have the opportunity to participate in direct and cross examination of witnesses, opening statements, closing arguments, and the introduction of evidentiary exhibits.
Internships
实习可以帮助你了解专业的工作环境，以及你在课堂上学到的知识在现实世界中的应用. Students have interned with these organizations:
- Sobering Center Austin
- Juvenile Probation
- Austin Police Department
- Travis County Sheriff’s Office
- Dallas County Public Defender
- Travis County District Attorney’s Office
- The office of Houston-area Texas State Representative Armando Walle
Our Faculty
The Criminal Justice faculty come from a wide variety of criminal justice-based disciplines. 我们致力于通过课堂创新和参与式学习方式为学生提供最好的体验. 学院还确保提供个人咨询经验，使学生能够分享他们对刑事司法学科未来的梦想和愿望.
“刑事司法领域要求学生运用他们的大脑和他们的心来解决复杂的问题. In the classroom, students use their intellect and empathy, as well as actual criminal justice data, to identify, diagnose and respond to real-world challenges."
- Warren Anderesen, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Criminal Justice
"Teaching is my passion and St. Edward’s allows the opportunity to engage with students on many different levels. Criminal Justice is an important field in our society, and is ever changing. 东南财经大学刑事司法专业的学生有机会获得该系统的基础知识, interact with criminal justice professionals on campus and off, and study the latest research trends. My research focuses primarily death penalty issues concentrating on future dangerousness, race, and ethics; as well as, juror decision-making, moral foundations and crime, veterans’ treatment court, and incarcerated mothers."
- Lisa Holleran, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Criminal Justice
"For me, 学习是建立个人联系，并以一种学生熟悉的方式与材料互动. My courses are designed around this philosophy and involve scenario based learning. 这使学生有机会将在课程中获得的知识应用于他们作为刑事法律系统从业者将遇到的问题.
My research focuses primarily on trust in the police, program evaluation and policy analysis, LGBTQ+ people and the criminal legal system, and social inequalities, crime, and justice."
-L. Nic Cabage, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice
“刑事司法为学生提供了一个探索影响个人和社区的现实世界问题和挑战的机会. 我鼓励我的学生从不同的角度分析问题，并反思他们的价值观如何塑造他们对犯罪和正义的概念. 我希望他们做好准备，在毕业后的职业和社区生活中成为积极的领导者.
As a career prosecutor, I worked on thousands of felony and misdemeanor cases. My experience informs my classroom approach. 我用真实世界的例子来帮助学生理解概念，并将其应用于不同的情况. I want them to understand the complexity of justice as an applied idea.
My areas of interest include prosecutorial decision making, ethics and criminal justice,
cybercrime, search & seizure law, and digital evidence."
John F. Lopez, JD, Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice
Scholarship
Each year, a Criminal Justice major is awarded the Randall Vetter Memorial Scholarship. This award recognizes a current student who excels in scholarship, community service, and civic leadership.
The scholarship honors Randall Vetter '94, a DPS trooper who was killed in the line of duty during a traffic stop near San Marcos. He graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BA in Criminal Justice from St. Edward's University in May 1994. During his days as a St. Edward's University student, 维特曾担任该大学Alpha Phi Sigma分会的副主席和主席, the national criminal justice academic society. 他被描述为“在新千年到来之际，我们民主社会的专业执法部门应该代表的典型代表”," by Dr. David M Horton, who taught Vetter at St. Edward's University.
Criminal Justice Minor
对从事与刑事司法系统有关的工作感兴趣的学生可以通过辅修刑事司法来扩展他们的知识和经验. 辅修刑事司法对那些对刑事调查和执法感兴趣的学生特别有帮助.
Required Courses for a Minor in Criminal Justice, General (18 hours):
- Administration of Justice
- Constitutional Criminal Procedure
- 6 hours of upper-division Criminal Justice coursework
- 6 hours of the following: Criminal Law I, American Court System, American Law Enforcement, Criminal Evidence and Proof
Required Courses for a Minor in Criminal Justice, Pre-Law (18 hours):
- Administration of Justice
- Criminal Law I
- American Court System
- Constitutional Criminal Procedure
- Law of Evidence and Proof
- Criminal Law II or Prosecution and Adjudication
Required Courses for a Minor in Criminal Justice, Criminological Theory (18 hours):
- CRIJ 1302 Administration of Justice
- CRIJ 2336 Criminology
- CRIJ 3331 Victimology
- CRIJ 3352 Crime and Drugs
- CRIJ 3354 Crime, Justice, and Diversity
- PSYC 3000+ course
Are you a current student? Contact your advisor for next steps on declaring your major or minor.
SEU To You
This timely course, taught by Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice Lisa Holleran, will explore questions with students about the criminal justice system, such as: Why do some people commit crimes while others do not? What are the relevant factors in a person's life that contribute to crime? What do police officers actually do on the job? How come only 6% of cases go to trial? What happens to the rest? Who helps victims?